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
[Refrain:] 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 become too darn refined And at night I hate to go down To the high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed With Harlem on my mind