The Man From Harlem - Original - Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

It was up at Mike’s the other night

There was really quite a sight

Gather round, folks, while I give you all the lowdown

Tables were filled with gaudy frails

Chewing on their fingernails;

They were waiting for the man from Harlem

Drinks were served six bits a throw

Things were moving kind of slow

Everybody’s nerves were getting jumpy

All at once the room was still

Men forgot all about their bill

Who should enter but the man from Harlem

Everybody rolled their eyes

Women starting heaving sighs

Someone hollered, «Music, lights and gin,»

Everybody cleared a space

They had big, broad smiles on every face

How they all loved to see the man from Harlem

When he started in to step

He filled everyone with plenty pep

He twitched and squirmed;

it just was a dirty shame

Everyone was in a daze

Women watched him with amaze

Each one said she’d have the man from Harlem

He looked over in the corner

And saw a couple of frails and they sure did look kinda low

Another cat walked up, and said to the man from Harlem

«Go over there and see what’s the matter with them girls.»

And they said, «I'm kinda low.»

And he said, «I've got just what you need:

Come on, sisters, light up on these weeds and get high and forget about

everything.»