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
Sweet Lorraine
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
I'll give you just one guess,
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
When the bells will chime merrily,
(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,
Just think that I'm the lucky one
Who will lend her down the aisle
Each night I pray
That nobody steals her heart away,
Just can't wait until that happy day,
When I marry sweet Lorraine
Everything is set, skies are blue,
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
I'll give you just one guess,
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
When the bells will chime merrily,
(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,
For it's in my sweeties smile,
Just think that I'm the lucky one
Who will lend her down the aisle
Each night I pray
That nobody steals her heart away,
Just can't wait until that happy day,
When I marry sweet Lorraine
Cassandra Wilson's "Sweet Lorraine" is a romantic and joyful song that captures the excitement and anticipation of a wedding. The lyrics describe a man who is deeply in love with his fiancé, Lorraine, and is eagerly awaiting their wedding day. The opening lines "Everything is set, skies are blue, Can't believe it yet, but it's true" suggest that the man is overwhelmed by his happiness and disbelief that he has found the woman of his dreams. When Lorraine says "yes" to his proposal, he becomes even more excited and impatient for the wedding day to arrive.
The chorus of the song highlights the man's deep affection for Lorraine and his appreciation of her presence in his life. He says that her smile is enough to make him happy even when it's raining, and that he feels incredibly lucky to have her as his partner. He prays each night that no one will take her away, and he can't wait to marry her.
Overall, "Sweet Lorraine" is a joyful celebration of love and commitment. It captures the exhilarating feeling of finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and the eager anticipation of starting your life together as a married couple.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything is set, skies are blue
The singer is very content and at peace, everything in their world appears to be in order
Can't believe it yet, but it's true
The singer is filled with disbelief since something unbelievably good has occurred in their life
I'll give you just one guess
The singer is about to share exciting news and wants the listener to guess what it might be
My sweet Lorraine said 'yes'
The artist's beloved partner has accepted a marriage proposal
Waiting for the time, soon to be
The artist is eagerly anticipating the upcoming event, likely the wedding ceremony
When the bells will chime merrily
The singer imagines and looks forward to the joyous sounds of wedding bells ringing
(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun
The singer is so content with their life that nothing, not even bad weather, can put a damper on their happiness
For it's in my sweeties smile
The artist finds immense joy and contentment in their partner's smile
Just think that I'm the lucky one
The artist considers themselves incredibly fortunate to have found such a wonderful partner
Who will lend her down the aisle
The artist has the honor of walking their beloved partner down the aisle during the wedding ceremony
Each night I pray
The singer has great reverence for their partner and prays that nothing will come between them
That nobody steals her heart away
The artist wants to protect their partner from anyone who might try to take them away
Just can't wait until that happy day
The singer is filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming day of the wedding ceremony
When I marry sweet Lorraine
The singer is looking forward to sealing their love and commitment to their partner by marrying them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CLIFF BURWELL, CLIFFORD BURWELL, MITCHELL PARISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Hayes
Made my day-and it was tough to do that. Incredible concert! Thanks.
lulubluemoon
Pianist is so sweet to my ears
Cyndi Moring
looky who the pianist is! Jon Batiste!! What I wouldn't give to have him accompany me on any song!
Jan de Kort
The piano player seems to quote Ravel's Pavane for a dead princess at 0:48
Nancy Bleisch
this is the piano player in the house band for the Stephen Colbert show
adriana marie
jon batiste lovely