Harlem Blues

You can never tell what’s in a man’s mind

And if he’s from Harlem, there’s no use of even tryin’

Just like the tide, his mind comes and goes

Like March weather, when he’ll change

Nobody knows, nobody knows

The man I love, well, he just turned me down, he’s a Harlem brown

Off times I wish that I were in this ground, six feet underground

He idolized me, as no other could, no, no

Then he surprised me, leavin’ me a note sayin’ he’s gone for good

Gone for good

And since my sweetie left me

Harlem, well, it ain’t the same old place

Though a thousand dandies smile right in my face

I think I’ll mooch some homemade hooch and go out for a lark

Just to drive off these mean ole Harlem Blues

You can have your Broadway, give me Lenox Avenue

Angels from the skies stroll 7th and for that thanks are due

From Madam Walker’s beauty shops to the Pro-Ro System 2

That made those girls angels without any doubt

There are some spots up in Harlem where I’m told it’s sudden death

To let somebody see you even stop to catch your breath

If you’ve never been to Harlem, then I guess you’ll never know

The power of these mean ole Harlem blues

Ah, there’s one sweet spot in Harlem known as Striver’s Row

‘Ditty folks come call them, one thing you should know

Is that I have a friend who lives there I know he won’t refuse

To put some music to my troubles and call ‘em Harlem blues

And since my sweetie left me, Harlem, well, it ain’t the same old place

Though a thousand dandies smile right in my face

I think I’ll mooch some homemade hooch and go out for a lark

Just to drive off these mean ole Harlem Blues

Ah, there’s one sweet spot in Harlem known as Striver’s Row

‘Ditty folks come call them, one thing you should know

Is that I have a friend who lives there I know he won’t refuse

To put some music to my troubles and call ‘em Harlem blues

To put some music to my troubles and call them the Harlem blues

Harlem, the Harlem blues, Harlem, the Harlem blues