Lyrics between the devil and the deep blue sea

(m) Harold Arlen (w) Ted Koehler (I) Revue: Cotton Club “Rhythmania” by Aida Ward (CR) Ella Fitzgerald

Chorus: I don’t want you, but I’d hate to lose you.
You’ve got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I forgive you, ’cause I can’t forget you.
You’ve got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I ought to cross you off my list,
But when you come knocking at my door,
Fate seems to give my heart a twist,
And I come running back for more.
I should hate you, but I guess I love you,
You’ve got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" is an American popular song published in 1931,[1] with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Ted Koehler, and first recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931. It was introduced in the 1931 Cotton Club show Rhythmania[2] and is now a widely recorded standard.

Early hits[edit]

Joel Whitburn identified the most successful early recordings as being by:[3]

1. Cab Calloway recorded October 21, 1931[4] for Brunswick Records (catalogue No. 6209)
2. Louis Armstrong performed a version featuring a trumpet solo which was recorded on January 25, 1932 and released by Columbia Records, catalogue No. 2600D.[5]
3. The Boswell Sisters with The Dorsey Brothers (Recorded March 21, 1932, Brunswick Records, No. 6291)[6]

Other notable recordings[edit]

• 1930 Jack Payne and his BBC Orchestra included in his album Roamin' Thru' the Roses, Vol. 6.
• 1932 Kate Smith recorded January 28, 1932 for Columbia Records with Blues in My Heart interpolated.[7]
• 1935 Benny Goodman and orchestra (July 1, 1935 for Victor)[8] with Helen Ward on lead vocal
• 1939 Count Basie (recorded November 7, 1939)[9] featuring Helen Humes as vocalist and Lester Young on tenor saxophone
• 1937 Phil Harris recorded it for Vocalion Records on Feb. 27, 1937.[10]
• 1955 Ella Fitzgerald – included in her album Sweet and Hot.
• 1956 Dick Haymes – recorded for his album Moondreams.[11]
• 1957 Buddy Rich performed the song on his album Buddy Rich Just Sings
• 1957 Bing Crosby included it in the album New Tricks.
• 1957 Carmen McRae for her album After Glow.
• 1958 Perry Como included in the album Saturday Night with Mr. C.
• 1960 Bobby Darin recorded a version influenced by Latin music in Feb. 1960, released in 1964 on the album Winners.
• 1961 Ella Fitzgerald recorded it for her 1961 Verve album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook
• 1961 Joni James for her album The Mood Is Romance.[12]
• 1964 Mel Tormé on his self-titled album.[13]
• 1967 Thelonious Monk played the song on his 1967 album, Straight, No Chaser
• 1993 Diana Krall – an instrumental version was included on her album Stepping Out.
• 1993 Chris Rea played the song on his 1993 album, Espresso Logic
• 2002 George Harrison on his posthumous final album, Brainwashed
• 2010 Paolo Nutini with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on the album An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program

Film appearances[edit]

• 1933 Sing, Bing, Sing – Bing Crosby sang an abridged version of the song in this Mack Sennett short.
• 1984 City Heat – sung by Eloise Laws.[14]

Broadway show[edit]

Featured in the 2013 show After Midnight.

References[edit]

1. ^ "1931 sheet music "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea"". pinterest.com. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
2. ^ "haroldarlen.com". haroldarlen.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 477. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
4. ^ "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
5. ^ "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
6. ^ "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
7. ^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
8. ^ "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
9. ^ "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
10. ^ "THE ONLINE DISCOGRAPHICAL PROJECT". 78discography.com.
11. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
12. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
13. ^ "Discogs.com". Discog.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
14. ^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 4, 2017.

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