Lou Donaldson (November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin,… Read Full Bio ↴Lou Donaldson (November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.

Donaldson attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro in the early 1940s. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was trained at the Great Lakes bases in Chicago, where he was introduced to bop music in the lively club scene there. At the war's conclusion, he returned to Greensboro, where he worked club dates with the Rhythm Vets, a combo composed of A and T students who had served in the U.S. Navy. The band recorded the soundtrack to a musical comedy featurette, "Pitch a Boogie Woogie," in Greenville, North Carolina, in the summer of 1947. The movie had a limited run at black audience theatres in 1948 but its production company, Lord-Warner Pictures, folded and never made another film. "Pitch a Boogie Woogie" was subsequently restored by the American Film Institute in 1985 and re-premiered on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville the following year. Donaldson and the surviving members of the Vets performed a reunion concert after the film's showing. In the documentary made on "Pitch" by UNC-TV, "Boogie in Black and White", Donaldson and his musical cohorts recall the film's making—he originally believed that he had played clarinet on the soundtrack. A short piece of concert footage from a gig in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is included in the documentary.

Donaldson's first jazz recordings were with the Charlie Singleton Orchestra in 1950 and then with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, and he participated in several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey.

In 1953, he also recorded sessions with the trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown, and Philly Joe Jones.
He was a member of Art Blakey's Quintet and appeared on some of their best regarded albums, including the two albums recorded at Birdland in February 1954 Night at Birdland.
Donaldson has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres. For many years his pianist was Herman Foster.
He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.

Caravan
Lou Donaldson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Night and stars above that shine so bright
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan

Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan

This is so exciting
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue

My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lou Donaldson's "Caravan" paint a picture of a magical, mystical journey across the desert sands under a starry sky. The night is alive with mystery and beauty, and the narrating character invites their companion to share this moment with them, to sleep on their shoulder and witness the fading light of the stars. The caravan itself represents adventure and romance, a dream come true for the singer who revels in the spellbinding effect their partner has on them.

With each line, the song builds towards a crescendo where the singer is overcome by the enchanting force of their love, conveyed through the imagery of the desert and the stars. The lyrics create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, as the singer finds solace in the embrace of their partner and in the memory of this moment that they will carry with them forever.

Line by Line Meaning

Night and stars above that shine so bright
The darkness of the night sky blends with the brightness of stars, creating an ambiance of mystique and wonderment.

The myst'ry of their fading light
The light from stars creating an aura of mystery as it fades away into the night.

That shines upon our caravan
The light cast by stars illuminating a beautiful caravan that can be seen from afar.

Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
As we make our way forward slowly, you lay your head on my shoulder and drift off to sleep.

Across the sand so I may keep
We cross the vast stretches of sand for the memory and experience of it all to behold.

The mem'ry of our caravan
The memory of our journey, our time together and the beautiful caravan we traveled in.

This is so exciting
The feelings and emotions stirred within is beyond words, so much so that it is rather exciting.

You are so inviting
The feeling of want and desire to be close to you and to experience life together.

Resting in my arms
Being at rest and peace in my embrace, feeling loved and protected throughout the night.

As I thrill to the magic charms
The thrill that comes from the magical aura radiating off you and the way it captivates me.

Of you beside me here beneath the blue
Being beside you, and almost melding into the paradise-like surroundings we are in, beneath the clear blue skies.

My dream of love is coming true
My dream of a love that kindles the soul, making it pure and bright, is coming to fruition through this journey with you.

Within our desert caravan
All these beautiful moments and emotions being experienced and shared within the beautify of our desert caravan - we are one and yet different, living life to the fullest along the way.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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