Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Harlem On My Mind
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Riviera chateau and a lot of other things
And I'm blue, so blue am I
Lots of ready money in seven diff'rent banks
I counted up this morning, it's about a million francs
And I'm blue, so blue, and I know why
I've got Harlem on my mind
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been wined and I've been dined
But I'm heading for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
I go to supper with a French Marquis
Each evening after the show
My lips begin to whisper "Mon Cheri"
But my heart keeps singing "Hi-de-ho"
I've become too darn refined
And at night I hate to go down
To the high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed
With Harlem on my mind
Em'ralds in my bracelets, diamonds in my rings
A Riviera chateau and a lot of other things
And I'm blue, so blue am I
Lots of ready money in seven diff'rent banks
I counted up this morning, it was 'bout a million francs
And I'm blue, so blue, and I know why
I've got Harlem on my mind
And I'm longin' to be lowdown
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been dined and I've been wined
But I'm headin' for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
I go to supper with a French Marquis
Each evening after the show
My lips begin to whisper "Mon Cheri"
But my heart keeps singin' "Hi-de-ho"
I've become too damned refined
And at night I hate to go down
To that high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed
With Harlem on my mind
I've got Harlem on my mind
And I'm longing to be lowdown
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been dined and I've been wined
But sure as your born I'm headin' for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
And when I'm bathing in my marble tub
Each evening after the show
I get to thinkin' 'bout that Cotton Club
And my heart starts chirping "Hi-de-ho"
Help me!
I've been too damned refined
And at night I hate to go down
To that flat with fifty million Frenchmen taggin' behind
With Harlem on my mind
The lyrics of Harlem On My Mind by Irving Berlin highlight the clash between the high life of the main character and their longing for a simpler lifestyle in Harlem. The singer describes their luxurious lifestyle, with emeralds in their bracelets and diamonds in their rings, and a chateau in Riviera. Yet despite all of this, they feel blue and want to be lowdown. They have seven bank accounts with ready money, but a million francs do not bring them happiness. The reason for their melancholy mood is their yearning for Harlem. They feel like their current life is too fancy and refined, and they miss the more straightforward and authentic experiences that Harlem provides. The singer goes out for supper with a French Marquis, but while their lips whisper in French, their heart sings in Harlemese.
The lyrics show dissatisfaction with the indulgent lifestyle of the upper class and express a craving for something more genuine. It is a longing for the people, music, and culture of Harlem, a place where they feel comfortable and authentic. The song is a commentary on the superficiality of high society and their detachment from the reality of the world. Harlem On My Mind reflects the mood of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement which advocated for Black identity and pride. This song echoes the central theme of the Harlem Renaissance, which was the quest for Black authenticity and the celebration of African American culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Em'ralds in my bracelets and diamonds in my rings
I am wealthy and wear expensive jewelry
A Riviera chateau and a lot of other things
I have a luxurious mansion and a lot of other possessions
And I'm blue, so blue am I
I am sad and unhappy
Lots of ready money in seven diff'rent banks
I have a lot of money deposited in seven different banks
I counted up this morning, it's about a million francs
I calculated that I have around a million francs
And I'm blue, so blue, and I know why
I am sad and unhappy, and I know the reason
I've got Harlem on my mind
I am thinking about Harlem
I've a longing to be lowdown
I have a strong desire to be less refined
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
My French-speaking will not be convincing
With Harlem on my mind
Because I am thinking about Harlem
I've been wined and I've been dined
I have been treated well and entertained
But I'm heading for a showdown
But I am about to face a conflict or confrontation
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
Because I cannot continue living this way without any change
With Harlem on my mind
Because I am thinking about Harlem
I go to supper with a French Marquis
I have dinner with a nobleman from France
Each evening after the show
Every night after the performance
My lips begin to whisper "Mon Cheri"
I start to call him "my dear" in French
But my heart keeps singing "Hi-de-ho"
But I am thinking of Harlem music and culture
I've become too darn refined
I have become too polished and sophisticated
And at night I hate to go down
And at night, I dislike going to my fancy flat
To the high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed
To my luxurious apartment, designed by Lady Mendel
And when I'm bathing in my marble tub
And when I am taking a bath in the expensive marble bathtub
Each evening after the show
Every night after the performance
I get to thinkin' 'bout that Cotton Club
I begin thinking about the Cotton Club in Harlem
And my heart starts chirping "Hi-de-ho"
And I feel my heart yearning for Harlem music and culture
Help me!
Expressing a plea or request for assistance
And sure as your born I'm headin' for a showdown
I am definitely going to face a conflict or confrontation
I've got Harlem on my mind
I am thinking about Harlem
And I'm longing to be lowdown
I have a strong desire to be less refined
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
My French-speaking will not be convincing
With Harlem on my mind
Because I am thinking about Harlem
I've been dined and I've been wined
I have been treated well and entertained
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
Because I cannot continue living this way without any change
And when I'm bathing in my marble tub
And when I am taking a bath in the expensive marble bathtub
I get to thinkin' 'bout that Cotton Club
I begin thinking about the Cotton Club in Harlem
And my heart starts chirping "Hi-de-ho"
And I feel my heart yearning for Harlem music and culture
I've become too damned refined
I have become too polished and sophisticated
And at night I hate to go down
And at night, I dislike going to my fancy flat
To that high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed
To my luxurious apartment, designed by Lady Mendel
With Harlem on my mind
Because I am thinking about Harlem
And I'm longing to be lowdown
I have a strong desire to be less refined
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
My French-speaking will not be convincing
With Harlem on my mind
Because I am thinking about Harlem
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
Because I cannot continue living this way without any change
And sure as your born I'm headin' for a showdown
I am definitely going to face a conflict or confrontation
To that flat with fifty million Frenchmen taggin' behind
To my luxurious apartment, accompanied by many people
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lorenzo Petrocca Jazzguitar
bello !
Bomberomusician
Les Amo Mucho
Sole Casas
hermoso!!
J. M. Valentino
Y nosotros a ti!!!🧡