Eldridge was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His nickname was Little Jazz. Eldridge played in the bands of Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw before making records under his own name. He also played in Benny Goodman's and Count Basie's Orchestras, and co-led a band with Coleman Hawkins.
Let Me Off Up Town
Roy Eldridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What d'ya mean Joe, My name's Roy
Well come here Roy and get groovy
You bin uptown?
No I ain't bin uptown but I've bin around
You mean to say you ain't bin uptown?
No I ain't bin uptown, what's uptown?
And you feel like steppin' out
All you've got to shout is
Let me off uptown
If it's rhythm that you feel
Then it's nothing to conceal
Oh, you've got to spiel it
Let me off uptown
Rib joints, juke joints, hep joints
Where could a fella go to top it
If you want to pitch a ball
And you can't afford a hall
All you've got to call is
Let me off uptown
Anita, oh Anita, say I feel somethin'
Whatcha feel Roy? The heat?
No it must be that uptown rhythm
I feel like blowin'
Well blow Roy, blow.
The lyrics to Roy Eldridge's song "Let Me Off Up Town" depict a conversation between two people, Joe and Roy, in which Joe asks Roy if he has been uptown. When Roy admits that he hasn't, Joe introduces him to the pleasures of the city and the vibrant nightlife in uptown New York City. The song is essentially an invitation to let loose and embrace the rhythm and culture of the city, encouraging the listener to shout "let me off uptown" if they want to experience the excitement it has to offer.
The lyrics of the song paint a vivid picture of the various joints in uptown New York where one can go to get lost in the music and the vibe of the city. The song has a timeless quality to it, speaking to the allure of the city and the desire to escape from the mundane routines of daily life. Eldridge's trumpet playing in the song adds to the festive and jazzy atmosphere of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe
Roy calls out to Joe to get his attention.
What d'ya mean Joe, My name's Roy
Joe has confused Roy's name and Roy clarifies it.
Well come here Roy and get groovy
Joe invites Roy to join him and have some fun.
You bin uptown?
Joe asks Roy if he has been to the more upscale area in the city.
No I ain't bin uptown but I've bin around
Roy hasn't been to the ritzy part of town, but he's been to other places.
You mean to say you ain't bin uptown?
Joe is surprised Roy hasn't been to the fancy part of town.
No I ain't bin uptown, what's uptown?
Roy is not familiar with the area Joe is talking about.
If it's pleasure you're about
And you feel like steppin' out
All you've got to shout is
Let me off uptown
If you're looking for a good time and want to go to where the action is, chant for the driver to let you off uptown.
If it's rhythm that you feel
Then it's nothing to conceal
Oh, you've got to spiel it
Let me off uptown
If you're feeling the beat and have the urge to dance, don't hold back; tell the driver to let you off uptown.
Rib joints, juke joints, hep joints
Where could a fella go to top it
There are many great places to hang out uptown, with various atmospheres to suit everyone's taste.
If you want to pitch a ball
And you can't afford a hall
All you've got to call is
Let me off uptown
If you want to play ball, but don't have the money for a proper facility, just ask to be let off uptown and find a spot to play there.
Anita, oh Anita, say I feel somethin'
Whatcha feel Roy? The heat?
No it must be that uptown rhythm
I feel like blowin'
Well blow Roy, blow.
Roy thinks he's feeling the heat, but it's actually the uptown rhythm that's got him feeling charged and ready to play his horn. Anita tells him to go ahead and play.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EARL BOSTIC, REDD EVANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richardklamik709
THIS IS THE ONE I HAVE ! The one my Mother and I listened to on a 78 rpm record. The label was "Concorer, by Sears and roebuck". I still have this record, it is one of my favorite collectables ! Thank-you so much for having this perfect sounding version to be heard again ! Too bad this great music is gone forever.
@incrodible
No it hasn't gone altogether - I love to play 1930s-40s swing during my New Zealand radio show as I have full freedom of choice - music from the swing era is so glorious and needs to be heard again and again...far too many stations are in a 1960s onwards rut, ignoring 1930s-1950s
@joeferraribigband8613
Actually, there are many big bands still playing around the country. The SF Bay Area alone is home to 50-100 of these bands, 3 of which I regularly sing with.
@falloutgangsta4472
anyone else listening to this because this is probably what great grandpa listened to back in the day during the war
@Johnnycdrums
My Paw.
@incrodible
I play big bands, swing on my radio show in Auckland, New Zealand
@falloutgangsta4472
@Rod Jones nice
@gfitz6001
Wow, words fail me - I can only think :❤️
@AbbeBuck
“Anita! Oh, Anita!”
@KevinKillion1
"Groovy!" -- From Wiki: "Recorded use of the word [groovy] in its slang context has been found dating back to September 30, 1941, when it was used on the Fibber McGee and Molly radio show; band leader Billy Mills used it to describe his summer vacation. In the 1941 song “Let me off Uptown” by Gene Krupa, Anita O’Day invites Roy Eldridge to “… come here Roy and get groovy”.