Take the "A" Train
The Earl Hines Trio Lyrics

The Earl Hines Trio’s song, Take the "A" Train, is a jazz composition written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939 as the title song for the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The song was named after the New York City subway line that runs from lower Manhattan through Harlem and to its final stop at 207th Street in northern Manhattan. The lyrics of the song advise the listener to take the “A” train if they wish to go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem.

The song is a representation of the Great Migration, a time in history when African Americans migrated Northward from the southern states, seeking better job opportunities and to escape the harsh realities of discrimination in the South. Sugar Hill in Harlem was a symbol of upward mobility for many Black people during the Harlem Renaissance, and taking the “A” train was the quickest way to get there. The fast-paced rhythm of the song mirrors the movement of the train on the tracks, and the lyrics encourage everyone to hurry and board the train before it departs.

Overall, Take the "A" Train is a creative and musically complex composition that speaks to the experience of African Americans in America's urban cities. It celebrates the spirit of perseverance, hope, and the desire for upward mobility during a time when segregation and discrimination were prevalent.