Ethel Waters Harlem On My Mind
Emeralds in my bracelets, diamonds in my rings
A Riviera chateau and a lot of other things
And I'm blue, so blue am I
Lots of ready money in seven different banks
I counted up this morning, it was 'bout a million francs
And I'm blue, so blue and I know why
I've got Harlem on my mind
And I'm longin' to be lowdown
And my, 'Parlez-vous' will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been dined and I've been wined
But I'm headin' for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
I go to supper with a French Marquis
Each evening after the show
My lips begin to whisper, "Mon Cheri"
But my heart keeps singin', "Hi-de-ho"
I've become too damned refined
And at night, I hate to go down
To that high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendl designed
With Harlem on my mind
I've got Harlem on my mind
And I'm longing to be lowdown
And my, 'Parlez-vous' will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been dined and I've been wined
But sure as your born, I'm headin' for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
And when I'm bathing in my marble tub
Each evening after the show
I get to thinkin' 'bout that Cotton Club
And my heart starts chirpin', "Hi-de-ho", help me
I've been too damned refined
And at night, I hate to go down
To that flat with fifty million Frenchmen taggin' behind
With Harlem on my mind