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
Piper
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He completes every waking wish
From deepest sleep we travel home
On his tone with our hopes adrift
Piper play me a song
Piper play me a song
Piper play me a song
The marketplace is filled with schemes
And it seems they will never end
I've been here since light of day
Seen each play, now's my time to win
Piper play me a song
Piper play me a song
Piper play me a song
To last all day long
We're floating on your sweetest melody
And weaving through life's greatest mystery
See how the night is on the run
From a sun that our hearts reclaim
Between the silence and the sound
We are bound by the same refrain
Piper play me a song
Piper play me a song
Piper play me a song
To last all day long
All day long ...
The song "Piper" by Cassandra Wilson seems to be about the power of music and its ability to transport people to a different place or mood. The Piper is portrayed as a mystical figure who can complete every wish and take people on a journey through his music. The lyrics suggest that the world can sometimes be filled with schemes and competition (the marketplace), but music can provide a respite from that and be a pathway towards happiness or victory. The repeated line "Piper play me a song to last all day long" expresses a desire for an extended escape from reality through music.
Line by Line Meaning
With soulful wit and gestures sleek
The piper possesses a charming wit and graceful demeanor.
He completes every waking wish
The piper has the ability to fulfill the desires of those around him.
From deepest sleep we travel home
The piper's music has the power to transport listeners to a place of comfort and familiarity.
On his tone with our hopes adrift
We rely on the piper's music to carry us through uncertain times and give us hope.
Piper play me a song
The artist implores the piper to play a piece of music.
To last all day long
The singer wants the music to continue throughout the day.
The marketplace is filled with schemes
There are many deceitful practices taking place around us.
And it seems they will never end
These practices show no sign of stopping.
I've been here since light of day
The artist has been aware of these schemes since the beginning of time.
Seen each play, now's my time to win
The artist is ready to succeed and overcome the obstacles around them.
We're floating on your sweetest melody
The piper's music is soothing and uplifting.
And weaving through life's greatest mystery
The music allows listeners to navigate the unknowns of life with greater ease.
See how the night is on the run
Daylight is approaching and casting out the darkness.
From a sun that our hearts reclaim
The sun brings warmth and positivity to our lives.
Between the silence and the sound
The singer is caught between moments of peace and moments of noise.
We are bound by the same refrain
The piper's music brings people together and creates a sense of unity between them.
All day long ...
The artist wants the music to play continuously throughout the day.
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.