El… Read Full Bio ↴Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.
Elling graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1989. He then enrolled in The University of Chicago's Divinity School and remained a student there until January 1992, when he left school one credit short of graduation.
In the last decade, Elling has released seven albums for the Blue Note label. He has also performed and recorded with many musicians, including David Amram, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Corgan, Orbert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter and Rex Richardson.
As of late 2005, Elling's current band includes Rob Amster on bass, Laurence Hobgood on piano, and Kobe Watkins on drums. He is regularly featured at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge at 4802 N. Broadway in Chicago.
Elling has won the Down Beat and JazzTimes critics’ polls three years in a row in the Best Male Singer category. He is also Vice Chair of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the 17,000-member service organization that produces the annual Grammy Awards.
The Waking
Kurt Elling Lyrics
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I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
Kurt Elling’s song “The Waking” is a beautifully crafted poem by Theodore Roethke which speaks about the journey of life from waking to sleep and how one learns from it. The opening line, “I wake to sleep and take my waking slow,” suggests that life is a cycle, and each day is a new beginning that promises a journey through one’s dreams to reality. Each day is an opportunity to live and learn, picking up bits and pieces of knowledge and wisdom as we go.
The next line, “I feel my fate in what I cannot fear,” suggests that one’s destiny is dictated by what one fears, and that one should never let fear hold them back. Instead, one should embrace their fears and use them as an opportunity to learn and grow.
The third line, “I learn by going where I have to go,” suggests that the journey of life is different for everyone, and that we must each find our own way. The next few lines suggest that one’s thoughts and feelings are closely connected, and that we learn by observing the world around us.
The poem also talks about the importance of nature and how we can learn from it. The last line, “I learn by going where I have to go,” suggests that even when we do not know our next step, we must keep moving forward and trust that we will find our way.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I am awake, but I am not fully alive. I take my time to experience each moment.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
My destiny lies in the things that scare me the most.
I learn by going where I have to go.
True knowledge and wisdom is gained by journeying to unknown places.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
Our emotions drive our thoughts and actions. What else is there to understand?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I am so in tune with myself that I can hear my very essence dancing joyfully.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
With so many people around me, who truly knows me and sees me for who I am?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
I tread upon this earth with reverence and care, for it is a sacred place.
And learn by going where I have to go.
I continue to gain knowledge and insights by traveling to new and unfamiliar places.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The natural world is full of mysteries that we can never fully comprehend.
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
Even the most insignificant beings can achieve great things through hard work and determination.
Great Nature has another thing to do
Nature has an endless supply of wonders and beauty for us to discover.
To you and me, so take the lively air,
We are free to explore and experience all that nature has to offer.
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
We should embrace the beauty of the world around us, and learn from our travels and experiences.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
Even in the midst of chaos and turmoil, I remain grounded and unshakable.
What falls away is always. And is near.
Everything that we lose or let go of is always just within reach, always a part of us.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I live each day to the fullest, slowly and intentionally, knowing that life is fleeting.
I learn by going where I have to go.
I gain knowledge and wisdom through my experiences, both good and bad.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KURT ELLING, ROBERT AMSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind