Ralph Ellison, Songwriter

The author Ralph Ellison is inextricably linked to his novel The Invisible Man, now considered a classic of American literature. While his other activities (such as literary criticism) may be less well-known, Ellison’s involvement with songwriting seems to have been neglected by the scholarly community.

Ellison’s formative years in Oklahoma included being taught alto saxophone and trumpet by a neighbor's father, with Ellison eventually becoming bandmaster. Having been rejected twice from the Tuskegee Institute, he was accepted on the third try, supposedly because the band needed a trumpet player.

Many years later, once he was released from the army in 1945, Ellison began working at various jobs to support himself while writing The Invisible Man. It is probable that he saw songwriting as another way of gaining income.

Among the many thousands of songs in the Music & Recorded Sound Division are two songs by Ralph Ellison, both published in 1946. Using WorldCat I could not find any other library owning these songs, so we’re quite fortunate to have them. Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot digitize them, but both songs are available to view at the Research Library of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on microfilm, call number:  *ZB-768 reel 206.

In honor of his 109th birthday (born March 1, 1913) and to close to this year’s Black History Month, here are the lyrics of these two songs.  

IT WOULD ONLY HURT ME IF I KNEW 

words and music by Ralph Ellison ©1946 by American Music Inc.

Darling, don’t tell me about you
It would only hurt me if I knew
I hear so many things about you
But to tell me would only make me blue.
You’re the one, the only one, 
I could never try somebody new.
Darling, don’t tell me about you
It would only hurt me if I knew.

If you go on the way you feel
Darling, I’ll make believe your love is real
And when someday we’re far apart
Just remember no one will take my heart
You’re the one, the only one,
I could never try somebody new
Darling, don’t tell me about you
It would only hurt me if I knew.

FLIRTY words and music by Ralph Ellison ©1946 by American Music Inc.

Flirty, flirty,
Hope you’re satisfied
Flirty, flirty,
Guess I'll have to decide
We were happy but now that’s all gone
You stepped out you know that’s wrong
Flirty, flirty,  Now you’re all alone.

Flirty, flirty,
You say that’s all right
Flirty, flirty,
But you’re alone each night
You told our best friends that we were all through
But I can tell it still hurts you
Flirty, flirty,
And it hurts me too.