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.
Our Waltz
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Angels composed it for us to dance to.
Our waltz is moonlight trembling with kisses,
Each note a heartbeat throbbing with love.
Angels were watching one day,
And our love was their inspiration!
Never to fade with the dawn,
And though you are gone
Our waltz will play on.
Angels were watching one day,
And our love was their inspiration!
Our love is Springtime filled with a promise,
Never to fade with the dawn,
And though you are gone
Our waltz will play on.
The song "Our Waltz" by Rahsaan Roland Kirk explores the concept of a love so pure, so passionate, and so inspiring that the angels themselves took notice. The waltz is described as a piece of music that was created for the sole purpose of the two lovers to dance to. It has an ethereal quality to it, as if it were something out of a dream or from heaven above. The moonlight serves as a backdrop for the lovers' kisses, each note representing a heartbeat that throbs with love.
The idea that the angels were watching and inspired by their love adds to the otherworldly quality of the waltz. The love between the two is compared to springtime, full of promise and never fading with the dawn. Even though the lover is gone, the waltz will continue to play on forever. This speaks to the enduring nature of love, that it can transcend time, space, and even death.
In essence, "Our Waltz" is a beautiful love song that celebrates the power of love to inspire us and move us. It is a reminder that true love is something rare and special, and that it is worth cherishing and holding onto.
Line by Line Meaning
Our waltz is music fashioned in heaven,
The music we dance to was created by the angels above.
Angels composed it for us to dance to.
The angels specifically created this music for us to enjoy while we dance together.
Our waltz is moonlight trembling with kisses,
Each note of the waltz is filled with romantic passion and love.
Each note a heartbeat throbbing with love.
The melody of the waltz represents the palpitation of our loving hearts.
Our love is Springtime filled with a promise,
Our love is like the beginning of Spring, abundant with hope and assurance.
Never to fade with the dawn,
Our love will last forever, as it is strongly rooted.
And though you are gone
Despite the fact that you are no longer with me physically,
Our waltz will play on.
Our love will forever echo through our special waltz, and it will continue to help me feel our connection for all time.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Rose, Nat Burton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind