Rangell first played flute at the age of 15. Within six months he was studying both classical and jazz music at The Interlochen Arts Academy, a national camp for gifted music students. He went on to attend The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. As a student he twice won Down Beat Magazine's prestigious National Student Recording Awards competition both as best jazz and best pop/rock instrumental soloist. After college he headed to New York in 1984 to pursue his career.
The next four years were spent "paying dues", sitting in, playing alongside, and gigging with some of the world's greatest contemporary jazz musicians including Hiram Bullock, Jorge Dalto, Eric Gale, Richard Tee, Jaco Pastorius, David Sanborn and many others. He also found occasional employment with the legendary Gil Evans Monday Night Orchestra and worked on many commercial jingle recording sessions. Rangell's 1987 debut album was released on Gaia/Gramavision Records, and signed soon thereafter by Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin at GRP Records.
A succession of albums followed at GRP where he recorded eight CDs, beginning in 1989. His stated ambition throughout these endeavors has been "to grow and evolve as a player and artist while making music that people can easily relate to in a form that is substantive." With his musical armory encompassing flute, piccolo, alto, tenor and soprano saxophone as well as whistling, he was well equipped to fulfill this desire. He has recorded with The Rippingtons, Chuck Loeb, Patti Austin, Tom Browne, and The GRP All Star Big Band to name a few and is featured on Don Grusin's Grammy nominated CD "The Hang." Though Rangell has recorded mostly in the contemporary/pop and smooth jazz formats garnering top radio play and a large audience, The Times of London notes "heard live a much more robust and idiosyncratic player emerges." In the late 90s Rangell continued his career with Shanachie Records and has now released 14 CDs nationally and internationally.
Love Is
Nelson Rangell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is being a shade from the sun and heat to rest in
Love is being a soldier fighting for what you believe in
And love is giving
Love is being a fountain in a desert for you to drink from
Love is seeing a storm and offering protection
Love is the giving of both hands to catch the tears in motion
And love is open
-Chorus-
Love is deep as is wide, and taller than tall
Love is stronger than steal
Still the bad through it all
It's everything
A wounded hearts wing
Love is, Love is, Love is
All of those things
Love is being a candle that will chase away the darkness
Love is being a strangle to someone that is defense less
Love is praying for those who are searching for forgiveness
And love, love is children
-Chorus-
Love is deep as is wide, and taller than tall
Love is stronger than steal
Still the bad through it all
Well It's everything
A wounded hearts wing
Love is, Love is, Love is
All of those things
Ohhh wooowwoo yeahhh
-Chorus-
Love is deep as is wide, and taller than tall
Love is stronger than steal
Still the bad through it all
Well It's everything
A wounded hearts wing
Love is, Love is, Love is
All of those things
All of those things
All of those things
The lyrics of Nelson Rangell's song Love Is speak about the concept of love and the various forms it can take. The song portrays love as a supportive and protective force that offers comfort to those in need. The opening verse describes love as being like a chair that a tired man can sit on or a shade in the heat of the day. This imagery highlights the idea of love as a shelter that provides rest and relief to those who seek it.
The verse goes on to compare love to a soldier fighting for what one believes in, emphasizing the strength and courage associated with love. The line "And love is giving" presents the idea that love is selfless and often involves sacrifices made for the benefit of others. In the second verse, love is depicted as a fountain in the desert for someone to drink from, offering nourishment and sustenance.
Love is also described as being a source of protection and shelter during a storm and being there to catch the tears in motion. The chorus of the song emphasizes the enormity of love, depicting it as "deep as is wide, and taller than tall." Indeed, love is capable of withstanding difficult times and is stronger than steel. It's everything that a wounded heart needs to heal and fly again.
The closing verse speaks of love being like a candle that can chase away the darkness and a stronghold for those who are defenseless. The lyric "love is children" speaks to the innocence and purity that often come to mind when thinking of children. Love is also presented as a force that forgives and offers hope to those who are searching for a way forward.
Overall, Love Is is a powerful and emotional song that aims to capture and describe the essence of love in its various forms.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is being a chair that a tired man can sit on
Love means being there for someone whenever they need you, offering your support like a chair to a tired man
Love is being a shade from the sun and heat to rest in
Love means providing shelter and a place to rest when someone is worn out from life's heat and issues
Love is being a soldier fighting for what you believe in
Love means fighting for what you believe is right, following your heart and principles like a soldier in battle
And love is giving
Love is selfless and requires giving without any expectation of receiving something in return
Love is being a fountain in a desert for you to drink from
Love means being someone's source of new energy and hope when they are in a place of exhaustion and desertion
Love is seeing a storm and offering protection
Love means stepping up to protect someone when they are in a dark place like a storm, and shielding them from its effects
Love is the giving of both hands to catch the tears in motion
Love means being there to catch someone when they are crying and need more than one hand to support and console them
And love is open
Love means being open to new experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking, and accepting others without judgment
Love is deep as is wide, and taller than tall
Love is limitless and boundless, beyond how we usually measure and define things
Love is stronger than steal
Love is more potent than any material or physical force, possessing the power to conquer over all negativity and obstacles
Still the bad through it all
Love has the strength and determination to face any kind of hardships, and is the only thing that can persist even in the hardest of times
It's everything
Love is all-encompassing and encompasses everything and anything
A wounded hearts wing
Love can be a healing influence for someone who is hurting or wounded emotionally, like they have a protector or an enabler to help them fly over the pain
Love is, Love is, Love is
Love is a simple word, but embodies so much that it needs to be repeated
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL CARUSO, JOHN KELLER, STEVE KRIKORIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind