Spanish Harlem
The Willy Deville Acoustic Trio Lyrics

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There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreamin'

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
And starts a fire there and then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose and watch her as she grows in my garden

I'm going to pick that rose and watch her as she grows in my garden

(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)

Overall Meaning

The Willy DeVille Acoustic Trio's song "Spanish Harlem" is a beautiful ode to a rose that grows in the unlikely setting of Spanish Harlem, in New York City. The lyrics describe the rose as a special one that only comes out at night, when the moon is on the run and the stars are gleaming. The rose is growing in the street, right up through the concrete, but it is soft and sweet and dreamy. The singer of the song is enchanted by the rose and describes it as having eyes as black as coal that look down into his soul and start a fire there. He is so taken by the rose that he begs for pardon and decides to pick it and watch it grow in his garden.

The rose is a metaphor for something delicate and beautiful that thrives in a harsh environment, much like the people of Spanish Harlem. It is a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The imagery of the rose growing through the concrete evokes a sense of the indomitable human spirit, which can survive and even thrive in the most difficult circumstances. The singer's desire to pick the rose and watch it grow in his garden suggests a desire for something beautiful and pure in his life, despite the harsh realities of the world around him.

Line by Line Meaning

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
In Spanish Harlem, there is a unique red rose plant that catches one's attention.

A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
This rose in Spanish Harlem is of a bright red hue.

It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
This rose in Spanish Harlem is special because it usually grows in the dark and has never been exposed to sunlight.

It only comes out when the moon is on the run
The rose only blooms when the moon is shining and lighting up everything around.

And all the stars are gleaming
As this rose blooms, the stars in the sky shine brightly in admiration of its beauty.

It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
Despite the harsh conditions of the street and the concrete, this special rose is growing, showing its resilience and strength.

But soft and sweet and dreamin'
Although the rose is strong, it still retains its delicate and sweet nature and appears to be in a peaceful slumber-like state.

With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
This rose has dark black petals that seem to look deep into a person's soul, evoking strong emotions and desires.

And starts a fire there and then I lose control
The way this rose connects with a person's soul is so intense that it sets off a fire of emotion and desire that may be hard to control.

I have to beg your pardon
The singer acknowledges that his feelings for the rose may seem odd to the listener and asks for understanding.

I'm going to pick that rose and watch her as she grows in my garden
The singer wants to take the rose and plant it in his own garden, where he can nurture and care for it and watch it grow.

(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The singer repeats the opening line once more to emphasize the beauty of this unique rose in Spanish Harlem.

La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
This line is not meant to convey a specific meaning but to add to the overall musicality and rhythm of the song.

Writer(s): Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector

Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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