Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935-1977) was a blind American jazz saxophonist, perh… Read Full Bio ↴Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935-1977) was a blind American jazz saxophonist, perhaps best known for his ability to play more than one saxophone at once.

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.

Night In Tunisia
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the still of the night
As I gaze out of my window
At the moon in it's flight
My thoughts all stray, stray to you

In the still of the night
While the world lies in slumber
Oh the times without number

When I say to you

Do you love me
Just like I love you
Are you my life to be
That dream come true
Or will this dream of mine
Will it fade way out of sight

Just like that moon growing dim

Way out on the rim of the hill
In the still of the night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's song "Night In Tunisia" convey a sense of longing and desire, as the singer reflects on their thoughts and feelings in the quiet of the night. The opening lines express the peacefulness and stillness of the night, as the singer gazes out of their window and observes the moon in its journey across the sky. This serene setting serves as a backdrop for the singer's wandering thoughts, which all lead them to the person they are deeply connected to.

As the world lies asleep, the singer's thoughts keep returning to this person, and they question whether their feelings are reciprocated. The lyrics capture the vulnerability of the singer as they ask if their love is returned: "Do you love me, just like I love you? Are you my life to be, that dream come true?" The uncertainty of the situation is reflected in the last verse, where the singer wonders if their dream of being with this person will fade away like a dimming moon on the horizon.

Overall, the lyrics of "Night In Tunisia" portray a sense of longing, introspection, and vulnerability as the singer contemplates their deep feelings for someone, questioning whether their love will be returned or if their dream of being together will be lost.

Line by Line Meaning

In the still of the night
During the peacefulness of nighttime

As I gaze out of my window
While looking out my window

At the moon in its flight
Observing the moon as it moves across the sky

My thoughts all stray, stray to you
My mind wanders and focuses on you

While the world lies in slumber
While the rest of the world sleeps

Oh the times without number
Countless moments

When I say to you
When I express to you

Do you love me
Do you feel deep affection for me

Just like I love you
In the same intense way that I love you

Are you my life to be
Will you be the center of my existence

That dream come true
The fulfillment of my aspirations and desires