Strayhorn's debut single, released August 24th 2009, is the first in a series of singles on Loft Records, featuring the tracks "Reach" and "Won't You Stay?".
Take The 'A' Train
Strayhorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You`ll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it`s coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
The lyrics of Billy Strayhorn's "Take The 'A' Train" are both simple and complex at the same time. The song is essentially a musical invitation to take the fastest and easiest route to Harlem, by riding the "A" train. However, the lyrics also convey a sense of urgency, urging listeners to hurry and get on board the train, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for seizing opportunities in life.
Moreover, the song captures a historical moment in the African American experience. During the height of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s, Harlem became a cultural mecca and a hub of African American art, music, and literature. The "A" train became a symbol of this cultural awakening, as it provided the fastest and easiest way for African Americans living in Lower Manhattan to get to Harlem and participate in this flourishing cultural scene.
In conclusion, "Take The 'A' Train" is not just a song about catching a train but a metaphor for life itself, urging listeners to take advantage of opportunities and not miss out on what could be the quickest and easiest path to success.
Line by Line Meaning
You must take the "A" train
It is necessary for you to board the train with the letter "A".
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
The destination of the "A" train is the Sugar Hill neighborhood in Harlem.
If you miss the "A" train
If you fail to board the "A" train when it arrives,
You`ll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
you will realize that you lost the opportunity to travel to Harlem in the fastest way possible.
Hurry, get on, now it`s coming
Hurry up and board the train because it is approaching the platform.
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
Pay attention to the sound of the train tracks vibrating as the train approaches.
All aboard, get on the "A" train
The train is ready to leave and all passengers should board the "A" train.
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
After boarding the "A" train, you will shortly arrive at Sugar Hill in Harlem.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir One Music
Written by: BILLY STRAYHORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@weltgeist2604
I can imagine listening to this in a 1920s coffee shop watching the traffic go by.
@suchti7654
+Angus Rhodes You know, this song is from 1939, just saying...
@jorjicostava6657
Rekt
@FakeMoonRocks
@@suchti7654 I think he meant he could just imagine having a time machine to go back to a 1939 record shop, purchase a vinyl copy, hop back into the time machine and go back to sometime in the 1920's, find a coffee shop with a phonograph player, and say to the owner, "Hey, would you mind putting this on?"
It's a little weird, but I've imagined weirder.
@HansPeter_
@Nathan Castellanos Sounds good
@the_Falcon_fall
@@FakeMoonRocks I like it, may I suggest some* croissants with coffee.
@seuradu8065
Amazing composer Billy Strayhorn .Thank you !
@westsidesoundbigbandofalbu6692
Very nice job guys.
@dross24MA
If you get the chance, watch the series History Detectives, Season 8 Episode 5 [final story], for an article on this song and some good background information on the relationship between Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, plus the impact of the song on the Ellington band.
@CicoinTokyo777
Can someone explain while listening this old music I’m feeling so nostalgic and I cry? Lol I probably had another life in 20?