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.
When the Sun Comes Down
Joshua Redman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see you come, I can hear you call
In every corner of the world, in every boy and every girl
There lives a hunger to be free
With every passion that I feel, and every secret I reveal
Oh let the night unchain my heart
When the sun goes down, when the night star falls
I can see you come, I can hear you call
Come meet me underneath the stars, and you can show me who you are
Shadows of love under the moon
Into the darkness now we go, every heart will find its soul [repeat]
When the sun goes down, when the city sleeps
We can be ourselves, in this land of dreams [repeat...]
When the sun goes down
(Grazie a FEDELORE per questo testo)
The lyrics to Joshua Redman's song "When the Sun Comes Down" explore the theme of freedom and self-discovery. The opening lines, "When the sun goes down, when the night star falls, I can see you come, I can hear you call," create a sense of anticipation and excitement, suggesting that the night time is a time for adventure and exploration. The lyrics go on to describe how "every corner of the world" holds a "hunger to be free," and the singer seeks to embrace this ideal by letting "the night unchain [their] heart." The repetition of the line "into the darkness now we go, every heart will find its soul" expresses the idea that the night is a time for self-discovery and finding one's true purpose in life.
The second half of the song shifts focus to the idea of connection and intimacy, with the singer inviting someone to "come meet me underneath the stars," where they can "show me who you are." The use of the phrase "shadows of love under the moon" creates a sense of intimacy and secrecy. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that the night time is a time of freedom and liberation.
Overall, Joshua Redman's song "When the Sun Comes Down" invites the listener to embrace the mystery and adventure of the night time, and encourages them to embrace their true selves and connect with others in a meaningful way.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun goes down, when the night star falls
As the sun goes down and the stars come out, I sense your presence and hear your voice calling to me.
I can see you come, I can hear you call
I can feel your energy and hear your voice drawing me to you as you come towards me.
In every corner of the world, in every boy and every girl
Regardless of where you are in the world or who you are, there exists a longing to break free from limitations and constraints.
There lives a hunger to be free
A yearning exists within us all to experience true autonomy and freedom.
With every passion that I feel, and every secret I reveal
In every moment of intense emotion and every instance of vulnerability, I long to be unburdened and free.
Oh let the night unchain my heart
As the night descends, I hope to be freed from my inhibitions and allowed to express my desires without limitations.
Into the darkness now we go, every heart will find its soul [repeat]
As we journey into the unknown, we each have the opportunity to discover our true selves and align with our authentic soul.
Come meet me underneath the stars, and you can show me who you are
Join me under the canopy of stars, where we can be ourselves and reveal our true identities to each other.
Shadows of love under the moon
Our love is illuminated and defined by the moon's light and the shadows it creates.
When the sun goes down, when the city sleeps
As night falls and the city is at rest, we can finally let go of our facades and be authentic.
We can be ourselves, in this land of dreams [repeat...]
Within this world of imagination and possibilities, we have the freedom to be our true selves without fear of judgement or rejection.
When the sun goes down
As night falls, we can let down our guard and embrace our true selves.
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.