Now you say you're lonely
You cry the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said?
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and

Now you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
I cried a river over you
I cried a river...over you...

You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said?
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and

Now you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry, cry, cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried, I cried, I cried a river over you
If my pillow talk, imagine what it would have said
Could it be a river of tears I cried instead?
Well you can cry me a river
Go ahead and cry me a river
'Cause I cried, I cried a river over you
How I cried a river over you

Ella Fitzgerald was among many of the influential Harlem Renaissances performing artists. She was famous for being an amazing African American vocalist, singer, and entertainer that experienced her hay day in the Harlem and started out there as well. She is still well known and loved today, a little under two decades after her death.

She made her singing debut when she was seventeen years old on November 21, 1934, at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. After getting loads of attention and fan base she began to sing in groups and commonly performed at the Harlem Opera House. In 1942, after really making a mark on Harlem, she went solo. She signed to the Decca label and had many remarkable and well-known hits when she recorded with groups and artists such as Ink Spots, Louis Jordan, and the Delta Rhythm Boys.

In addition, Ella Fitzgerald oozed Harlem Renaissance class and lifestyle. She was elegant and proud of her work. She kept up with the fashion and defined it for many people. Over the course of her life time she had three husbands and many scandalous affairs yet has been described as a mysterious and shy young lady. Altogether, Fitzgerald was the epitome of this renaissance and helped shape and define its history. 

I chose Fitzgerald because she was one of the first black, female, singers of the Harlem Renaissance, not just a dancer dancing for people’s entertainment. Fitzgerald put meaning and reasons behind her rhyme and rhythm. Her lyrics are so powerful and inspiring. In her songs she identifies and addresses almost every single Harlem Renaissance theme, and that proves that she puts thought and emotion in her work. In addition, this reinforces the idea that this particular renaissance was a special and unique one.