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.
The Second Time Around
Joshua Redman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
In Joshua Redman's The Second Time Around, the lyrics speak to the concept of love and how it changes over time. The opening line, "Love is lovelier the second time around" suggests that the experience of love is richer and fuller the second time around compared to the first experience of love. It also implies that there is a difference in perception between one's first and second experience of love.
As the song progresses, Redman touches on the comfort of experiencing love a second time. "Love's more comfortable the second time you fall, like a friendly home the second time you call", showcases how love can feel familiar and safe when one is experiencing it again. The line "Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young" suggests that the experience of love is more meaningful when one has lived life and has more experience under their belt.
Towards the end of the song, Redman maintains a sense of wonder about the miracle of finding love. Despite some believing that love only comes once, Redman expresses his gladness of meeting his love the second time around. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of hope and appreciation for the beauty of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is lovelier the second time around
The feeling of love is stronger and more beautiful when experienced a second time.
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
A mature, grounded love is just as wonderful as a passionate, youthful love.
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Hearing a love song for the second time, when you have experienced love before, makes the lyrics more meaningful.
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Experiencing love again makes you reflect on how you may have taken love for granted when you were young and inexperienced.
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
After experiencing heartbreak and falling in love again, love feels more comfortable and familiar.
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Love feels like a familiar and welcoming place when you come back to it after experiencing it before.
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
We may never know how or why we found love again, but we should appreciate it as a miracle.
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
Many people believe that true love only happens once, but that is not always the case.
I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
The artist is grateful and happy to have found love again with the same person.
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ARTHUR L. PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind