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.
Old Rugged Cross
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
И то, что ты хочешь сказать уже давно известно мне
Типо: Я устала и не могу так больше
Я не хочу, и так продолжаться не может
Ну сколько можно, пойми что я устала
Я люблю тебя но этого ведь мало
Чтобы прожить долго и счастливо, без преград
Я хотела жить в раю, а это же сплошной ад
Соглашаясь, говорил, что видимо судьбой
Решено, что мы с тобой просто не совместимы
Ты хотела милого принца, я не могу быть милым
Да и принцем как понимаешь мне тоже не стать
Так что извини, если заставил страдать
Это твой выбор и тебе решать
Если уходишь не буду переубеждать
Если уходишь, иди, я не буду держать
Не хочешь быть со мной, не стану умолять
Не пойдёшь со мной по жизни, я не буду звать
Но если захочешь вернуться, не стану возвращать
День за днем, наблюдая снова
Миллионы разнообразных споров
Глупых разговоров, в чём суть их и опора
Где боль причиняет каждое резкое слово
И порою оглянувшись назад
Понимаешь, что во многом был не прав
Да и наверно сам виноват
Быть может, стоило умерить свой ревнивый нрав
Так и не поняв, что на самом деле было
Так и не собрав полную картину
Так и не найдя в себе силы
Чтобы искренне поговорить с любимой
Недоверие самое худшее чувство
Которое порой доводит до безумства
К бесконечным ссорам, горечи и грусти
Вплоть до расставанья из-за собственной глупости
Если уходишь, иди, я не буду держать
Не хочешь быть со мной, не стану умолять
Не пойдёшь со мной по жизни, я не буду звать
Но если захочешь вернуться, не стану возвращать
Day by day and with each passing moment
As time goes by, we experience different things that shape us.
Strength I find to meet my trials here
These experiences give me the strength I need to face challenges.
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment
I trust in God's plan and know that everything happens for a reason.
I've no cause for worry or for fear
Therefore, I have no reason to be worried or afraid because I know that everything is in God's hands.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
God is kind and compassionate beyond any human measure.
Gives unto each day what He deems best
He gives us what we need each day, which is often not what we had planned.
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure
Both good and bad experiences are part of life, and we must learn to embrace them with love.
Mingling toil with peace and rest
We will experience both hard work and rest during our lives, and must find a balance between the two.
If you're leaving, go ahead, I won't hold you back
If someone wants to leave a relationship or situation, it is best to let them go without trying to stop them.
If you don't want to be with me, I won't beg you to stay
It is not worth begging someone to stay with us if they don't want to be there, as it will only hurt us more in the end.
If you don't want to go through life with me, I won't call you back
If someone doesn't want to share their life with us, it is not our job to try to change their mind or convince them to stay.
But if you want to come back, I won't turn you away
However, if someone changes their mind and wants to return, we should welcome them back with open arms rather than holding a grudge.
Writer(s): Traditional, Tony Wood, Stuart Garrard
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@apa_plainjane
before there was hiphop, there were the blues and Roland Kirk. God bless his black soul. You schooled me good.
@colostomyJones
😱Holy humility, A Pa!
@JohnHolecek
I had the privilege of seeing Rahsaan live not too long before he died. One arm was totally useless, but, oh, the music that poured out of him. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
@henrywasserman
I saw him during the same time at the Jazz Workshop in Boston MA. He played just fine with one arm.
@belleepoque4597
I remember finding out about Rahsaan as a child, and being completely blown away by this recording. In my late thirties it still blows me away.
@colostomyJones
Paul Paradis you mean he survived the assault on your child-like sense of wonder and threat of losing your innocence and awe!?
¡Bravo to you and Rahsaan both!
@sarajanesnyder7724
this morning i put on rashaan roland kirk's greatest hits record for the first time---side three opens with this track. i'm not exactly a christian, but my good friday awareness has been deepened today by this song.
@artredoubt3629
Yeh. There is a little gospel in there, but also the godly miracle of Rasan's playing.
@anaduquecantante
Wou...
@marylyncoffey3527
I saw him perform this live in 1969. Will never forget. I don't know why that SINGLE HELD NOTE gets to me so fiercely!