For many of us (me included), drinking coffee is massively important. It’s what starts the day, what keeps you going through the afternoon, and what you look forward to in the morning.
Ok, it’s totally addictive, and I know addiction isn’t healthy, but still…it’s so good and harmless enough in small enough quantities. Right?!
Let’s not forget its power of productivity, either. Jerry Seinfeld said it best when he observed, “I love how you just make coffee, and then somehow something gets done.”
As you’re about to see, there’s no shortage of great songs about coffee either.
Contents
- The Coffee Song – Frank Sinatra
- The Ink Spots – Java Jive
- One More Cup of Coffee – Bob Dylan
- You’re the Cream in My Coffee – Nat King Cole
- Coffee and TV – Blur
- Death Bed (Coffee For Your Head) – Powfu ft. Beabadoobee
- Cigarettes and Coffee – Otis Redding
- One Cup of Coffee – Bob Marley
- Black Coffee – Ella Fitzgerald
- Coffee Homeground – Kate Bush
- Coffee Shop – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- A Cup of Coffee – Johnny Cash
- Coffee Blues – Mississippi John Hurt
- Coffee Cantata – Johann Sebastian Bach
- Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
- The Coffee Song – Cream
The Coffee Song – Frank Sinatra
Sinatra’s jetsetter lifestyle no doubt required its fair share of caffeine. In the imaginatively titled ‘The Coffee Song,’ Sinatra jokes that no other beverages are available in Brazil. Probably a bit of an over-exaggeration, but we’ll let it go just this once.
The Ink Spots – Java Jive
This is one of those songs that most people have heard at some time or other, but nobody has any clue who it’s by. ‘Java Jive’ is about our fixation with the coffee bean. Tea also gets a shout out too.
One More Cup of Coffee – Bob Dylan
From Dylan’s best ’70s album (‘Desire’), this song is about trepidation before he enters “the valley below.” Is that a reference to his crumbling marriage at the time, his love-hate relationship with the music industry, or something else entirely?
The ever-allusive Dylan said,“‘valley below’ could mean anything” in an interview with Paul Zollo.
You’re the Cream in My Coffee – Nat King Cole
A gorgeous love song here by the inimitable Nat King Cole. Written by Ray Henderson in 1928, there are many versions, but this one by Cole is the creme de la creme. Sorry, I couldn’t help it :-p
Coffee and TV – Blur
This one was written and sung by Blur lead guitarist Graham Coxon, who wrote it after giving up alcohol. It’s an anthem for people who find socializing laborious. So where do I sign up?
Death Bed (Coffee For Your Head) – Powfu ft. Beabadoobee
This is arguably the least-known coffee song on the list, but it’s sooooo good. It’s a perfect blend (sorry) of sadness (it’s written by a young guy who’s dying and realizes he won’t be there for his loved ones), but it’s strangely uplifting. Just listen to it, and prepare to be moved.
Related: check out our list of songs about losing someone to death.
Cigarettes and Coffee – Otis Redding
Anyone who knows about Otis Redding will know how tragic his demise was (he died in a plane crash at the height of his powers). Thankfully, his immense talent was recorded on tape. Here’s his tribute to coffee (and cigarettes, remember those?)
One Cup of Coffee – Bob Marley
I had to double-check this was Bob Marley. It sounds nothing like his later self, but it’s him alright. Here he apologizes for the hurt he’s caused. And boy, is it a gorgeous bit of ska.
Black Coffee – Ella Fitzgerald
If you’ve ever had too much to drink or had a shock (e.g., your pet gerbil can suddenly recite the works of William Shakespeare), a black coffee is often called for. Or in the case of the gerbil, perhaps a shrink too :-).
Coffee Homeground – Kate Bush
When you peel back the meaning of many Kate Bush songs, there’s often something a little dark going on. Here’s no exception. It’s a paranoid song about your other half trying to poison you.
Coffee Shop – Red Hot Chili Peppers
A song about meeting in a coffee shop as a prelude to some action back in the pad. Of course, coffee shops in Amsterdam have a whole different meaning 😉
A Cup of Coffee – Johnny Cash
Talking of coffee shops, Cash sounds like he’s just had a session in one. He’s trying to find his cat, his hat; he’s wasted!
Coffee Blues – Mississippi John Hurt
In this old-time blues song, Mississippi John Hurt laments the departure of his girl who used to cook him up the finest of brews. Here’s some pop trivia: ’60s band ‘The Lovin’ Spoonful’ got their name from this song.
Coffee Cantata – Johann Sebastian Bach
It’s not often that we manage to wrangle in some classical music. ‘Coffee Cantata’ was a satirical one-act operetta about a father’s attempt to stop his daughter from drinking coffee – yes, coffee! It was made illegal for a time in Prussia by Frederick the Great.
Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
Ok, I admit it. This isn’t a coffee song at all, but I’d always fancied putting J.S. Bach and the Beastie Boys alongside one another. There is a line about coffee in the song, too, if you’re wondering. See if you can spot it 🙂
The Coffee Song – Cream
A little story about finding a message at a corner table in a café and wondering what might have been. Of course, these days, people just text. We’re so dull 🙁
