Spanish Harlem

· by Aretha Franklin

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Lyrics

La la la la la la la la la la.

La la la la la la la la la la.

There There’s a rose in a (D)Black and Span ish Har lem,

(D)a (A)rose (D)in (A)Black (D)and (A)Span (D)ish Har lem.

It is the spe cial one, it nev er sees the sun, it on ly comes up when the moon is on the run trol.

and all na the stars are gleam ing.

don.

It’s grow ing in the street, right up through the con crete,

but soft,

sweet and (D)dream y.

There There’s a is in a (D)rose in Span ish Har lem,

(D)a (A)rose (D)in (A)Black (D)and (A)Span (D)ish Har lem,

with eyes as black as coal that look down in his soul, it starts a fi re there and then he los es con trol.

I’m gon na beg his are par ing.

don.

He’s goin’ to pick that rose and watch her as she grows

in his

sweet and (D)dream y.

(D)gar den.

(D)There (A)is (D)a (A)rose (D)in (A)Span (D)ish Har lem,

(D)a (A)rose (D)in (A)Black (D)and (A)Span (D)ish Har lem,

with eyes as black as coal that look down in his soul and start a fi re there and then he los es con trol.

And I

want to beg his par don.

He’s go ing to pick that rose

and watch her as she grows

in his (A)gar

(D)den.

(A)La la la (A)la la (A)la (D)la la (A)la (D)la.

(A)La la (A)la la (A)la (D)la la (A)la (D)la.

(A)La la (A)la la (A)la (D)la la (A)la (D)la.

Spanish Harlem by Aretha Franklin — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Spanish Harlem” by Aretha Franklin in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of A at 116 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Spanish Harlem" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Spanish Harlem"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Spanish Harlem" use?: Just 5 chords: A, C, D, E7, G. Take it one section at a time.
What other Aretha Franklin songs work for kids?: Try "AIN'T NO WAY", "A Natural Woman", "FREEWAY OF LOVE". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.