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.

Someone to Watch Over Me
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a saying old says that love is blind
Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet

Hes the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram

Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me

Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed

Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me

Overall Meaning

In Rahsaan Roland Kirk's interpretation of George and Ira Gershwin's classic "Someone to Watch Over Me", the lyrics express the longing for a love that can provide a sense of safety and protection. The song begins with a common saying about love being blind, but the singer is still advised to seek it out, though they haven't found the "certain lad" they have in mind yet. They emphasize the necessity of this love by calling it the "big affair" they cannot forget, and the only man that comes to their mind when they feel regret. They even express a desire to add his initial to their monogram.

The chorus is equally poignant, as the singer describes themselves as a "little lamb" lost in the woods, in need of someone to watch over them. They express hope that the one they long to see will be that protector, even if they don't fit the traditional standard of handsome. The singer is looking for this person to follow their lead and is asking them to hurry and put on some speed. The song ends with the lingering emotion of needing someone to watch over them, which captures how important and vulnerable love can make a person feel.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a saying old says that love is blind
Love is often described as being blind according to an age-old adage

Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
It is frequently said that if you look hard enough, you will eventually find what you are seeking

So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Therefore, I intend to search for a particular young man who has been on my mind

Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Despite searching every possible place, I have yet to locate him

Hes the big affair I cannot forget
He is the most significant matter that I am unable to forget

Only man I ever think of with regret
He is the only person that I think about with feelings of regret

I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
Ideally, I want to include his first name's initial on my monogram

Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
Please let me know where the protector or guide for a vulnerable person such as myself can be found

There's a somebody I'm longing to see
There is a particular person I yearn to meet

I hope that he turns out to be
I wish that he ends up being

Someone who'll watch over me
A person who will look after me and provide me with security

I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I am a tiny, helpless creature who is stranded in the forest

I know I could always be good
I am aware that I have the potential to always behave well and be respectful

Someone who'll watch over me
Somebody who will take care of me and look out for my well-being

Although he may not be the man some
Even though he may not be the sort of individual that some women seek out

Girls think of as handsome
Women consider to be attractive in appearance

To my heart he carries the key
He has the ability to unlock the deep emotions of my heart

Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Would you kindly request him to move a bit faster

Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Please comply with my instructions, as I desperately seek this assistance

Someone to watch over me
A person who will oversee and protect me