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
Love Phases Dimensions
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I searched my mind but could't find you there
The night was black, a comet pierced the sky
How can it be that you don't hear my cry?
All through the night I tossed
It seemed as if a thousand years
Were slipping past my eyes
And falling, tear by tear
love phases dimensions
And travels faster than the speed of light
Love phases dimensions
Growing stronger
we're worlds apart and yet you must be near
The planet burns, I said I have no fear
Tonight you sleep beneath a foreign moon
I pray to god you'll be returning soon
As nebulae collapse and galaxies disintegrate
Our hearts will meet regardless of the wait
love phases dimensions
And travels faster than the speed of light
Love phases dimensions
And it's growing stronger
In Cassandra Wilson's song Love Phases Dimensions, she talks about a deep yearning for someone who seems to be miles and miles away. She sings about feeling like the person she's searching for has moved beyond the stratosphere, and she's unable to find them in her mind. The metaphorical language suggests that the distance between the two seems insurmountable, and it's causing her to feel a great deal of agony. She talks about the blackness of the night and the piercing of the sky with the comet, which is likely a metaphor for the pain that she's experiencing inside.
Despite the vastness of space between them, Wilson remains hopeful that love can transcend all dimensions and that it has the power to grow stronger even when it seems impossible. She acknowledges that they're worlds apart, but she still feels like the person she's looking for is near somehow. As she watches the planet burn, she says that she has no fear of what's happening around her because her faith in their love keeps her going. The chorus of the song highlights the idea that love can move faster than the speed of light and that even if nebulae collapse and galaxies disintegrate, their love will still meet regardless of the wait. It's a beautiful song that speaks to the universality of love and the power it has to transcend all barriers.
Line by Line Meaning
I felt you move beyond the stratosphere
The singer feels that her lover has moved beyond the limit of their relationship.
I searched my mind but could't find you there
The singer tries to understand why her lover is distant, but fails to find an explanation.
The night was black, a comet pierced the sky
The atmosphere was dark and ominous, but a comet shining in the sky offered some hope.
How can it be that you don't hear my cry?
The singer is frustrated that her lover does not respond to her emotional pleas.
All through the night I tossed
The singer was restless and unable to sleep due to her emotional distress.
It seemed as if a thousand years
The singer feels like time is moving slowly and that every second feels like an eternity.
Were slipping past my eyes
Despite feeling like time is moving slowly, the singer feels like it's slipping away from her.
And falling, tear by tear
The singer is crying and feels like she's losing a part of herself.
Love phases dimensions
Love can take on different forms and can be experienced in various ways.
And travels faster than the speed of light
Love can be fast and intense, and can reach great distances in a short amount of time.
Growing stronger
Despite the distance and challenges faced, the love between the singer and her lover continues to grow and thrive.
we're worlds apart and yet you must be near
Even though the singer is physically distant from her lover, she still feels emotionally close to him.
The planet burns, I said I have no fear
Despite the destructive forces around her, the singer is still confident in her love for her partner.
Tonight you sleep beneath a foreign moon
The singer's lover is in a different, unfamiliar place.
I pray to god you'll be returning soon
The singer hopes that her lover will return to her soon.
As nebulae collapse and galaxies disintegrate
The universe is constantly changing and evolving.
Our hearts will meet regardless of the wait
Despite the distance and time apart, the love between the singer and her lover will persist and remain strong.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Gonzales
Her voice is a gift to us all. I am in awe.