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.
Yesterdays
Joshua Redman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days I knew as happy sweet sequestered days
Olden days, golden days
Days of mad romance and love
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free and flaming life, then truth was mine
Sad am I, glad am I?
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Days I knew as happy sweet sequestered days
Golden days, olden days
Days of mad romance and love
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
Joyous free and flaming life, then truth was mine
Sad am I, glad am I?
For today I'm dreaming of yesterdays
The lyrics to Joshua Redman's song "Yesterdays" paint a nostalgic picture of a time gone by. The repetition of the opening line "Yesterdays, yesterdays" reinforces the idea of looking back on the past. The following lines describe the days of the past as "happy sweet sequestered days" and "days of mad romance and love." The singer is longing for a time when they were "joyous free and flaming life," and when "truth was mine." However, despite this longing, the singer acknowledges that they are "sad" and "glad" at the same time, because they are dreaming of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterdays, yesterdays
Reflecting on the past, the singer longs for the happy moments they experienced.
Days I knew as happy sweet sequestered days
The days of the past were filled with joy and comfort, as if they were hidden away from the world in a safe place.
Olden days, golden days
The singer is reflecting on a time when life seemed perfect and full of richness.
Days of mad romance and love
The vibrant energy of youthful love and passion is recalled with fondness.
Then gay youth was mine, truth was mine
The artist recalls a time when they were carefree and living their truth with abandon.
Joyous free and flaming life, then truth was mine
The singer lived their life with passion and without fear when they were young.
Sad am I, glad am I?
The singer is conflicted in their emotions, feeling both sorrowful and grateful for memories of the past.
For today I'm dreaming of yesterdays
The artist longs for the comfort and happiness of the past, which now seems out of reach.
Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.