BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Ted Koehler in 1931 for the Cotton Club Revue in Harlem. The song quickly became a hit, first recorded by Cab Calloway and later popularized by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and later George Harrison.

The lyrics use a nautical metaphor to describe being trapped between two difficult romantic choices. Musically, it features Arlen’s signature mix of blues-inflected harmony and a swinging rhythm. The tune follows a 32-bar AABA form, leaving ample room for improvisation while maintaining a strong melodic identity. Its rhythmic drive and witty lyricism have made it a lasting standard across both jazz and pop repertoires.