Listening to Herbie Hancock's harmonies over Wayne Shorter’s compositions helped her bridge the gap from her classical training to jazz."The way my jazz chops developed was twofold. I developed acoustic straight ahead and electronic fusion playing equally over time," she says. After launching a quintet called Nardis, she studied with Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach.
Rachel Z graduated from the New England Conservatory with a 'Distinction in Performance' award while working professionally in the Boston area with performers like Bob Moses, Miroslav Vitous and George Garzone. Returning to New York in 1988, she toured with New England Conservatory schoolmate turned rhythm & jazz superstar saxman Najee and later co-wrote album Tokyo Blue. While performing and recording steadily with the classic fusion band Steps Ahead from 1988 through 1996, she also worked with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Special EFX, and Angela Bofill, and began a fruitful association with producer/vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. Mainieri produced her Columbia Records debut Trust the Universe in 1993. Reflecting the influence of Corea, Hancock, and even Pat Metheny, the CD featured the jazz radio hit 'Nardis.'
Her connection to saxophone great Wayne Shorter grew from major influence to full-blown collaborator over the two years she worked on his hit comeback album High Life, for which she built a synthesized orchestral framework to crystallize his musical vision. Rachel Z also played acoustic piano on the album and was musical director for the tour that followed. The CD won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. 1996 also saw the release of her NYC Records debut A Room of One’s Own, which she dedicated to the many women artists who have played an influential role in her life. Two years later Rachel released an album on GRP, Love is the Power, an album that featured hip-hop grooves with melodic piano flourishes and poems about the search for eternal love and wisdom through music.
Rachel returned to acoustic music, in an all-female trio setting, with On the Milky Way Express, her well-received tribute to Wayne Shorter, in 2000.
Come As You Are
Rachel Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a friend, as a friend, as and old enemy
Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend as and old memoria
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend as an old memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
The lyrics of Rachel Z's song Come As You Are are highly reflective of the 1990s grunge era, during which the song was released. The opening lines, "Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be" are believed to signify a generation that was growing tired of the artificiality of society and was seeking authenticity among themselves. The mention of "as a friend, as an old enemy" suggests that the song focuses on a past relationship, and the singer is calling on the other person to return as they were before, without any pretense or ulterior motives.
The lines "Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late" are believed to be a commentary on the fast-paced society in which we live, where people are expected to achieve their goals quickly, but the reality is that everyone has their own pace. "Take a rest as a friend as an old memoria" is perhaps reflective of the band's intent to pay tribute to the deceased lead singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994, and is widely celebrated for his enigmatic lyrics and creativity. The chorus, with its mantra-like repetition of the word "memoria," is an attempt to pay homage to his legacy.
Rachel Z's song Come As You Are was actually a cover of Nirvana's song of the same name, released in 1992. The song was very popular, and the cover version climbed to the top of the charts as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be
I accept you for who you are, and who you were in the past. I hope you can be as I envision you to be.
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
I hope we can start anew, as friends. Even if we had previous conflict in the past.
Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late
Make your decision deliberately but don't hesitate for too long, the opportunity may pass you by.
Take a rest as a friend as an old memoria
Take a break and think things over like old friends reminiscing over the past.
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
Remember, remember, remember, remember.
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be
Arrive in whatever state you are in. Whether dirty or clean, I accept you.
As a trend, as a friend, as an old memoria, memoria
Whether you're fashionable or not, just come as you are. As a friend, or someone from our shared past.
And I swear that I don't have a gun
I promise I come in peace, I am not here to harm you.
No, I don't have a gun
Just to reiterate, I am not carrying any weapons.
No, I don't have a gun
I want you to know that I am not a threat.
No, I don't have a gun
One last time, I am not carrying a weapon.
No, I don't have a gun
In conclusion, I am not dangerous and hope to have a peaceful encounter with you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind