Take the A Train: A Musical Inspiration for Planners

I was recently interviewed by Andy Keeton for a Between the Lines podcast titled, Why Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies Will Help Save the Planet? We discussed key concepts from my book, The New Mobilities: Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies, which critically evaluates the benefits, costs and equity impacts of emerging transportation technologies and services.

Andy ended the session with an interesting question, “What is your favorite commuting song?” Expanding the definition of commuting to include travel for dining, drinking and entertainment, I chose the Duke Ellington Orchestra’s signature song, Take the A Train, a beautiful celebration of rail transit, urban sophistication and the Harlem Renaissance all packed into the most danceable 2:54 minutes of musical teamwork ever recorded on a 78 rpm disk. 

Ellington is one of my personal heroes. He was a skilled musician, a terrific and generous band leader, and a man of great dignity and style. I wish I had been able to see his Orchestra perform at one of Harlem’s famous night clubs. Ellington and his musicians often traveled by train; his music conveys the rhythms, sounds and excitement of rail travel.

Here are the full lyrics:

You must take the "A" train

To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem

If you miss the "A" train

You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem



Hurry, get on, now it's coming

Listen to those rails a-thrumming

All aboard, get on the "A" train

Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem



You must take the "A" train

To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem

You must take the "A" train

To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem

If you miss the "A" train

You'll miss the quickest way to Harlem



Hurry, get on board, it's comin'

Listen to those rails a-thrumming

All aboard, get on the "A" train

Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem



Harlem, boy

Next stop is Harlem

Next stop, Harlem

Come on, get aboard the "A" train



Get aboard

Next stop is Harlem

Take the "A" train

Here is a video of the song played on my gramophone. For more information see the PBS documentary The Story of “Take the A Train,” Duke Ellington’s Signature. This video shows "A Train" composer Billy Strayhorn taking a bow. Thanks Billy! Thanks Duke!

What music would you choose? What song inspires your work as a planner?