Rollins was born in New York City to parents from the United States Virgin Islands. The youngest of three siblings, he grew up in central Harlem and on Sugar Hill, receiving his first alto saxophone at the age of seven or eight. He attended Edward W. Stitt Junior High School and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. Rollins started as a pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. During his high school years, he played in a band with other future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art Taylor.
As a saxophonist he had initially been attracted to the jump and R&B sounds of performers like Louis Jordan, but soon became drawn into the mainstream tenor saxophone tradition. The German critic Joachim Berendt described this tradition as sitting between the two poles of the strong sonority of Coleman Hawkins and the light flexible phrasing of Lester Young, which did so much to inspire the fleet improvisation of bebop in the 1950s. Other tenor saxophone influences include Ben Webster and Don Byas. By his mid-teens, Rollins became heavily influenced by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. During his high school years, he was mentored by the pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, often rehearsing at Monk's apartment.
Rollins has played, at various times, a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone and a Buescher Aristocrat. During the 1970s he recorded on soprano saxophone for the album Easy Living. His preferred mouthpieces are made by Otto Link and Berg Larsen. He uses Frederick Hemke medium reeds.
On the Sunny Side of the Stre
Sonny Rollins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I had nothing but shadows
Then one morning you passed
And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart
All my worry blew away
When you taught me how to say
Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid
This Rover crossed over
If I never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street
Grab your street
In Sonny Rollins's song "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the singer describes a transformation that occurred in his life when he met someone who brought light into his world. Before this encounter, the singer "walked with no one" and "had nothing but shadows." However, when this person passed by one morning, the singer "brightened at last" and now greets the day with "the sun in [his] heart." The chorus encourages listeners to "grab your coat and get your hat" and "leave your worry on the doorstep" as they walk on the sunny side of the street. The singer no longer walks in the shade with "those blues on parade" but instead is unafraid to cross over and embrace a life that can be "so sweet" on the sunny side of the street.
The lyrics of this song celebrate the experience of finding joy and positivity in life, despite whatever hardships one may face. The imagery of bright sun and happy tunes conveys an infectious sense of optimism, and the singer encourages listeners to find their own way to the sunny side of the street. The song has been covered by countless artists, and its message of finding hope and happiness in the face of adversity continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked with no one and talked with no one
I was lonely and isolated, without anyone to talk to or walk with.
And I had nothing but shadows
My life was bleak and empty, with nothing but darkness around me.
Then one morning you passed
One day, I saw you passing by.
And I brightened at last
Seeing you made me feel happy and excited, and my life suddenly became brighter.
Now I greet the day and complete the day
Because of you, I wake up every morning with a positive attitude, and go to bed feeling satisfied with my day.
With the sun in my heart
Thanks to you, I feel joyful and optimistic all the time.
All my worry blew away
Your presence in my life made all my worries disappear.
When you taught me how to say
You showed me how to be happy and carefree in life.
Grab your coat and get your hat
Let's get ready to go out.
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Let go of all your concerns and troubles, and just enjoy the moment.
Just direct your feet
Don't worry about the direction, just move ahead.
To the sunny side of the street
Let's head towards happiness and positivity.
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
Do you hear that sound? It's the sound of your happy footsteps.
And that happy tune is your step
Your steps are in harmony with the rhythm of happiness.
Life can be so sweet
Life can be enjoyable and delightful.
On the sunny side of the street
When we focus on the bright side of things, life automatically becomes happier.
I used to walk in the shade
I used to live in gloom and negativity.
With those blues on parade
Depression and anxiety were taking over my life.
But I'm not afraid
But now, I am not scared anymore.
This Rover crossed over
I have now moved on from my sad past and moved towards a happier future.
If I never have a cent
Even if I don't have much money,
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
I would still feel wealthy and content in life, just like the famous billionaire Rockefeller.
Gold dust at my feet
I would feel like I am walking on gold because of the happiness and positivity in my life.
On the sunny side of the street
All of this happiness and positivity would come from focusing on the bright side of things in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind