"Drop Me Off in Harlem" is a 1933 song composed during the Harlem Renaissance composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written by Nick Kenny. A.H. Lawrence writes that the song originated from an off the cuff remark from Ellington. Nick Kenny had hailed a taxi, and offered to share it with Ellington. Kenny asked "Where to, Duke?", and Ellington replied "Drop me off at Harlem". Kenny then fashioned lyrics from Ellington's remark and presented him with them a few days later at the Cotton Club.

Notable recordings

Lyrics

(ORIGINAL VERSION) Drop me off in Harlem Any place in Harlem There's someone waiting there Who makes it seem like Heaven up in Harlem I don't want your Dixie You can keep your Dixie There's no one down in Dixie Who can take me 'way from my hot Harlem Harlem has those southern skies, They're in my baby's smile, I idolize my baby's eyes And classy up-town style If Harlem moved to China, I know of nothing finer, Than to stow away on a 'plane some day And have them drop me off in Harlem Harlem has those southern skies, They're in my baby's smile I idolize my baby's eyes And classy up-town style If Harlem moved to China, I know of nothing finer, Than to stow away on a 'plane some day And have them drop me off in Harlem If Harlem moved to China I know nothing finer than to be in Harlem (ARMSTRONG VERSION) Drop me off in Harlem Yea, good ol' Harlem You have your fun under the Harlem sun So drop me off in Harlem There's Duke Ellington up in Harlem He writes all his tunes in Harlem And old Satchmo's still swingin' Way up in Harlem All the cats are still up there They're beatin' out those riffs And Apollo of Puerto Rico Will give you a great big lisp Yes, drop me off in Harlem Yea ma, beautiful Harlem You get red beans and rice It's very nice Way up there in Harlem