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.
What's Goin' On\u0001Mercy Mercy Me
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Lyrics
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Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
No, no, where did all the blue skies go,
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east
Woo mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this over crowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,
Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?
The lyrics of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's song "Mercy Mercy Me" tackle the issue of environmental degradation and its devastating consequences on planet Earth. The repetitive use of the phrase "things ain't what they used to be" emphasize the profound changes that have occurred in nature due to man-made activities. The song illustrates the different ways in which humans have harmed the environment including pollution of the air, water, and soil, and overconsumption of natural resources. The reference to the "north and south and east" highlights that environmental problems exist globally and require a collective effort to find solutions.
The lyrics draw our attention to the devastating impact of oil wastes in the ocean which has affected marine life and habitats. The line, "our seas fish full of mercury" is an allusion to the impact of industrial activities on the food chain of marine life. The song also raises concerns about overpopulation and overuse of finite resources, questioning how much "abuse from man" the Earth can tolerate. The reference to "radiation underground and in the sky" highlights the dangers of nuclear technology and its long-term impact on the environment and living organisms.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo ah mercy, mercy me
Expressing a feeling of sadness or pity towards something that is no longer the way it was.
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
Things have changed, and not for the better.
No, no, where did all the blue skies go,
Expressing surprise and disappointment as to the disappearance of blue skies.
Poison is the wind that blows
The wind is polluted and hazardous.
From the north and south and east
The pollution is coming from multiple directions.
Woo mercy, mercy me
Expressing a feeling of sadness or pity towards something that is no longer the way it was.
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Things have changed, and not for the better.
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
Oil is being dumped into the ocean.
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
Fish in the ocean are contaminated with mercury.
Ah things ain't what they used to be
Things have changed, and not for the better.
What about this over crowded land
Addressing the issue of overpopulation and lack of space.
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Questioning how much more damage the Earth can handle from human activity.
Oh mercy, mercy me.
Expressing a feeling of sadness or pity towards something that is no longer the way it was.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
Things have changed, and not for the better.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Expressing fear and concern about radiation pollution both above and below ground.
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,
Wildlife in the surrounding areas are suffering and dying due to pollution.
Oh mercy, mercy me.
Expressing a feeling of sadness or pity towards something that is no longer the way it was.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
Things have changed, and not for the better.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Expressing fear and concern about radiation pollution both above and below ground.
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?
Questioning how much more damage the Earth can handle from human activity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind