Red Guitar
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wash my face with blue water
Lay my head on white linens
Morning comes, drink black coffee
Then i play my song on red guitar

Take my flight through blue heavens
Walk my path in green gardens
Drive my car on black highway
Then I play my song on red guitar

*Everyday the colors come and dance for me
Every night they fade and disappear
We are merely shadows floating in this world
We got nothing to lose, we got nothing to fear
oh no, no...*
(*Repeat)

Drink my wine from pink glasses
Take the stage with purple princes
Love my man, yellow roses
Then i play my song on red guitar




I play my song on red guitar
Play my song on red guitar

Overall Meaning

The song ‘Red Guitar’ by Cassandra Wilson beautifully captures the essence of everyday life through the use of colors. Each verse speaks of various actions and experiences in different colors, before culminating in the chorus where the colors “come and dance” and life becomes a fleeting shadow. The repetition of the line “Then I play my song on red guitar” ties the different colors and experiences together, emphasizing how music unites and helps us make sense of the world around us.


The lyrics also depict a sense of artistic freedom and expression, as seen in the line “Take the stage with purple princes”. This reflects the idea of music acting as an escape, as well as a form of self-expression that transcends societal norms and restrictions. The use of first-person point-of-view in the lyrics further emphasizes the personal and introspective nature of the song, inviting the listener to relate to and reflect on their own experiences.


Overall, ‘Red Guitar’ is a captivating and introspective song that creatively uses colors to evoke emotions and experiences, while emphasizing how music and self-expression can help make sense of the world around us.


Line by Line Meaning

Wash my face with blue water
I cleanse myself every morning with cool, refreshing water


Lay my head on white linens
I rest peacefully on crisp and clean sheets


Morning comes, drink black coffee
As a new day begins, I sip on strong, dark coffee


Then I play my song on red guitar
Music is an integral part of my daily routine and I express myself through my red guitar


Take my flight through blue heavens
I soar through the blue skies with a sense of freedom


Walk my path in green gardens
I find peace and solace in nature's green gardens


Drive my car on black highway
I journey on the winding roads of life with a sense of purpose


Then I play my song on red guitar
No matter where I go, I always have my trusty red guitar to help me express myself


Everyday the colors come and dance for me
Life is a vibrant, colorful experience and I am grateful for each moment


Every night they fade and disappear
But each day must come to an end and I must cherish the memories that were made


We are merely shadows floating in this world
We are fleeting, impermanent beings simply existing in this vast world


We got nothing to lose, we got nothing to fear
However, we should not be afraid to live our lives to the fullest because we have nothing to lose


Drink my wine from pink glasses
I indulge in the sweet nectar of life and enjoy it in rose-tinted glasses


Take the stage with purple princes
I am not afraid to step into the limelight and perform for others like royalty


Love my man, yellow roses
I have a deep connection and affection for my partner, expressed through the symbolism of yellow roses


Then I play my song on red guitar
Music remains a constant presence in my life, especially as I express my love and emotions through my red guitar


I play my song on red guitar
Ultimately, my music is an extension of myself and how I interact with the world around me




Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

mardenhill

this has been on repeat for four consecutive days ... so so good. she's got it. respect!

Doris Baldwin

Simply love this ladies vocals..most unusual moving Vibe..especially "Red Guitar: a favorite.

Ernie Florence

Cassandra Wilson is one of my favorites!!!!! This song is another winner!!!! Beautiful!

Elelloang Lesei

I love it looking forward to listening the whole albums!!

Fernando Castaño

Hermosa cancion!!

claude gouriou

Marvelous song from a beautiful and talentuous artist.

rachel ceasar-metoyer

I agree

Ray Sherlock

great, as usual from Cassandra!

Vyretth

i played this song today as solo guitar :) it was great

Colin Barley

Love this!

More Comments

More Versions