Classical music played a large role in Dolphy's early training and remained important to him. Dolphy performed and recorded Edgard Varese's Density 21.5 for solo flute as well as other classical[ works, and participated heavily in Third Stream efforts. Dolphy's work is sometimes classified as free jazz, though he insisted that his compositions and solos were grounded in a thorough, if occasionally unorthodox, use of harmony. He is often compared to Ornette Coleman.
Numerous recordings were made of live performances by Dolphy, and these have been issued by many sometimes dubious record labels, drifting in and out of print ever since. In 1964, Dolphy signed with the legendary Blue Note label and recorded Out To Lunch (once again, the label insisted on using "out" in the title). This album was deeply rooted in the avant garde, and Dolphy's solos are as dissonant and unpredictable as anything he ever recorded. Out To Lunch was deeply influential for a generation of jazz players, and remains a cornerstone in the modern jazz movement. On this album, Dolphy cemented an association with Bobby Hutcherson (they had also recorded together the previous year). Together with his work with Andrew Hill on the pianist's Point of Departure, his working relationship with Hutcherson is one of the intriguing might-have-been's of jazz history. Dolphy's 1964 Blue Note recording Out to Lunch is often regarded not only as his finest, but also as one of the greatest jazz recordings.
Dolphy had intended to settle in Europe (his fiancé was working as a ballerina in Paris) but he died in Berlin from a diabetic attack (which doctors believed was due to malnourishment) on June 29, 1964.
He still remains a legend.
He is honored by the Jesuit institution of LeMoyne College, where there is an annual event called "Dolphy Day." This day is held to honor the music and legend of Dolphy. The day has become a symbol of carefree, college fun, a time to be with friends outdoors on the first beautiful day of Spring. The 40th anniversary of Dolphy Day, celebrated April 7, 2010, honored Eric Dolphy with a life-size bronze sculpture that is the only one of its kind in the world.
Lover
Eric Dolphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I let you
We broke the ties that bind
I wanted to forget you
And leave the past behind
Still, the magic of the night I met you
Seems to stay forever in my mind
And high above
The moon was new
And so was love
This eager heart of mine was singing
Lover where can you be
You came at last
Love had its day
That day is past
You've gone away
This aching heart of mine is singing
Lover come back to me
When I remember every little thing
You used to do
I'm so lonely
Every road I walk along
I walk along with you
No wonder I am lonely
The sky is blue
The night is cold
The moon is new
But love is old
And while I'm waiting here
This heart of mine is singing
Lover come back to me
When I remember every little thing
You used to do
I grow lonely
Every road I walk along
I walk along with you
No wonder I am lonely
The sky is blue
The night is cold
The moon is new
But love is old
And while I'm waiting here
This heart of mine is singing
Lover come back to me
The opening verses of "Lover" by Eric Dolphy paint a picture of heartbreak and longing. The singer expresses regret for letting their lover go and wanting to move on, but the memories of their initial meeting linger vividly in their mind. The imagery of the blue sky, new moon, and the magic of that fateful night when love was born creates a sense of nostalgia and yearning for what once was.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the fleeting nature of love. The joy of being with their lover has passed, and now they are left with a heart full of pain and aching for their return. The repetition of the plea "Lover come back to me" conveys the deep yearning and desperation the singer feels for their lost love. The contrast between the freshness of the moon and the staleness of lost love highlights the passage of time and the enduring pain of heartbreak.
The chorus of the song reveals the profound loneliness and emptiness the singer feels in the absence of their lover. Every little thing their lover used to do is remembered with longing, and the singer feels as though they are walking alone, with their lover's presence still lingering beside them. The imagery of walking along every road with the memory of their lover emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of their longing and the inescapable feeling of loneliness.
The closing verses of the song bring a sense of resignation and acceptance of the reality that love is old and often fleeting. The singer acknowledges the cyclical nature of love, with the sky remaining blue, the night turning cold, and the moon continuing to wax and wane. Despite the passage of time and the pain of waiting, the heart continues to sing out for the return of the lost lover, capturing the enduring hope and devotion that remains in the face of heartbreak. The poignant lyrics and wistful melody of "Lover" evoke the universal experience of love and loss, resonating with anyone who has yearned for a lost love to return.
Line by Line Meaning
You went away
You chose to leave
I let you
I allowed you to go
We broke the ties that bind
We ended our connection
I wanted to forget you
I desired to erase you from my memory
And leave the past behind
And move on from the past
Still, the magic of the night I met you
Yet, the enchantment of our first meeting
Seems to stay forever in my mind
Remains etched in my memory
The sky was blue
The sky had a blue hue
And high above
And far above us
The moon was new
The moon was in its new phase
And so was love
And so was the feeling of love
This eager heart of mine was singing
My enthusiastic heart was yearning
Lover where can you be
Love, where have you gone
You came at last
You finally arrived
Love had its day
Love had its time
That day is past
That moment has passed
You've gone away
You've departed
This aching heart of mine is singing
My pained heart is longing
Lover come back to me
Love, return to me
When I remember every little thing
When I recall every detail
You used to do
You once did
I'm so lonely
I'm extremely isolated
Every road I walk along
Every path I travel
I walk along with you
I journey with you in my thoughts
No wonder I am lonely
It’s no surprise that I feel lonely
The sky is blue
The sky remains blue
The night is cold
The night is chilly
The moon is new
The moon is still in its new phase
But love is old
But love feels ancient
And while I'm waiting here
And as I linger here
This heart of mine is singing
My heart is yearning
Lover come back to me
Love, return to me
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, TuneCore Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ONErpm, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN, II, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, SIGMUND ROMBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind