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
Lonesome Road
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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Before you travel on
Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on
Look up, look up and greet your maker
For Gabriel blows his horn
Travelin' down that lonesome road
Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on
Weary totin', it's such a load
Whike I'm travelin' down, travelin' down that lonesome old road
Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on
The lyrics of Paul Desmond's "Lonesome Road" convey a sense of loneliness and introspection. The singer advises the listener to take a moment to reflect on their path before continuing on their journey. The repeated refrain, "look down, look down that lonesome road before you travel on," suggests a need for self-examination before moving forward. The phrase "lonesome road" can be interpreted both literally and figuratively - the road could be physically lonely or metaphorically lonely, representing a difficult journey or a sense of isolation.
The lines "look up, look up and greet your maker, for Gabriel blows his horn," evoke religious imagery of the afterlife and the judgment day. The singer seems to be warning the listener that they should make peace with their choices or beliefs and be prepared to face the consequences, as the archangel Gabriel blows his trumpet to signal the end of the world. The repetition of the phrase "weary totin', it's such a load" emphasizes the burden that the singer and the listener are carrying, and their weariness is palpable in the melancholy tone of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Look down, look down that lonesome road
Take some time to assess and evaluate the path you are about to embark on, which might lead you on a lonely journey.
Before you travel on
Before taking any action or deciding on anything, take some time to contemplate the consequences and impacts of your decision.
Look up, look up and greet your maker
Pause and acknowledge your spiritual creator before proceeding with your journey on this mortal world.
For Gabriel blows his horn
The angel Gabriel is sounding the trumpet, which is traditionally viewed as the start of the resurrection of the dead and the end of the world, representing an inevitable change is coming.
Weary, totin' such a load
Feeling exhausted, with the weight of one's problems and responsibilities causing a sense of burden and tiredness.
Travelin' down that lonesome road
Going through life's journey on a path that is mostly solitary or isolated, and sometimes difficult and sad, often without the company or support of others.
Look down, look down that lonesome road
Reiterating the importance of taking a moment to reflect and think about the choices and challenges ahead, especially when they might be on a lonely road.
Before you travel on
Repeating the warning that one should not rush or proceed hastily without considering the repercussions of their actions or a decision they might make.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, NATHANIEL SHILKRET MUSIC CO.
Written by: Gene Austin, Nathaniel Shilkret
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind