An accomplished pianist and one of the few harpists in the history of jazz, she recorded many albums as a bandleader, beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Impulse! and other record labels. She was married to jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane, with whom she performed in 1966–1967. One of the foremost exponents of the "spiritual jazz" style, her eclectic music proved widely influential both within and outside the world of jazz.
Coltrane's professional music career slowed from the mid 1970s as she became more dedicated to her religious education. She founded the Vedantic Center in 1975 and the Shanti Anantam Ashram in California in 1983, where she served as spiritual director. On July 3, 1994, Swamini rededicated and inaugurated the land as Sai Anantam Ashram. During the 1980s and 1990s, she recorded several albums of Hindu devotional songs before returning to jazz in the 2000s.
She studied classical music, and attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where she continued her musical training. In 1959 she travelled to Paris and studied briefly with pianist Bud Powell. She began playing jazz as a professional in Detroit, both with her own trio and as a duo with vibist Terry Pollard. From 1962 to 1963 she played with Terry Gibbs's quartet, when she met John Coltrane, with whose group she played piano from 1965 until his death in 1967, and whom she married in 1966. After her husband's death, she continued to play with her own groups, moving into more and more meditative music, and latterly playing with her children, which she had four: singer Miki (Michele) from a previous marriage, saxophonists Oran and Ravi, and John W. Coltrane Jr, who died in a car accident in 1982.
Alice Coltrane died of respiratory failure at West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in suburban Los Angeles in 2007, aged 69. She is buried alongside John Coltrane in Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.
Krishna Krishna
Alice Coltrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
[Repeat: x2]
Love love
Drop out
Drop out
Be in
Be in
[Repeat: x3]
Take trips get high
Laugh joke and good bye
Beat drum and old tin pot
I'm high on you know what
Marijuana marijuana
Juana juana mari mari
Marijuana marijuana
Juana juana mari mari
[Repeat: x8]
Beads, flowers, freedom, happiness
The lyrics to Alice Coltrane's song, Hare Krishna, are a chant inspired by the Hindu god Krishna. The words Hare Krishna and Hare Rama are names for the god and the chant is meant to be a way to seek enlightenment and spiritual connection. The repetition of these words creates a meditative and transcendent experience for the listener. Alongside these words, there is a call to love, to drop out of societal norms, and to seek happiness and freedom.
The repetition of "Love love" is almost a mantra, a reminder to focus on love in all its forms. It is followed by a call to "drop out," which could be interpreted as rejecting the dominant culture's values or norms. The following line, "be in," could be a call to be present, to be mindful, and to embrace one's true self.
The third part of the song, which includes lyrics such as "Take trips get high" and "Marijuana marijuana," seems to evoke a 1960s counterculture vibe. It is a call to let loose and connect with others through music, laughter, and a shared experience. The repetition of "Juana juana mari mari" adds another layer of rhythm to the song, making it more engaging and memorable. The final line, "Beads, flowers, freedom, happiness," reminds us that these things are interconnected and essential for a fulfilling life.
Overall, Hare Krishna is a call to spiritual transcendence, love, and connectedness, with some references to counterculture and a shared experience thrown in.
Line by Line Meaning
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Chanting the name of Krishna twice to show devotion
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Chanting the name of Krishna twice to show devotion
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Chanting the name of Rama twice to show devotion
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chanting the name of Rama twice to show devotion
Love love
An expression of affection
Love love
An expression of affection
Drop out
Disengage from mainstream society and its expectations
Drop out
Disengage from mainstream society and its expectations
Be in
Participate in the counterculture, experimentation, and alternative lifestyles
Be in
Participate in the counterculture, experimentation, and alternative lifestyles
Take trips get high
Travel and indulge in mind-altering substances
Laugh joke and good bye
Enjoy socializing and then part ways
Beat drum and old tin pot
Create music using simple instruments
I'm high on you know what
Under the influence of an unnamed substance
Marijuana marijuana
A reference to the cannabis plant
Juana juana mari mari
A playful, rhyming way to say marijuana
Marijuana marijuana
A reference to the cannabis plant
Juana juana mari mari
A playful, rhyming way to say marijuana
Beads, flowers, freedom, happiness
Symbols of the hippie and counterculture movements, representing spiritual focus and peaceful resistance to mainstream values
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GALT MAC DERMOT, JAMES RADO, GEROME RAGNI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@radhamom11
I remember the early morning this beautiful bhajan was first heard. A cassette tape of Turiya Sings was shared with my late grandmother. She said there was something about Alice Coltrane’s voice that she resonated with, even though she did not know the Sanskrit words. Years later, in Hardwar,India sitting beside the Ganges river, this song was played on my small harp. Jai Krishna
@margotbigorgne4683
hare hare !!
@elusiveinsert
Fantastic
@MaxtonHunter
One of the most beautiful songs ever written 🤍🎶
@withfilm
This brings peace to my soul.
@clubbersguidenewyork6766
Something so beautifully otherwordly about this track....makes me cry!
@DoloresOsteocopi
It is amazing how clear her voice is, compared to the original Turiya Sings album! I'm so excited for the remaster coming in July
She is such an amazing musician 💓
@reneiezzi846
Hare krishna hare rama ,maha mantra liberetion playeros,most powerfull ever
@ElectricChaplain
Sublime
@sricaitanyadasa
Hare Krishna!