There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon

I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden

I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden

(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

Spanish Harlem Lyrics as written by Phil Spector Jerry Leiber

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Spanish Harlem song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning

    i just thought i'd leave this here even though its not very hard to decipher this songs meaning. the "rose in spanish harlem" is actually a beautiful woman located in east harlem, manhattan new york. he then sings about how this woman makes him feel and that he would love to have her in his life by picking that rose and planting her in his garden.

    n2oon August 14, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe this song is about trafficking young girls for sex specifically from poverty stricken areas like Spanish Harlem. 'I'm going to pick that rose and watch her as she grows in his garden'. His garden is his garden of young sex traffickers.

    These young girls are sent out into the streets at night. 'It only comes out when the moon is on the run'.

    That's my 2 cents.

    haulinoateson July 12, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Check out Lauro Nyro's version of this song, it is beautiful, she hits all the nuances of the song!

    cinwallaceon June 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it's about a person for sure. maybe not a woman. it's a metaphor ,for someone breaking up through the concrete how much imagination does it take to see the obious,now,phrase,in the following ? It is a special one, it's never seen the sun It only comes out when the moon is on the run And all the stars are gleaming'. anyone notice that 'coming out ' has a meaning ? why don't others before me notice this obvious thing,or am i not searching diligently enough? if not,i should copyright the concept? jk .

    Counterclockwerkon March 14, 2018   Link

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