Afro blue
Reeves Dianne Lyrics
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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
Laura Tomaselli
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
Laura Gwillim
OMG. I followed this song from Robert Glasper/ Erika Badu/ Esperanza Spaulding to this woman. She is unbelievable. When I listened to this I was thinking “she’s the female Al Jarreau!” What a voice and such an amazing interpretation of this iconic song. So happy I found this!
vinyltapelover
My journey: Oscar Brown jr/Jean Pace, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner Trio, D.D. Bridgewater and this lady. Wow. I like the Al Jarreau comparison.
afinkeln
I'm glad at least someone followed the light. This is Afro Blue! The Glasper/Spalding was a jam they happened to "call" Afro Blue.
Ron Mac
everyone is replying to you with different artists. unfortunately they don't mention the artist who wrote it: The late Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria. He and John Coltrane are the musicians most noted for this piece.
afinkeln
I believe you have misunderstood. I personally, (and you don't have to agree) dislike it when musicians take a tune and perform a sort of live mutual musical masturbation on it. It is all a matter of taste. For me, there is a line between playing with the rhythm and syncopation and just scrapping it all together but using the same words and referencing the same song. I do not recognize Santamaria's Afro Blue in Erykah's interpretation, but the words are the same. That's all I'm saying. An example would be Chick Corea doing Autumn Leaves. Jazz is fantastic but when bored musicians go too far...it is no longer about the music but their own self-satisfaction. I'm sorry, Glasper is great, and Erykah has a great voice, Spalding is a beast of a musician and I could only dream of playing bass like her. I simply cannot get into what they are doing with the tune.
mradrian786
Dianne along with the others you mentioned smoked it. Now............................. its time for you to listen to the legendary Master Saxophonist Mr. John Coltrane do it !!!!!!!!!
Richard Oliveri
Beautiful voice, a heavenly beautiful Lady, Dianne Reeves is a rare gem.
Fascinating harmony between the voice, the moving body, and the music. That's how harmonious life should be. Thank you Dianne, you're a breeze of fresh air in this somber world.
Honestly, I don't get it about the number of views. Mediocre singers get Millions of views while a great legend like Dianne Reeves gets only 66,000 views? No wonder the world has lost its senses.
COH-HOA Cameroon
I'm c hi
Catherine Prince
So glad I came across this version this song, sang by the GREAT Dianne Reeves!! What a powerhouse!!!!
Gebre Menfes Kidus
Probably my favorite jazz melody sung by one of my favorite jazz vocalists. Beautifully and powerfully performed. Excellence all around!