Having been born in San Bernardino, CA in 1940 and coming to Glendale, a su… Read Full Bio ↴Having been born in San Bernardino, CA in 1940 and coming to Glendale, a suburb of LA at the age of 1 we might consider John a native. He started piano and drawing simultaneously at the age of 5 has been doing both ever since. At the age of 12 he tried Cello for a while but quickly tired of carrying it around. Classically trained for a couple of years he found that he could hear a song and play it and since this was a lot more fun, went in this direction. He got turned on to jazz at a his first concert hearing Cal Tjader, Bud Shank and a terrific sax player that was either Stan Getz or Gerry Mulligan.

Later on his mother turned him on to an album by Errol Garner called "Concert by the Sea", recorded at Carmel, CA and he listened and leaned all of the arrangements by ear. His musical tastes were later affected by the likes of Pete Jolly, Bill Evans, and later by Kieth Jarrett. John wrote his first composition at the age of 14. It started out like a Bach fugue and turned into a full swinging tune. It had no title but was the beginning of hundreds to come. At the same time he was taking the "Famous Artists Course" from Westport, Connecticut, (You know-"Draw Me" and win an art scholar-ship- kind of thing). He used to have friends over and they would make recordings while beating on any nearby objects that might sound interesting.

At 18, he won a 1/2 tuition scholarship to Chouinard Art Institute and at 20 he began to play in clubs around town. He got his first music job by going through the local Glendale yellow pages and calling about 35 clubs. He got three auditions and landed one job at a place called the Zebra Club for $15.00 a night. Over the next few years he worked at art during the day and played different clubs at night, sometimes as far away as Newport Beach. He had a duo for a while, a trio but mostly played solo, doing as much jazz as possible. Highlights included playing with the Elliot Bros., having Gene Kruppa sit in for a set , and being asked to join a big band .

From jazz improvisation to a more classical type of improvisation was an area that intrigued him very much and in 1961 John found a 9 foot Steinway grand in an empty room and began to try some new things. He was overheard by someone and invited to play at the Brand Art Library, but was too shy to perform or perhaps this genre of music was too new to him. There was a correlation between what was happening in this music and his studies in abstract painting with Robert Irwin at Chouinard that made it very exciting. This excitement has intensified and 32 years later this still interests him. In his debut tape "Peruvian Suite" all of the music is improvised on the first stage. Each subsequent track or instrumental layer is improvised until that song is finished. This helps to keep a freshness that rivals live performance.

Reflections
J. Norman Stewart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is a Certified Hood Classic
Been looking at the sun
Just doing some reflection
Looking at the wrongs
And making a correction
Leaving all that bullshit off in the past tense
Really think they know
But they don't really have sense

Been looking at the sun
Just doing some reflection
Looking at the wrongs
And making a correction
Leaving all that bullshit off in the past tense
Really think they know
But they don't really have sense
You know what I'm on
Smoking on that strong
Pouring up in styrofoam
You know that I'm gone
Rolling up a wood
Looks like fingers, Donkey Kong
All my money long bitch
But you know what I'm on
Had to hit the bong before I record this song
Pouring up in Styrofoam
They know what I'm on
Rolling up a blunt
Looks like fingers, Donkey Kong
But you know what I'm on bitch
Time from Time
Been thinking that I know
What to say
But its easier to show
Don't want no games to be feeling like a hoe
Confront him in the face
Now you watch a nigga fold
Fold
Fold
The pressure is heat but they coal
Coal
Coal
You know Imma stay ten toes
Been looking at the sun
Just doing some reflection
Looking at the wrongs
And making a correction
Leaving all that bullshit off in the past tense
Really think they know
But they don't really have sense
Been looking at the sun
Just doing some reflection
Looking at the wrongs
And making a correction
Leaving all that bullshit off in the past tense

Really think they know
But they don't really have sense

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of J. Norman Stewart's song Reflections seem to reflect the struggle of the artist to rise from a challenging place in life to success. The singer, in his own words, is a "reflection of the times I was broke" and "before we [were] on the radio, they took me for a joke." He acknowledges that although he is now living a better life, his past experiences still linger and he has not forgotten what it feels like to be in a difficult situation. The song seems to be telling the story of how the artist overcame his struggles and challenges to achieve his goals.

As the song progresses, the singer makes statements indicating his determination to succeed, even in the face of adversity. He is not afraid to speak his mind and has an unapologetic attitude towards those who oppose him, as seen in the lyrics "I'm gonna say what I want to / Cause if not, yeah for sure it's gonna haunt you." The chorus of the song repeatedly declares "Out the motherfuckin' basement" which may be interpreted as the artist's desire to break out of his situation and make it to the top.

Overall, the lyrics of Reflections speak to overcoming struggles, persevering, and rising to success. The song seems to be a glimpse into the experience of the artist and the fight it took to get to where he is today.

Line by Line Meaning

One, two, one, two, one, two
Counting beats before starting the song

I'm a reflection of the times I was broke
I am influenced by my past struggles with poverty

Before we on the radio, they took me for a joke
People didn't take me seriously until I gained fame

Now we livin' day to day, uh
Currently living life as it comes

I'm gonna say what I want to
I will speak my mind freely

Cause if not, yeah for sure it's gonna haunt you
Suppressing emotions can have negative effects

But I'm still broke, always been real dope
Even though I'm still struggling financially, I have talent

It's been so long, I forgot how love feels bro
It has been a while since I felt loved

Like a real bike, battling the pain, yeah
Fighting through the pain like a warrior

Like a gold mic, girls say my name
Fame has attracted attention from admirers

Yeah I can and I will tho
I am capable and determined

Yeah I only want the positive, not the opposite, that's a problem bitch
I am only interested in positivity, not negativity

Why you always getting so upset by a lotta things
Questioning why others are easily angered

What the water brings, get it from the finer springs
Find the best quality in life

Iced up, gonna get me some designer rings
Buying luxury items as a symbol of success

See I been tryin' to live my life
Striving to live life to the fullest

And maybe yeah this might sound crazy but we could make it out the basement for real
Believing that there is potential for success despite starting from the bottom

Y'all leave me lone
Asking for personal space

I gotta cop a house and I ain't paying for a loan
Planning to obtain a home without taking a loan

On some fuck shit
Being rebellious and living life differently

Get it off my chest, quick
Expressing emotions immediately

I like to adress this
Wanting to discuss a particular topic

Done feelin' restless and all alone
No longer feeling agitated and lonely

I got me feelin' like I'm Al Capone
Feeling powerful and influential

Said I gotta cop a house and I ain't paying for a loan
Repeating the desire for homeownership without taking a loan

I'm into feelin' good, not trippin' on the phone
Focusing on feeling positive and not being bothered by phone calls

The underground king is coming for the throne, diggin' bones, uh
Ambitious goal to become a successful and respected artist

Out the motherfuckin' basement
Celebrating overcoming struggles and starting from the bottom

We all blazed, all the homies gettin' wasted
Everyone is enjoying themselves and having fun together