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.

The Things I Love
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics

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I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her to
I love her

She gives my everything
And tenderly

The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her

A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine

Will never die
And I love her, ooh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Rahsaan Roland Kirk's song "And I Love Her" are a declaration of love for a woman who is completely adored by the singer. The lyrics showcase the intensity of the love that the singer feels for the woman they love. It is clear that the love shared between the two is mutual and profound. The singer affirms this by saying that if anyone were to see the love that they share, they would also love her.

The chorus is a powerful declaration of love that emphasizes the depth of feeling that the singer has for their lover. They state that their love could never die, as long as they have each other. The imagery of the "bright stars that shine" and the "dark sky" highlight that their love is constant-just like the stars in the sky that shine even in the darkest of nights.

The song is a beautiful tribute to love and commitment. The lyrics emphasize the power and the magic of love, and the deep emotional impact that it can have on our lives.

The Things I LoveRahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics

The Things I Love
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics