From “As Thousands Cheer”, 1933.
Words and music by Irving Berlin.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Em’ralds in my bracelets
And 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 diff’rent banks
I counted up this morning
It’s about a million francs
And I’m blue, so blue, and I know why
Chorus
I’ve got Harlem on my mind
I’ve a longing to be lowdown
And my “parlez-vous” will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I’ve been wined and I’ve been dined
But I’m heading 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 singing “Hi-de-ho”
I’ve becomе too darn refined
And at night I hate to go down
To thе high-falutin’ flat
That Lady Mendel designed
With Harlem on my mind