Kirk was born Ronald Kirk on 7th August 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. After another dream in about 1970 he added Rahsaan to his name.
His playing was generally rooted in soul jazz or hard bop, but Kirk's encyclopedic knowledge of jazz history allowed him to draw convincingly on any element of the music's history, from ragtime to swing and free jazz. Kirk also regularly explored classical and pop music.
Kirk played and collected a vast number of musical instruments, mainly various saxophones, clarinets, and flutes. His main instruments were tenor saxophone, and two obscure saxophones: the manzello (similar to a soprano sax) and the stritch (a straight alto sax lacking the instrument's characteristic upturned bell). Kirk modified these instruments himself to accommodate his simultaneous playing technique. He typically appeared on stage with all three horns hanging around his neck, as well as a variety of other instruments, including flutes and whistles. Kirk also played harmonica, cor anglais, recorders, and was a competent trumpeter. He often used unusual instruments or combinations of instrument parts, using a saxophone mouthpiece on a trumpet or playing nose flute. He additionally used many extramusical sounds in his music, such as alarm clocks, whistles, sirens, and even primitive electronic sounds (before such things became commonplace).
In addition to the saxophones, Kirk was also an influential flautist, employing several novel techniques that he developed himself. One technique was to sing or hum into the flute at the same time as playing. (This technique was adopted later by many other players, including Jeremy Steig and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.) Another was to play the standard transverse flute at the same time as a nose flute.
Daybreak
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics
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The mist on the meadow is drifting away
For it's daybreak, the sun's in the sky now
And flowers break through their blanket of dew.
Sunrise, how lovely it seems
To see from my window, a sky full of dreams
As the white clouds sail on through the blue,
At daybreak I daydream of you
"Daybreak" is a song that was originally performed by Al Hibbler in 1941, but has since been covered by numerous artists, including the legendary Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The song is essentially about the beauty and promise of a new day. The lyrics, penned by Harold Adamson, describe the setting of daybreak, which is characterized by misty meadows and dew-covered flowers, and the arrival of the sun, which chases away the mist and allows the flowers to bloom. The singer marvels at the beauty of the sunrise and the dreams that it conjures up, including thoughts of a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Daybreak, another new day,
The start of a new day, welcomed by the sun rising in the east.
The mist on the meadow is drifting away
The mist is slowly fading away from the meadow, indicating the start of a new day.
For it's daybreak, the sun's in the sky now
The sun is now fully risen, lighting up the day as it begins.
And flowers break through their blanket of dew.
The dew droplets on the flowers start to evaporate as the sun rises, revealing the fresh colors of the flowers.
Sunrise, how lovely it seems
The beauty of the sunrise is captivating and awe-inspiring, with a burst of colors painting the sky.
To see from my window, a sky full of dreams
The view from the window shows a mesmerizing, dream-like sky full of vibrancy and promise for the day ahead.
As the white clouds sail on through the blue,
The clouds drift slowly like ships through the brilliant blue sky, creating moving and changing patterns that add to the splendor of the view.
At daybreak I daydream of you
The start of a new day prompts thoughts and fond memories of a loved one, adding a touch of romance to the beauty and inspiration of the sunrise.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: GARY R. STROUTSOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind