Paul Desmond (1924-1977) was a U.S jazz saxophonist.

Desmond was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Desmond (1924-1977) was a U.S jazz saxophonist.

Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California on 25th November 1924. He came to prominence with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which lasted from 1951 until 1967. Desmond wrote their biggest hit, "Take Five".

Desmond's alto saxophone tone and technique owed nothing to the great alto player of the time, Charlie Parker; instead his was a clear, light, floating sound and highly melodic playing style. Much of the success of the classic Brubeck quartet was due to the superposition of his fragile, airy sound over Brubeck's sometimes relatively heavy, polytonal piano work.

Desmond died on 30th May 1977.

Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz sax players. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. Desmond was influenced by Lester Young, but took it further, into melodic and harmonic worlds never before traveled by reedmen -- especially in the upper registers. Desmond is best known for his years with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959-1967) and his infamous composition "Take Five." He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. Jazz at Oberlin and Take Five were considered essential purchases by college students of the era, but Jazz Impressions of Japan was its most innovative recording. Desmond played his loping, slow, ordered, and intricate solos in direct contrast to the pianist's obsession with large chords, creating a myriad of textures for melodic and rhythmic counterpoint unlike any heard in jazz. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. It included dates with Gerry Mulligan for Verve, various sessions with Jim Hall, and a concert with the the Modern Jazz Quartet. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. Desmond's recordings for RCA have gotten box-set treatment and Mosaic issued one of the complete sessions with Hall. There are also reissues from A&M and CTI, though recordings on Artist House and Finesse remain regrettably out of print. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi

Bridge Over Troubled Water
Paul Desmond Lyrics

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When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all, is all around
Just like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Just like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All of your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you ever need a friend
Look around I'm sailing right behind
Just like a bridge over troubled water
I'll be there to lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Paul Desmond's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" express the fidelity and solidarity of the singer, who assures his partner that he will be there for them in times of need. The first stanza describes the singer's promise to take on the struggles and troubles of his partner, to act as a bridge over the trials and tribulations that life so often presents. The second stanza changes gears and features a shift in perspective from the partner's struggles to their triumphs. The singer highlights how all the partner's dreams are coming into being, and he is there to support them through it all.

Taken as a whole, the song's lyrics create a portrait of a relationship rooted in trust, support, and love. The singer promises to be there for his partner through thick and thin, in hard times and in times of triumph. The metaphor of a bridge over troubled water serves as a powerful symbol for the singer's steadfast allegiance, offering a sense of stability and continuity during difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're down and out
When you're feeling defeated and powerless

When you're on the street
When you're homeless and alone

When evening falls so hard
When the darkness of your circumstances feels overwhelming

I will comfort you
I will provide you with emotional support and reassurance

I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
I'll be on your side and support you, even during your darkest moments

And pain is all, is all around
When you're surrounded by suffering and heartache

Just like a bridge over troubled water
I'll be there to help you cross over your difficulties

I will lay me down
I will sacrifice myself in order to be there and support you

Sail on silver girl
Keep going, my dear friend

Sail on by
Move past your struggles and keep going forward

Your time has come to shine
It's your moment to succeed and shine