Ayler remains something of a cult artist. "Ghosts"—with its bouncy, sing-song melody (rather reminiscent of a nursery rhyme)—is probably his best known tune, and is something of a free jazz standard, having been covered by Lester Bowie, Gary Windo, Eugene Chadbourne, Joe McPhee, John Tchicai and Ken Vandermark, among others.
Saxophonist Mars Williams led a group called Witches and Devils, which was not only named after an Ayler song, but which covered several of his songs.
Peter Brötzmann's Die Like A Dog Quartet is a group loosely dedicated to Ayler. A record called 'Little Birds Have Fast Hearts' references Ayler's youthful nickname.
In 2005, guitarist Marc Ribot (who has occasionally performed Ayler's songs for some years) released an album dedicated to the ethic of collective improvisation, entitled 'Spiritual Unity' in honor of Ayler's 1964 album of the same name. Ribot's Spiritual Unity Quartet, dedicated to music by and for Albert Ayler, has toured and played more than 50 concerts in 15 countries in the past few years. The quartet includes Ayler bassist Henry Grimes, who played, toured, and recorded with Albert Ayler (1964-66), trumpeter Roy Campbell, Jr., and drummer Chad Taylor.
On his 1969 album 'Folkjokeopus', English guitarist/singer Roy Harper dedicated the song "One for All" ("One for Al") to Albert Ayler "who I knew and loved during my time in Copenhagen". Harper considered Ayler to be "one of the leading jazzmen of the age". Within the Folkejokeopus liner notes Harper states, "In many ways he (Ayler) was the king".
The Albert Ayler Trio's album Spiritual Unity is well known to have been a major influence on Paul McCartney during the recording of The Beatles' celebrated album 'Revolver'.
On Green Dolphin Street
Albert Ayler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street
The lyrics of Albert Ayler's "On Green Dolphin Street" are full of nostalgia, yearning and fond memories. The singer seems to be reminiscing about a past romance, describing it as a dream-like experience that he knows actually happened. The setting was Green Dolphin Street, and it is clear that this location holds a special place in the singer's heart. The concept of romance is heavily featured in the song, with "Lover" being addressed throughout the lyrics. The singer is filled with emotions when recalling this love affair, seemingly lost in time and thought.
The song pays homage to the popular 1947 movie "Green Dolphin Street" which was based on the 1944 novel of the same name, and featured Lana Turner and Van Heflin as the lead actors. The film portrays two sisters who compete for the love of the same man in New Zealand during the mid-19th century. The song's lyrics reflect the love story depicted in the movie, with the singer describing memories of a romantic encounter in a setting that he associates with the love he felt.
Interestingly, "On Green Dolphin Street" was not originally a jazz standard. It was a composition by Bronislau Kaper for the aforementioned movie, written as a love theme for the two main characters. The song was later adapted into a jazz standard, and has been recorded by various jazz artists over the years. The melancholic and wistful tone of the lyrics make it a popular choice among jazz musicians, and it has become a classic in the jazz repertoire.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Although it feels surreal, I remember it as a real event.
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
This was a brief romantic encounter between two people.
Romance was the theme
The focus of this experience was love and passion.
And we were the players
The two people involved were the main characters in this story.
I never think of this without a sigh
This memory is bittersweet and fills me with a sense of longing.
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The location where this encounter took place was called Green Dolphin Street.
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
The memories that were created during these encounters will always be cherished.
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Even when physically apart, the memories of this romance continue to hold a special place in my heart.
When I recall the love I found on
Whenever I think back to this experience and the love that was present,
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
I feel such intense love for this place that I would physically kiss the ground if given the chance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Tratore, O/B/O CAPASSO, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind