"Rocks in My Bed" is a 1941

song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...

written by

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

. Harvey G. Cohen in his 2010 book ''Duke Ellington's America'' writes that "Rocks in My Bed" "presents a more honest and adult impression of sexual loneliness than most Swing Era lyrics". The lyrics arose from a conversation between two women that Ellington overheard. The academic Walter van de Leur theorized in his analysis of several Ellington pieces of the early 1940s that "Rocks in My Bed" may have been partially written by

Billy Strayhorn William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include "Take ...

yet solely copyrighted to Ellington without additional attribution. Van de Leur analysed Strayhorn's reharmonisation of the piece for

Ivie Anderson Ivie Anderson (sometimes Ivy) (January 16, 1904 – December 28, 1949) was an American jazz singer. Anderson was a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra for more than a decade. Personal life Anderson was born on January 16, 1904, in Gilroy, ...

's 1941 vocal recording and felt that it marks the moment that Strayhorn "changed from arranger to co-composer". It was introduced by

Big Joe Turner Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American singer from Kansas City, Missouri. According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." His greatest fame was due to ...

in the 1941 musical revue '' Jump for Joy''. Turner said in an interview that he assisted Ellington with the arrangement and composition of "Rocks in My Bed" whilst in preparation for ''Jump for Joy'' at the

Dunbar Hotel The Dunbar Hotel, originally known as the Hotel Somerville, was the focal point of the Central Avenue African-American community in Los Angeles, California, during the 1930s and 1940s. Built in 1928 by John Alexander Somerville, it was known for ...

. "Rocks in My Bed" was included in the 1997 musical comedy ''

Play On! ''Play On!'' is a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's ''Twelfth Night'', featuring the music of Duke Ellington, with a book by Cheryl L. West. The musical resets the story in 1940s Harlem. Production history The original production, conceived ...

'' at the

Brooks Atkinson Theatre The Lena Horne Theatre (previously the Mansfield Theatre and the Brooks Atkinson Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 256 West 47th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1926, it was designed by Herbert ...

directed by

Sheldon Epps Sheldon may refer to: * Sheldon (name), a given name and a surname, and a list of people with the name Places Australia *Sheldon, Queensland *Sheldon Forest, New South Wales United Kingdom *Sheldon, Derbyshire, England *Sheldon, Devon, England *S ...

. The song has become associated with female singers.

Betty Roché Mary Elizabeth Roché (January 9, 1918 – February 16, 1999) was an American blues singer. Though she had a sporadic career, she became best known for her version of " Take the "A" Train" with its composer Duke Ellington, and, according to A ...

's version has been praised for its "gloriously bluesy scatting" and

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

's for her "earthy styling".

Notable recordings

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

- ''

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook Ella may refer to: * Ella (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Places United States * Ella, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Ella, Oregon, an unincorporated community * Ella, Pennsylvania, an unincorporat ...

'' (1958) *

- ''

The Duke Ellington Songbook, Vol. 2 ''The Duke Ellington Songbook, Vol. 2'' is a 1979 album by Sarah Vaughan, focusing on the works of Duke Ellington. Track listing # "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" (Duke Ellington, Don George) - 4:36 # "Black Butterfly" (Ellington, Irving ...

'' (1979) *

Georgia Carr Georgia Carr (born Mary Louise Thomas, June 20, 1925 – July 4, 1971) was an American singer and actress who performed and recorded between the 1940s and 1960s. Early life and education She was born in Los Angeles and worked as a secretary wi ...

- ''

Rocks In My Bed "Rocks in My Bed" is a 1941 song written by Duke Ellington. Harvey G. Cohen in his 2010 book ''Duke Ellington's America'' writes that "Rocks in My Bed" "presents a more honest and adult impression of sexual loneliness than most Swing Era lyrics". T ...

'' (1964) *

- ''

Lightly and Politely ''Lightly and Politely'' is a 1960 album by the American jazz singer Betty Roché. This was the last album Roché recorded. Reception Scott Yanow reviewed the album for AllMusic and wrote: "It is ironic that what is arguably singer Betty Roché ...

'' (recorded in 1960, released in 1961)

References

* * Songs with music by Duke Ellington 1940s jazz standards 1941 songs {{pop-standard-stub