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.
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Joshua Redman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I had nothing but shadows
Then one morning you passed
And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart
All my worry blew away
When you taught me how to say
Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid
This Rover crossed over
If I never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street
Grab your street
On the Sunny Side of the Street is a jazz standard composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The song has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, and in this version by Joshua Redman, the lyrics talk about a person who had been feeling alone and sad until they met someone who showed them the bright side of life. The first verse describes the person's isolation and sadness, and how the appearance of this special someone transformed them. They now welcome the day and feel like they have the sun in their heart. The chorus encourages the listener to leave their worries behind and join the singer on the sunny side of the street where life is sweet and happy.
The second verse talks about how the person used to walk in the shade, feeling blue and defeated. But now, they've overcome their fears and have crossed over to the sunny side of the street. They feel like they're as rich as Rockefeller, even if they don't have any money. The song has a positive and uplifting message that encourages the listener to focus on the positive aspects of life and leave their problems behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked with no one and talked with no one
I was alone, with no one to talk to, and the darkness of my own thoughts was all I had.
And I had nothing but shadows
All I had were my own fears and doubts, which followed me everywhere like shadows.
Then one morning you passed
But then one day, you crossed my path.
And I brightened at last
And suddenly, I felt hopeful and happy instead of lonely and sad.
Now I greet the day and complete the day
Thanks to you, I start and end each day with joy in my heart.
With the sun in my heart
You brought the sunshine into my life and filled my heart with warmth.
All my worry blew away
All my worries vanished like they had never existed, thanks to your influence.
When you taught me how to say
You taught me a way to live that was free of worry and full of happiness.
Grab your coat and get your hat
Let's go outside and enjoy life to the fullest.
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Forget all your problems and leave them behind.
Just direct your feet
Focus your attention on the good things in life.
To the sunny side of the street
Let's choose to see the bright side of life, not the negative side.
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
Listen to how happy and carefree you are now!
And that happy tune is your step
You're walking with a spring in your step, full of joy and positivity.
Life can be so sweet
Life is so much better when you choose to see the good things and let go of worry.
On the sunny side of the street
When you choose to live on the positive side of life, everything looks brighter and more hopeful.
I used to walk in the shade
I used to see only the negative aspects of life, never the good things.
With those blues on parade
I was always sad, and my sadness was impossible to hide.
But I'm not afraid
But now, thanks to you, I'm not afraid of being happy anymore.
This Rover crossed over
I crossed over from a life of sadness to a life of joy.
If I never have a cent
Even if I never have any money,
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
I'd still feel wealthy and content.
Gold dust at my feet
I feel like a king, with riches at my feet.
On the sunny side of the street
Living on the bright side of life brings a wealth of joy and contentment.
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind