Wilson's repertoire includes both jazz and blues standards and renditions of pop and rock songs. Her contralto voice has been described as bluesy and sultry, and the style of her music ranges from swing to funk to bossa nova. Many of the songs she covers are by artists who usually record in other genres.
Wilson counts the late Miles Davis as one of her greatest influences. In 1989 she performed as the opening act for Davis at the JVC Jazz Festival in Chicago. In 1999 she produced Traveling Miles as a tribute to Davis. The album developed from a series of jazz concerts that she performed at Lincoln Center in November 1997 in Davis's honor and includes three selections based on Davis's own compositions, in which Wilson adapted the original themes.
A Brief Discography
Point of View (1986, JMT)
Days Aweigh (1987, JMT)
Blue Skies (1988, JMT)
Jumpworld (1989, JMT)
She Who Weeps (1990, JMT)
Live (1991, JMT)
After the Beginning Again (1992, JMT)
Dance to the Drums Again (1992, DIW/Columbia)
Blue Light 'til Dawn (1993, Blue Note)
New Moon Daughter (1995, Blue Note)
Rendezvous (with Jacky Terrasson) (1998, Blue Note)
Traveling Miles (1999, Blue Note)
Belly of the Sun (2002, Blue Note)
Glamoured (2003, Blue Note)
Thunderbird (2006, Blue Note)
Loverly (2008, Blue Note)
Silver Pony (2010, Blue Note)
Another Country (2012, eOne)
Official website: www.cassandrawilson.com
Caravan
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The mystery of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sands so I may keep
The memory of our caravan
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms of you
Beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The mystery of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sands so I may keep
The memory of our caravan
This is so exciting, you are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms of you
Beneath me here, beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
Within our desert caravan
Within our desert caravan
Here we go, within our desert caravan
Cassandra Wilson's song "Caravan" paints a beautiful picture of a nighttime journey in the desert. The lyrics describe the night sky with its bright stars and fading light, as the couple travels in a caravan across the vast sands. As they travel, the singer's lover sleeps soundly on their shoulder, creating a feeling of intimacy and tenderness. The singer is exhilarated by their partner's presence and describes them as magical and captivating. With the mysteries of the desert and the warmth of love, the singer's dream of love is becoming a reality.
The desert, with its vast expanse of sand and sky, has always been a rich source of inspiration for poets and musicians alike. Through Wilson's lyrics, the desert is depicted as a place of wonder and discovery, where love and magic exist. But the desert is often associated with harshness and desolation, and the fading light of the stars above suggests uncertainty and the passing of time. The caravan provides a sense of security and protection against these uncertainties, allowing the singer to enjoy the beauty around them while keeping the memory of the journey alive.
Overall, "Caravan" is a song about exploration and adventure, as well as the joys of being in love. It celebrates the beauty of the night sky and the desert, and the power of human connection to create warmth and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The bright stars shining above the caravan at night create an air of mystery and wonder.
The mystery of their fading light
The stars' light seems to fade into the darkness, which adds to the enigma surrounding them.
That shines upon our caravan
The caravan basks in the luminosity of the stars above, creating a beautiful atmosphere.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
While journeying through the sand, the artist begs their lover to rest on their shoulder, so they can feel sheltered and safe in their lover's embrace.
Across the sands so I may keep
As they trek across the desert, the artist desires to retain memories of this adventure with their lover.
The memory of our caravan
The caravan, and all the experiences within it, becomes a cherished memory.
This is so exciting, you are so inviting
The journey, and the love felt between the singer and their companion, is exhilarating and captivating.
Resting in my arms
The artist's lover is at ease and trusts them enough to rest in their arms.
As I thrill to the magic charms of you
The artist is captivated by their lover's irresistible allure and finds joy in admiring them.
Beside me here beneath the blue
The couple is joined together under the vast blue sky.
My dream of love is coming true
The singer's desire for romantic love is being fulfilled while on this journey.
Within our desert caravan
The desert caravan serves as a scene for a love story, with the caravan being a symbol of it all.
Here we go, within our desert caravan
The singer acknowledges that this journey in the desert caravan is where their love story is unfolding.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN WILCOX, KASIM SULTON, ROGER POWELL, TODD RUNDGREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
1 Manuel Almeida e Silva
Caravan é uma melodia eterna Cassandra é simplesmente fantástica.
Harvey Mcknight
Very Percussive take of this classic