Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Cynda Williams
Vocals
Terence Blanchard
Trumpet
Claire Fisher
Conductor
Jeff Watts
Drums
Kenny Kirkland
Piano
Robert Hurst
Bass
Branford Marsalis
Soprano Saxophone
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
W.C. Handy
Composer
Claire Fisher
String Arranger
Russell Jones
Adapter
Raymond Jones
Adapter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Raymond Jones
Producer
Larry Ferguson
Mixing Engineer
Larry DeCarmine
Recording Engineer
Lyrics
You can never tell what's in a man's mind
And if he's from Harlem, there's no use of even trying
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
Oft' 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, leaving me a note, saying he's
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 sky stroll 7th, and for that, thanks are due
From Madame Walker's beauty shops to Poro System too
That make 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'll guess you'll never know
The power of these mean ole Harlem blues
Ah, there's one sweet spot in Harlem, known as Strivers' Row
"Dicty folks" some call 'em; 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 ole 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, mean ole Harlem blues
Ah, there's one sweet spot in Harlem, known as Strivers' Row
"Dicty folks" some call 'em; 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
Written by: W.C. Handy