Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was … Read Full Bio ↴Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was born in Chicago, Illinois and died due to breast cancer in Encino, California.
Irene's older brother, Roy Kral, was a successful musician when Irene started singing professionally as a teenager. She sung with bands on tours led by Woody Herman and Chubby Jackson, former Herman bass player.
Irene joined Maynard Ferguson's band in the late 1950s and sang with groups led by Stan Kenton and Shelly Manne.
Irene then started a solo career until her death at 46 years of age. She was a ballad singer who stated that Carmen McRae was one of her inspirations.
Irene was made more famous posthumously when Clint Eastwood used her recordings in his 1995 movie, The Bridges of Madison County.
(from Wikipedia)

Experiment
Irene Kral Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Before you leave these portals
To meet less fortunate mortals
There's just one final message
I would give to you
You all have learned reliance
On the sacred teachings of science
So I hope, through life you never will decline
In spite of philistine

Defiance
To do what all good scientists do

Experiment
Make it your motto day and night
Experiment
And it will lead you to the light
The apple on the top of the tree
Is never too high to achieve
So take an example from Eve
Experiment
Be curious
Though interfering friends may frown,
Get furious
At each attempt to hold you down
If this advice you'll only employ
The future can offer you infinite joy
And merriment

Experiment
And you'll see

Overall Meaning

The song "Experiment" by Irene Kral is a motivational song that encourages the listener to embrace experimentation and scientific curiosity in life. The lyrics are addressed to someone who is leaving and about to meet less fortunate people. The singer has one final message for them, which is to never decline in life and always follow the teachings of science. She urges them to make experimentation their motto day and night, and it will lead them to the light. The apple on the top of the tree is never too high to achieve, and they should take Eve's example and experiment. The singer advises the listener to be curious and get furious at any attempt to hold them down, and if they employ this advice, the future can offer them infinite joy and merriment.

Line by Line Meaning

Before you leave these portals
Before departing from this place

To meet less fortunate mortals
To interact with people who are not as fortunate

There's just one final message
There is only one last thing to say

I would give to you
That I want to impart to all of you

You all have learned reliance
You have all gained the ability to rely on

On the sacred teachings of science
The sacred teachings of science have been your guide

So I hope, through life you never will decline
Therefore, I hope that you always maintain

In spite of philistine
Despite the narrow-minded views of

Defiance
Those who oppose you

To do what all good scientists do
To pursue what every good scientist does

Experiment
Experimentation is key