Branford studied with Alvin Batiste at Baton Rouge's Southern University in 1978, completing his studies at Berklee School of Music, between '79 & '81.
He began his professional career in the early 1980s playing with Art Blakey's big band (playing baritone), Clark Terry's band, and Blakey's Jazz Messengers. From 1982 to 1985 he played with his brother Wynton Marsalis's group, then left to play in Sting's backup band. In 1985, he appeared at Live Aid as Sting's only accompaniment (later joined by Phil Collins). He also toured with Miles Davis in one of the latter's last bands. In 1986 he set up his own group. From 1992 to 1995 he was musical director of the Tonight Show Band. He then formed the Buckshot LeFonque project which combined jazz with rhythm and blues, hip hop, and rock. Throughout the early 1990s, Branford had a series of guest appearances with the Grateful Dead, which are among the most popular performances in that band's history.
Creator of the record company Marsalis Music.
He is the oldest of the six Marsalis brothers, four of whom are jazz musicians, as is their father Ellis Marsalis. He is most prominently known in jazz as a tenor and soprano saxophonist and a most talented brilliant musical innovator among his brothers. Branford is a Life Scout and his brother Wynton is an Eagle Scout.
Official web: www.branfordmarsalis.com
Eternal
Branford Marsalis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you
And this is eternal, oh
It's love, true love
That brings my heart to you
Home to you girl, yeah
And it's the same
That brings you close to, to me baby
Oh, but tonight I want my arms
And body wrapped all around you
All around you
For as close as we both are
So much closer we will be
Believe in me, yeah
[Chorus]
Here and now
I wanna take a lover's vow
I want you to come with me now
Let's make tonight the first night of a love eternal
Day and night
We'll have an everlasting life
I wanna feel it shining bright
Let's make tonight the first night of a love eternal
Here in this place our passions move
Move in slow motion
Oh, while the rest of the world
In real time passes by, rushes by
Oh, I expressly forbid
Any heartache to ever, ever, ever, ever
Come anywhere, anywhere, anywhere near you girl
Oh, we'll use our love as protection
You'll never, never, never, never
Never have to cry oh, dry your eyes
[Chorus] x2
I'll dry your eyes girl, oh
[Chorus] x2
Hey, oooh, oooh baby
Oh, Lord have mercy
You see, all I know is I love you girl
And I need you baby
Ooo weee, oooh wee
Ooo wee, ooh wee baby
Ah, ah, ah
Feel your body
All around me baby
I don't need no one but you girl
Oh, for the rest of my life
Your life and my life
We'll be eternal
(Baby our love's eternal)
(Baby my love is eternal)
Oh whoa, whoa oh, oh yeah
Yeah, oh I need, trust in you girl
Nobody can tell me anything
Anything, anything about you baby
You been good to me girl
Oh, this is forever baby
Forever and ever and ever and ever
Ever, ever, ever
It's eternal
Forever, ever, ever, ever, ever ever
Oh, I, I love you girl
I really, really, really, really, really really ,really
The song Eternal by Branford Marsalis is a love ballad that expresses the depth and sincerity of the singer's love for his partner. The repetition of "I love you" creates a sense of intensity and devotion, while the phrase "this is eternal" emphasizes the eternal nature of their love. The verses describe how their love brings them together and creates a sense of protection from heartache and pain. The chorus expresses the desire for a lifelong commitment and an everlasting life together.
The second verse creates a sense of timelessness and reinforces the theme of eternal love. The slow motion movements and the contrast with the rushing world outside create a feeling of being in a bubble of love and protection. The singer explicitly forbids any heartache to enter their relationship, emphasizing the strength of their bond.
