Saxophonist/Singer/Songwriter Mindi Abair, born in St. Petersburg, FL, has … Read Full Bio ↴Saxophonist/Singer/Songwriter Mindi Abair, born in St. Petersburg, FL, has broken many boundaries as she continues to define the less traditional future of jazz. Her own brand of pop and soul meets jazz adds a refreshingly unique voice to an exciting new generation of crossover artists. She was raised on the road with her father’s band, but this is not your father’s jazz band. Mindi brings a fearless energy and abandon to the stage as a powerhouse on the saxophone, hearkening back to the days of Junior Walker or King Curtis.

Mindi graduated from Berklee College of Music and headed to Los Angeles where she played on 3rd Street Promenade and local clubs to get attention. Bobby Lyle hired her off the street for his tour, and she soon became a sought after sideman. She signed as a solo artist to Verve Records in 2002, and never looked back.

Her solo career has produced 10 #1 radio singles and 5 major label solo releases that have topped the Contemporary Jazz Charts, “It Just Happens That Way” (2003), “Come As You Are” (2004), “Life Less Ordinary” (2006), “Stars” (2008), and “In Hi Fi Stereo” (2010).

Mindi has hosted the internationally syndicated radio show “Chill With Mindi Abair” for 6 years. She is an elected governor for the Los Angeles Chapter of NARAS, and is an Artist Ambassador for Campell’s Labels for Education and The Grammy Foundation.

She's been the featured saxophonist on the 2011 and 2012 seasons of "American Idol", won Best International Instrumentalist at the 2011 Wave Awards in Toronto, and Best Female Artist of the Year at the 2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards. She also appeared this season on the Fran Drescher show “Happily Divorced”.

Mindi authored the book “How To Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide To Stage Performance.”

She is currently touring the US and abroad with her band. The list of artists she has toured or recorded with are a testament to her talent. They include Aerosmith, Keb’ Mo’, Lalah Hathaway, Duran Duran, Lee Ritenour, the Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore, Max Weinberg, Bill Champlin, David Pack, Mocean Worker, Adam Sandler, Rick Braun, Teena Marie, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, and Peter White.

Stars
Mindi Abair Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's out of place this heart of mine / Always hits me around this time
Through window panes and moonlit skies / This gets harder every night
You Said / Why / Do you have to leave tonight? / Can't we make a long goodbye?
You Said / My / My heart is sick and tired / Of making love across the miles
Wish away the morning light / Because the starts are out tonight
This serenade this work of art / These promises I know by heart
But words can fade from the very start / Sometimes I feel so apart
You Said / Why / Do you have to leave tonight? / Can't we make a long goodbye?

You Said / My / My heart is sick and tired / Of making love across the miles

Wish away the morning light / Keep this distance out of sight Because the starts are out tonight

Overall Meaning

In Mindi Abair's song "Stars," the lyrics speak to the challenge of being in a long distance relationship. The heart is described as "out of place" and the situation gets harder with each passing night. The singer pleads with their partner to stay a little longer, to make a "long goodbye" rather than leaving abruptly. The distance is taking a toll on their heart, and they're tired of "making love across the miles." Despite the challenges, the singer still finds solace in the nighttime sky, wishing away the morning light and keeping their distance out of sight.

The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that is struggling due to physical distance. The singer longs for the comfort of having their partner close, but can only find solace in the stars at night. The repetition of the lines "You Said / Why / Do you have to leave tonight?" and "You Said / My / My heart is sick and tired" emphasizes the frustration and sadness that comes with being in a long distance relationship. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a feeling of longing and a desire for closeness in a relationship that is challenged by distance.

Line by Line Meaning

It's out of place this heart of mine
My heart feels misplaced and unsettled

Always hits me around this time
I always feel this way around this particular time

Through window panes and moonlit skies
I see the world through windows and under the night sky

This gets harder every night
My situation becomes increasingly difficult each night

You Said
You spoke to me

Why
What is the reason?

Do you have to leave tonight?
Must you depart this evening?

Can't we make a long goodbye?
Why not extend our farewell?

You Said
You spoke to me

My
In my opinion

My heart is sick and tired
I am emotionally drained

Of making love across the miles
Being intimate while far away is difficult

Wish away the morning light
I want to avoid the daylight

Because the starts are out tonight
I want to enjoy the stars tonight

This serenade this work of art
This music is beautiful

These promises I know by heart
These commitments are familiar to me

But words can fade from the very start
However, words can lose their meaning over time

Sometimes I feel so apart
At times I feel so disconnected

Wish away the morning light
I want to avoid the daylight

Keep this distance out of sight
I want to ignore the physical separation between us.

Because the starts are out tonight
I want to enjoy the stars tonight

Writer(s): Matthew W. Hager, Mindi Beth Abair Copyright: Not More Saxophone Music, Universal Music Corp., Penny Farthing Music O.B.O. 76 Steps Music

Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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