Black Coffee
Sonny Burke, Ella Fitzgerald
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I'm feeling mighty lonesome Haven't slept a wink I walk the floor and watch the door And in between I drink Black coffee Love's a hand me down brew I'll never know a Sunday In this weekday room I'm talking to the shadows From 1 o'clock til 4 And lord, how slow the moments go When all I do is pour Black coffee Since the blues caught my eye I'm hanging out on Monday My Sunday dreams to dry Now a man is born to go a lovin' A woman's born to weep and fret To stay at home and tend her oven And drown her past regrets In coffee and cigarettes I'm moaning all the morning And mourning all the night And in between it's nicotine And not much heart to fight Black coffee Feelin' low as the ground It's driving me crazy just waiting for my baby To maybe come around... around I'm waiting for my baby To maybe come around My nerves have gone to pieces My hair is turning gray All I do is drink black coffee Since my man's gone away
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Written by: Francis Joseph Burke, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Performers"Black Coffee" is not a duet; it is a timeless jazz standard performed individually by many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.
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Release YearsPeggy Lee first recorded the song in 1953, while Ella Fitzgerald's version came out in 1960.
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EraBoth interpretations came out during the golden age of jazz, which speaks volumes about the popularity and timeless essence of this song.
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Iconic Versions"Black Coffee" is considered one of Peggy Lee's signature songs, although it has been performed by many artists. Ella Fitzgerald's version is also highly praised among jazz enthusiasts.
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Song CreatorsThe song was written by Sonny Burke, the music, and Paul Francis Webster, the lyrics.
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Lyrics ThemeThe lyrics of "Black Coffee" portray the pain and loneliness of lost love, as expressed through the poignant metaphor of drinking black coffee.
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AlbumElla Fitzgerald included her version of "Black Coffee" in the album "Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers."
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AccoladesPeggy Lee's rendition of "Black Coffee" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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CoversSince its inception, "Black Coffee" has been covered by various artists spanning different genres, showing the song's enduring popularity and versatile appeal.
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Emotional AppealBoth versions by Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee are lauded for evoking deep emotion, capturing the melancholy narrative of the song perfectly.
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Peggy Lee’s VersionHer rendition is noted for its smoky, sultry vocals which animate the song's narrative of heartbreak and despair.
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Ella Fitzgerald's VersionKnown for her flawless diction, pitch, and improvisational ability, Ella brought a different touch to "Black Coffee," with her version regarded as more upbeat and vibrant.
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Song Elements"Black Coffee" uses the metaphor of having sleepless nights and consuming black coffee, while reflecting on a heartache, which is common in many blues songs.
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Citation
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"Black Coffee Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/16584771/Ella+Fitzgerald/Black+Coffee>.
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