Redman, who is Black and Jewish, was born in Berkeley, California. He is the son of jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman. He is a graduate of Berkeley High School. Then in 1991 he graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Redman won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition the same year and began focusing on his musical career. Redman continued to develop his style through the 1990s, beginning with a sideman appearance on his father's 1992 record Choices. On his sophomore effort as a leader, Wish, he was joined by a notable lineup consisting of guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins. He continued to work with various quartets until forming a new trio, Elastic, with keyboardist Sam Yahel and drummer Brian Blade.
In addition to his efforts with Elastic, he is the artistic director of San Francisco's SFJAZZ Collective, which is considered by many to be an emerging geographic and philosophic rival to the stylistically neo-classicist Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis.
Redman has also made a guest appearance on an episode of the TV show Arthur as the uncle of Francine, one of the main characters. The episode also depicts him in a boxing match against classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
My One and Only Love
Joshua Redman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
And you appear in all your splendor,
My one and only love.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
A heaven that I've never known.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
My one and only love.
The song "My One and Only Love" by Joshua Redman Quartet is a beautiful love song that expresses the depth of love and affection for a particular person. The lyrics are deeply emotional and offer a glimpse into the heart of the songwriter. The opening lines "The very thought of you makes my heart sing, like an April breeze on the wings of spring" are an indication of the depth of love that the songwriter has for the subject of the song. The lyric denotes that the person is a breath of fresh air, thus elevating the feelings of being in love.
The following line, "And you appear in all your splendor, my one and only love" is an expression of the reverence and devotion that the songwriter has for the subject of the song. They view the person as a magnificently beautiful figure who is their one and only love, expressing the exclusivity of their relationship. The middle stanzas of the song speak to the intimate moments that the songwriter shares with their beloved, and how these moments are cherished as some of the most special memories they have.
The final stanza highlights the passion and depth of love that the songwriter feels for the person. The lyrics "You fill my eager heart with such desire. Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire. I give myself in sweet surrender, my one and only love" is a display of how powerful the emotions associated with love can truly be. The songwriter is willing to give themselves wholly and without reservation to the person they love, demonstrating that their love is all-encompassing, encompassing both their mind and their soul.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you makes my heart sing
You bring so much happiness to my life that even the thought of you makes my heart feel light and joyful.
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
You add a freshness and newness to my life, like a warm spring breeze after a long winter.
And you appear in all your splendor,
I am captivated by the beauty that you possess, both inward and outward.
My one and only love.
You are the only one who holds such a special place in my heart and has all of my affection.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
As the night falls, it seems to create an enchanting and ethereal aura around us.
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
The quietness of the night, while we are wrapped in each other's embrace, brings a sense of peacefulness.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
Your kisses are like a gentle, warm embrace that I never want to end.
My one and only love.
You are the one person that holds my heart and affections so fully and completely that there is no other counterpart.
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
Your touch is like a divine and heavenly experience that I never want to let go of.
A heaven that I've never known.
The love and joy that you bring into my life are unlike anything that I had ever experienced before.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
The way your face lights up and turns rosy when you hear me speaking shows how much you care for me and our love.
Tells me that you are my own.
I know without a doubt that you belong to me and no one else by the way you respond to me.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
My heart yearns and desires you so much that every thought, sensation, and feeling is centered around you.
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
Every kiss from you burns so hot and passionately that it fills me with tremendous joy and love.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
I give myself to you completely and wholly, without reservation or doubt.
My one and only love.
You are special beyond words and the one person who holds my complete and utter devotion.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Guy B. Wood, Robert Mellin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind