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 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
Leavin' me a note sayin' 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 ol' 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 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'll guess you'll never know
The power of these mean ol' Harlem blues

Ah, there's one sweet spot in Harlem
Known as Strivers' Row
Dicty folk 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 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 mean ol' Harlem blues

Ah, there's one sweet spot in Harlem
Known as Strivers' Row
Dicty folk 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 the Harlem blues

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