Black Coffee

Ella Fitzgerald

About Black Coffee

"Black Coffee" is a song with music by Sonny Burke and words by Paul Francis Webster. The song was published in 1948. Sarah Vaughan charted with this song in 1949 on Columbia. Peggy Lee recorded the song on May 4, 1953 and it was included on her first LP record Black Coffee. It was included in the soundtrack for the 1960 Columbia Pictures feature Let No Man Write My Epitaph, recorded on Verve by Ella Fitzgerald, also in 1960. The version by Ella Fitzgerald was a favourite song of Polish Nobel Prize laureate Wisława Szymborska who chose it as the song to be performed at her funeral.  


Year:
1960
3:30
60 
#2

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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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Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", was an American jazz and song vocalist. With a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6), she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. more »

11 fans

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.
Release Years
Peggy Lee first recorded the song in 1953, while Ella Fitzgerald's version came out in 1960.
Era
Both interpretations came out during the golden age of jazz, which speaks volumes about the popularity and timeless essence of this song.
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.
Song Creators
The song was written by Sonny Burke, the music, and Paul Francis Webster, the lyrics.
Lyrics Theme
The lyrics of "Black Coffee" portray the pain and loneliness of lost love, as expressed through the poignant metaphor of drinking black coffee.
Album
Ella Fitzgerald included her version of "Black Coffee" in the album "Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers."
Accolades
Peggy Lee's rendition of "Black Coffee" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Covers
Since its inception, "Black Coffee" has been covered by various artists spanning different genres, showing the song's enduring popularity and versatile appeal.
Emotional Appeal
Both versions by Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee are lauded for evoking deep emotion, capturing the melancholy narrative of the song perfectly.
Peggy Lee’s Version
Her rendition is noted for its smoky, sultry vocals which animate the song's narrative of heartbreak and despair.
Ella Fitzgerald's Version
Known 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.
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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    "Black Coffee Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/30780152/Ella+Fitzgerald/Black+Coffee>.

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