Afro Blue
Reeves Dianne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear a hand stroke on a drum
Elegant boy
Beautiful girl
Dancing for joy
Elegant whirl
Shades of delight
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Two young lovers dance face to face
With undulating grace
They gently sway
Then slip away
To some secluded place
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Whispering trees
Echo their sighs
Passionate pleas
Tender replies
Lovers in flight
Upward they glide
Burst at the height
Slowly subside
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
Until it seems it's not a dream
The two are you and me
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Oh shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Dianne Reeves’ song “Afro blue” explores passionate love through rich, sensual imagery. The song begins with the singer expressing a longing for a distant land before transitioning into a description of two young lovers dancing together. The lovers are described as “elegant,” “beautiful,” and “joyful,” moving with “undulating grace” as they “slip away to some secluded place.” The vivid descriptions of their movements and surroundings, such as “whispering trees,” “passionate pleas,” and “cocoa hue” create an atmosphere of sensuality and intimacy. Eventually, the singer’s fantasy becomes reality and the two lovers are revealed to be “you and me.”
The lyrics of “Afro blue” are steeped in African-American musical traditions, especially jazz and blues. The use of syncopated rhythms and complex harmonies is reminiscent of jazz music, while the repetition of phrases and the call-and-response structure of the vocals reflects elements of blues music. Additionally, the song’s title references the famous jazz standard “Afro Blue,” composed by Mongo Santamaria in 1959. Dianne Reeves’ version of the song, which appeared on her 1995 album “Quiet After the Storm,” is a tribute to this jazz standard and incorporates similar musical elements.
Line by Line Meaning
Dream of a land my soul is from
The singer yearns for a place that feels like home in their soul.
I hear a hand stroke on a drum
The singer is drawn in by the sound of drumming, which is a prominent musical element in African rhythms.
Elegant boy
A graceful young man catches the singer's eye.
Beautiful girl
The young man is dancing with a stunning girl.
Dancing for joy
The couple is joyful and carefree in their movements.
Elegant whirl
They spin and twirl with a smooth, fluid energy.
Shades of delight
The scene is filled with various shades and hues of happiness and pleasure.
Cocoa hue
The color of their skin is likened to the rich, warm tone of cocoa.
Rich as the night
Their beauty and joy is as abundant and deep as the darkness of night.
Afro blue
The music and dance is an expression of African roots and culture.
Two young lovers dance face to face
The singer focuses in on the intimate, romantic interaction between the two dancers.
With undulating grace
They move with a natural, flowing motion.
They gently sway
Their movements are gentle and soothing.
Then slip away
They sneak off together, perhaps seeking more privacy or intimacy.
To some secluded place
They disappear into a hidden, private spot.
Whispering trees
The natural surroundings of the secluded spot add to the romantic experience.
Echo their sighs
The trees seem to repeat the lovers' sighs and murmurs back to them.
Passionate pleas
Their whispers grow more intense and passionate.
Tender replies
Their words and actions are filled with tender affection and care towards one another.
Lovers in flight
The two lovers seem to be soaring through the air with the strength of their emotions.
Upward they glide
Their movements are upward and soaring, like they're ascending to new heights together.
Burst at the height
Their feelings reach a climax, exploding in a moment of passion and ecstasy.
Slowly subside
Their intense feelings gradually fade and settle back down.
And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
The dreamlike vision feels so real to the artist that it takes on the weight of reality.
Until it seems it's not a dream
The singer questions their own perception of what they're witnessing.
The two are you and me
The singer imagines themselves as one of the lovers in the embrace of the other.
Oh shades of delight
The singer is overwhelmed by the sheer joy and beauty of what they've seen.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mongo Santamaria
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinanocci3970
Dream of a land my soul is from
I hear a hand stroke on a drum
Elegant boy
Beautiful girl
Dancing for joy
Elegant whirl
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Two young lovers dance face to face
With undulating grace
They gently sway
Then slip away
To some secluded place
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Whispering trees
Echo their sighs
Passionate pleas
Tender replies
Lovers in flight
Upward they glide
Burst at the height
Slowly subside
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
Until it seems it's not a dream
The two are you and me
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Oh shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
@martinanocci3970
Dream of a land my soul is from
I hear a hand stroke on a drum
Elegant boy
Beautiful girl
Dancing for joy
Elegant whirl
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Two young lovers dance face to face
With undulating grace
They gently sway
Then slip away
To some secluded place
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Whispering trees
Echo their sighs
Passionate pleas
Tender replies
Lovers in flight
Upward they glide
Burst at the height
Slowly subside
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
Until it seems it's not a dream
The two are you and me
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
Oh shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro blue
@morrisparrish76
We’ve lost sarah-Ella-Billie & Dinah but thank God we still have Dianne Reeves!
@megasoid
One of her best performances on record.
@propermuslimah2393
Somehow I just remembered this song 6/5/2020. I first heard it in DC as a teen. We had various summer jobs sponsored by the city in the 90's and we did different things like art programs or working with various summer camps. On this particular job my summer of 1993 we had to do a ballet and jazz piece and this was the song. I met a lot of great people but most of all this song, it was always somewhere in my subconscious.
@jellyfishj1
she perfectly expresses the tone, color and message of every tune she sings
@cathydew
That whole Remember album is stunning. It was my introduction to her, and just blew my mind.
@edgreen144
A songstress extraordinaire, and quite a good fisherman too. Met her when I lived in Denver. Went fishing with herand some mutual friends a couple time. A Phenomenal Woman, a whole lot of Woman, Body and Spirit.....Love Her
@ebonypamt
I love Dianne Reeves! This is an awesome song! I found a video of her performing this live in New Orleans. (Rmasai) Love it, love it, love it! One of those songs that take you away to a different place and just stirs your mind and soul at the same time, if that makes sense. Thanks for adding this awesome song, Baye.
@sizwendlanzi8181
I have about 5 versions of this piece, but Diana Reeves makes it a Afro-Cuban kinda grooving to it!
@LaJoieDuChant
I LOVE this song!!!
@toniofranks7992
I love ❤️ her music !!!!!!