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Harlem Shadows Lyrics by Claude McKay

Emily Dickinson

1918

I hear the halting footsteps of a lass
    In Negro Harlem when the night lets fall
Its veil. I see the shapes of girls who pass
    To bend and barter at desire's call.
Ah, little dark girls who in slippered feet
Go prowling through the night from street to street!
Through the long night until the silver break
    Of day the little gray feet know no rest;
Through the lone night until the last snow-flake
    Has dropped from heaven upon the earth's white breast,
The dusky, half-clad girls of tired feet
Are trudging, thinly shod, from street to street.
Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way
    Of poverty, dishonor and disgrace,
Has pushed the timid little feet of clay,
    The sacred brown feet of my fallen race!
Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet
In Harlem wandering from street to street.
Credits
Claude McKay

Claude McKay

About “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

Read the complete lyrics to "Harlem Shadows" by Claude McKay from the album "Emily Dickinson" in 1918. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Harlem Shadows" is performed by Claude McKay. from the album "Emily Dickinson" in 1918 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Harlem Shadows", explore more songs by Claude McKay using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Harlem Shadows" is credited to Claude McKay. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Harlem Shadows" appears on "Emily Dickinson" in 1918.

Visit the Claude McKay artist page at /artist/claude-mckay for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.