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
If Loving You Is Wrong
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't wanna be right
If being right means being without
Id rather be wrong
My old man says it's a shame
It's a downright disgrace
As long as I got you by my side
I don't care what our people say
If I can't have you when I want you
I'm a see you when I can
Am I wrong to fall so deeply in love with you
Knowing you have a wife and two little children depending on you too
Am I wrong to hunger for the gentleness of your touch
Oh when I got someone else at home who needs me just as much
Am I wrong for giving my love to a married man
Tell me am I wrong for trying to hold on to the best thing I ever had?
The lyrics to Cassandra Wilson's song "If Loving You Is Wrong" explore the complex emotions and moral struggles of a woman involved in an affair with a married man. The singer acknowledges that society might view her actions as shameful and wrong, but she is unable to resist the powerful emotions and connection she feels towards this forbidden love. She declares that she would rather be wrong and have him by her side than be without him and be considered "right" according to societal norms.
The lyrics also delve into the internal conflict and guilt the singer feels regarding her actions. She questions whether it is wrong to love someone who is already committed to another person and whether it is worth it to risk hurting others for the sake of her own happiness. The verses suggest that the singer is torn between her love for this man and her responsibility to her own family, highlighting the difficult choices and sacrifices that come with love and relationships.
Overall, the song offers a poignant and emotionally raw portrayal of the complexities of love, desire, and morality, and showcases Cassandra Wilson's powerful and soulful voice.
Line by Line Meaning
If loving you is wrong
If it's not socially acceptable for me to love you
I don't wanna be right
I would rather be happy with you and ignore societal norms
If being right means being without
If being socially acceptable means I can't be with you
Id rather be wrong
I choose to be with you even though it's not considered right
My old man says it's a shame
My father thinks it's disgraceful
It's a downright disgrace
He thinks it's completely unacceptable
As long as I got you by my side
As long as I have you with me
I don't care what our people say
I don't care what others think or say about us
My friend tell me there's no future in loving a married man
My friend thinks our relationship has no future because you are married
If I can't have you when I want you
If I can't be with you all the time
I'm a see you when I can
I will see you whenever I can
Am I wrong to fall so deeply in love with you
Is it wrong for me to love you so much?
Knowing you have a wife and two little children depending on you too
Even though you have a family who rely on you
Am I wrong to hunger for the gentleness of your touch
Is it wrong for me to desire your affection and tenderness?
Oh when I got someone else at home who needs me just as much
Even though I have another person at home who depends on me
Am I wrong for giving my love to a married man
Is it wrong for me to love someone who is already married?
Tell me am I wrong for trying to hold on to the best thing I ever had?
Is it wrong for me to try and keep the best thing that has ever happened to me?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL MITCHELL HAMPTON, HOMER BANKS, RAYMOND E. JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
klepsidra7
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If being right means being without you
I'd rather live a wrong doing life
Your mama and daddy say it's a shame
It's a downright disgrace
But long as I got you by my side
I don't care what your people say
Your friends tell you it's no future
In loving a married man
If I can't see you when I want to
I'll see you when I can
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
Am I wrong to fall so deeply in love with you
Knowing I got a wife and two little children
Depending on me too
And am I wrong to hunger
For the gentleness of your touch
Knowing I got someone else at home
Who need me just as much
And are you wrong to give your love
To a married man
And am I wrong trying to hold on
To the best thing I ever had?
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
Are you wrong to give your love
To a married man
And am I wrong trying to hold on
To the best thing I ever had?
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right
I don't wanna be right
If it means being without you
I don't wanna be right
If it means sleeping at night
I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong
northernsoutherngirl
I ❤this woman's voice!!! She can do no wrong!! Didn't know she covered this song!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Michael Morris
Great voice, great style. 🎶
Constantin Akentiev
One of the most fantastic releases of Her Majesty!
RipleyNgr
yes its wrong, but its so hard to say 'lets put an end to it'...im in similar situation and when i hear this song i always cry... she has such a beautiful voice
Sylvia Hankin
I have an abundance of gratitude to you for sharing your instrument of voice. My lady Cassandra, you hold a graceful high standard equaling, FIRST CLASS.
LOVE AND LIGHT,
SYLVIA
aric paine
Sylvia Hankin i share the same light
Gerard McLean
Were have I been to have missed this absolute genius? Watching a programme on jazz and the name came up brilliant!
John Henderson
She's absolutely amazing! This is the first I've heard of her; I'm pretty impressed.
thetruepirili
This song tells my story.
Cassandra tells it gently and beautifully.
DorrisDiaz
Terrific version of this classic. Love it!