As a band leader, it's Clark's albums Sonny Clark Trio (1957), with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, and Cool Struttin' (1958), that are often considered his masterpieces. Sonny Clark Trio (1960) with George Duvivier and Max Roach is also considered among his finest. Although his compositions were relatively rare, the few that were recorded have achieved a cult following, most notably among Japanese jazz enthusiasts. A drug addict, Clark died of a heroin overdose in New York City.
I'll Remember April
Sonny Clark Trio Lyrics
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We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
Sonny Clark's song "I'll Remember April" is a beautiful meditation on a past love. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and loss, as the singer reflects on a relationship that seems to have ended long ago. The opening lines, "This lovely day will lengthen into evening / We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had," suggest that the singer is looking back on a time when they were happy and in love. The use of the word "sigh" implies that there is a sense of sadness or wistfulness to the memory.
As the lyrics continue, the singer recalls the specific details of their past love: "Your lips were warm and love and spring were new." These moments of connection and intimacy are contrasted with the present moment, which seems to be one of loneliness and solitude: "Alone where we have walked together." However, the singer finds comfort in the memory of their love, even as time has passed and the relationship has ended: "I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow / For I'll remember April and you."
The final lines of the song offer a sense of closure and acceptance. Although the relationship may have ended, the memory of it will live on: "The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes / For flames live such a little while / I won't forget but I won't be lonely / I'll remember April and smile." The use of the word "smile" implies that the singer is able to find joy in the memory of their love, even as they move forward into a new season of life.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
As the hours go by, the day will slowly turn into night
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We'll say farewell to everything we shared together and sadly let go of it all
Alone where we have walked together
I'll be by myself in the same places we used to stroll together
I'll remember April and be glad
Despite everything that has changed, I'll always have fond memories of the month of April
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I'll find peace in knowing that you once deeply loved me during that unforgettable month
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
Your kiss was full of passion and our love was fresh, much like the season of spring
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I'm not scared of the melancholic autumn season and the sadness it may bring
For I'll remember April and you
Because I hold dear memories of April and you, autumn won't bring me too much sadness
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
Our intense love will eventually fade and slowly become a warm memory
For flames live such a little while
Just as the flame of a fire burns for only a brief moment in time, so does passionate love
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I won't ever forget our love, but I won't feel lonely either, as I still have memories of it
I'll remember April and smile
I'll forever cherish the memories of our love in April and they'll make me smile
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert G
One of my favorite albums of all time
Good Life
A rare solo outing for Sonny. Lovely.
Daniel Scheinhaus
My god! Just listen to how he manipulates those harmonies!