Remarks:
Written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939, it became the signature tune for Duke Ellington and his 17-piece band. It is here performed in the film “Reveille with Beverly” (1943). As I know from my 1949 media diet, this song had several popular covers in the 1940s.
See also:
Lyrics:
You must take the “A”-Train
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
If you miss the “A”-Train
You’ll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry – get on now it’s coming
Listen – to these rails a-humming – all board
get on the “A”-Train
Soon You will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
Source: Vagalume.
yeah i used to do that on friday nights, up to 182 or so
LikeLike
Trains, trains… trains and Black people!
Interesting relationship!
A way of transport, mass transport, that was used almost as THE SOLE WAY OF TRANSPORT for long distances, by many Black families in a time when only a few Black families and individuals could afford to buy a car!
Not only in America… but also in Africa!
And some of Black “griots” (poets) there (in America) and here (Africa) would refer to the train in their thoughts!
You, Abagond, are speaking about one of the “griots” of your culture, Duke Ellington, and his song* “Take the A Train”.
Me, let me mention one of the “griot” of my cultural space, Hugh Masekela, a South Afrian Jazz musician, who died recently at the age of 78. By the way, I didn’t notice anything written about him in this blog… symptom of the worldwide cultural disparities of today, where if you don’t belong or live in the center, you don’t exist at all, or so it seems!
This man was well known not only in his motherland, South Africa, but also in a large part of Africa, in particular in the Southern African sub-region. And not only in purely cultural milieus: he was also a social activist.
One of his creations that rings in my brain from time to time is called Stimela, a word that in many Bantu languages of Southern Africa (Eastern part) means exactly, “Train”. And speaks about the untold stories and heroes of the construction of the most powerful economy of the African continent. Stories that began many decades ago and continue, with some minor modifications, until this day.
Please, take a time hearing sketches of this magnificent cultural work:
http://bimba.co.za/hugh-masekela/hope/stimela-coal-train
*I haven’t missed the fact that the lyrics of this specific song were written by Billy Strayhorn, not Duke Ellington.
LikeLike
@ munubantu
I can assure you that the virtuoso, Hugh Masekela, was well known and beloved on this side of the Atlantic, too. He was not invisible or silent to millions of jazz fans in the USA.
LikeLike
great song too, the melody just calms me down, it’s nice
LikeLike