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
Hi Lili Hi Lo
Paul Desmond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On every tree there sits a bird, and ev'ryone I ever heard
Could break my heart without a word singing a song of love
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know
A song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
A tear for him, a tear for me, A tear for the love he swore
A tear for him and one for me, and one for under the cedar tree
And one for where ever my love my be, and then I shall weep no more
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know
A song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Tomorrow i'll probably love again, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
The lyrics to Paul Desmond's song Hi Lili Hi Lo are infused with a sense of melancholy and heartache, beautifully captured in the poignant melody that runs through the piece. The opening verse speaks of the presence of love in nature, with every bird on every tree singing a song of love that can break hearts without a single word. The repetition of this sentiment serves to emphasise the universality of love and the pain that can come with it.
The chorus of the song contains the famous refrain "Hi Lili, Hi Lo", which serves as a reminder that even in the depths of sadness and heartache, life goes on. The singer acknowledges that a song of love is a sad song, full of woe and pain, but also notes that tomorrow they will probably love again. This juxtaposition of sadness and hope is what makes the song so powerful, as it captures the complex emotions that come with the experience of loving someone.
The final verse of the song is particularly heartbreaking, as the singer weeps for the love they have lost and sheds tears for the love that may never be. However, there is also a sense of acceptance and peace that comes from letting go of the pain and moving forward with hope in their heart. Overall, the lyrics of Hi Lili Hi Lo are a powerful reflection on the joys and sorrows of love, capturing both the pain and the beauty of this most human of emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
On every tree there sits a bird, singing a song of love
Birds singing love songs can be heard from every tree
And ev'ryone I ever heard could break my heart without a word singing a song of love
Any bird singing a love song could make me feel heartbroken without even saying anything
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Love songs are often sad and can bring out emotional feelings
Don't ask me how I know
I don't want to talk about how I know this
For I have loved and it's so
I have experienced love and its resulting sadness
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
I'm sitting by the window, watching the rain and thinking about love
Tomorrow I'll probably love again, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Despite the pain, there's a good chance I'll love again in the future
A tear for him and one for me, and one for under the cedar tree
I'm shedding tears for both my lost love and myself, as well as for the memories we shared under the cedar tree
And one for where ever my love my be, and then I shall weep no more
One tear for wherever my love may be, and after that, I'll stop crying and move on
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, HELEN DEUTSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Victor Wong
Jim Hall’s understated comping is so sublime here, and his solo, first chordal, then single note runs, then dense chords again, is one for the ages!!
Jock Narn
A happy discovery this Paul Desmond version (will watch out 4 this album “doing the rounds”). Bill Evans played another beautiful version. Both were melancholic personalities. Mom used 2 sing this during our 1960s childhood .. she’d sing & bake & the home would resonate 2 the sounds of joy. Laid her 2 rest nxt 2 Pop 7wks apart just b4 Covid changed .. everything. Thank you Paul Desmond, rest ur soul .. hope ur making gr8 music with ur gr8 friend DaveB up there.
John Benn
WOW
Wonderful version of a great tune by the incredible sax of Paul Desmond.
Jolanta Regina Piotrowska
great..
Stefano Bonoli
The written counterpoint coda is a masterpiece!
Jolanta Regina Piotrowska
Wonderful version of Bronisław Kaper'song... Great