Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 24th, 1937, but raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he studied piano, clarinet and alto saxophone before focusing on tenor saxophone (he occasionally plays soprano saxophone). He is best known for his passionately Afrocentric music of the late sixties which focused on highlighting the injustices faced by people of African descent. He is also known for his 60's work with the New York Contemporary Five with co-founder Don Cherry and Shepp's collaborations with his "New Thing" contemporaries, most notably Cecil Taylor and John Coltrane, but also Roswell Rudd and Bobby Hutcherson.
Considered a jazz great, saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded albums like Poem For Malcolm and Live in Antibes for labels like Verve and Impulse. He was active in academia at SUNY Buffalo as a professor of African American Studies and the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a professor of music. He played with other notable musical radicals including Frank Zappa and provided the musical score to the movie Gotta Dance and is featured on the 1984 Wilebski's Blues Saloon Festival DVD.
Steam Part 1
Archie Shepp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comely as me
Will be
Summer
Soft as the rain
And sweet as the end of pain
A star gleaming
Bright as fire in the night
Whenever i think of Steam
When i′m flying high
Feel like a eagle in the sky
The lyrics to "Steam Part 1" by Archie Shepp paint a picture of hope and optimism for the future. The singer expresses the belief that someone who is just as attractive and appealing as themselves will come into their life, bringing with them the qualities of summer - softness and sweetness. The mention of the end of pain suggests that this new person will bring comfort and happiness into their life. Additionally, the image of a star gleaming brightly reinforces the idea that this person will be a shining presence in their life.
The mention of the word "Steam" seems to act as a sort of trigger for the singer's positive thoughts about the future to come flooding in. The singer says that whenever they think of steam, they feel inspired and uplifted. The simile of feeling like an eagle in the sky when flying high helps to convey a sense of freedom and possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone
I have hope that someday, someone will come along
Comely as me
As beautiful as I believe myself to be
Will be
This person will come into my life
Summer
In a season of warmth and joy
Soft as the rain
As gentle as the falling rain
And sweet as the end of pain
Bringing me joy and relief from my sorrows
A star gleaming
This person is shining like a star
Bright as fire in the night
The light they bring is intense and powerful
A theme
This person represents a recurring motif in my life
Whenever i think of Steam
I am reminded of this person
When i'm flying high
During times when I am feeling great
Feel like a eagle in the sky
I feel as free and powerful as a soaring eagle
Writer(s): Archie Shepp
Contributed by Sydney C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.