The song's overall message is one of utter devotion and commitment, with the singer expressing the idea that their love will last an eternal amount of time. The poetic language and repetition of key phrases create a sense of depth and sincerity that will resonate with any listener who has experienced true love.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you
The singer loves their partner deeply
And this is eternal, oh
The love between the singer and their partner is forever and unending
It's love, true love
The singer is experiencing genuine love
That brings my heart to you
The love the artist feels for their partner is what draws them to their partner
Home to you girl, yeah
The artist feels at home with their partner
And it's the same
The love shared between the singer and their partner is mutual
Deep feeling of love
The love shared between the singer and their partner is profound
That brings you close to, to me baby
The love shared between the artist and their partner is what brings them physically and emotionally closer to one another
Oh, but tonight I want my arms
The artist desires physical closeness with their partner
And body wrapped all around you
The artist wants to be intimately close with their partner
For as close as we both are
The singer and their partner are already close, but the singer wants to be even closer
So much closer we will be
The artist and their partner will be even closer than they already are
Believe in me, yeah
The singer wants their partner to trust them and their love
Here and now
In the present moment
I wanna take a lover's vow
The singer wants to pledge their love to their partner
I want you to come with me now
The artist wants their partner to join them in this vow of love
Let's make tonight the first night of a love eternal
The artist wants to begin a long-lasting and enduring love with their partner
Day and night
At all times
We'll have an everlasting life
The love between the singer and their partner will endure forever
I wanna feel it shining bright
The artist wants to experience the brightness and intensity of their love
Here in this place our passions move
The artist and their partner are passionate with each other in their current location
Move in slow motion
The artist and their partner are enjoying each other's company slowly and deliberately
Oh while the rest of the world
Despite what is happening in the rest of the world
In real time passes by, rushes by
Time in the real world moves quickly, but the artist and their partner are savoring their time together
Oh, I expressly forbid
The singer adamantly rejects
Any heartache to ever, ever, ever, ever
The singer wants to prevent their partner from experiencing any emotional pain
Come anywhere, anywhere, anywhere near you girl
The singer wants to protect their partner from any emotional distress or agony
Oh, we'll use our love as protection
The artist believes their love can protect their partner from any harm
You'll never, never, never, never
The artist is determined to ensure their partner never experiences emotional pain or heartache
Never have to cry oh, dry your eyes
The singer will always comfort and console their partner when they are upset
I'll dry your eyes girl, oh
The singer will be there for their partner when they are upset and dry their tears
Hey, oooh, oooh baby
The artist expresses affectionate feelings towards their partner
Oh Lord have mercy
Expressing a sense of gratitude, awe and respect
You see all I know is I love you girl
The artist knows that they love their partner deeply
And I need you baby
The singer needs their partner in their life
Ooo weee, oooh wee, ooo wee, ooh wee baby
Expressing joy and elation
Ah, ah, ah, feel your body
The singer wants to be physically close to their partner
All around me baby
The singer wants to feel their partner's presence everywhere around them
I don't need no one but you girl
The singer only needs their partner in their life
Oh, for the rest of my life
The artist wants to spend the rest of their life with their partner
Your life and my life
The artist and their partner's lives are intertwined
We'll be eternal
Their love and bond will last forever
(Baby our love's eternal)
Affirming that their love will last forever
(Baby my love is eternal)
The artist confirms their love for their partner is never-ending
Oh whoa, whoa oh, oh yeah
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Yeah, oh I need, trust in you girl
The artist needs their partner's trust and faith in their love
Nobody can tell me anything
The singer is steadfast in their love and commitment to their partner, not influenced by what others say
Anything, anything about you baby
The artist is certain in their feelings about their partner
You been good to me girl
The singer has had positive experiences with and appreciates their partner
Oh, this is forever baby
The singer is certain their love will last forever
Forever and ever and ever and ever
The singer emphasizes the enduring nature of their love
Ever, ever, ever
The artist emphasizes the unending nature of their love
It's eternal
Their love is everlasting and enduring
Forever, ever, ever, ever, ever ever
The singer emphasizes that their love is unending
Oh, I, I love you girl
The singer loves their partner deeply
I really, really, really, really, really really ,really
Emphasis on the genuineness and depth of the artist's love
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW MICHAEL WRIGHT, CHRISTOPHER JARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Santi H
I just finished listening to this piece while working in my studio. This is one of the most astoundingly beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. What an incredible band.
Roman Walter
This album is a monster and reminder why I love Branford, Joey, Eric and Tain so much. Thanks!!!
吉田順子
Theo Klaase n
Mveli Hlatshwayo
my first time hearing this, its masterfull. I'm going to look for this album.
Theodorus Rex
+Roman Walter Agreed.... So powerful...
Theodorus Rexicon
I had the pleasure of speaking to Branford about this tune once... Naturally, I mentioned the break out at almost 12 minutes in. What a tune!
Theodorus Rex
If you ever wanted to hear pure bliss and joy - 11:45....! Wow... Gives me shivers every time...! What a marvelous masterpiece...
Theodorus Rex
that must be an interesting friend...
igorwysocki82 wysocki
And it looks as if it was one exhalation. Such a long beautiful phrase! I remember hearing it for the first time with a friend of mine. We were both speechless!
Dwayne Hall
11:51, you are correct, what joy, celebration, and it goes on until 13:15 or so!