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.
When Your Lover Has Gone
Sonny Rollins Lyrics
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That comes with each new love affair
The dreams that we cherish, so often might perish
And leaves you with castles in air
When you're alone, who cares for starlit skies
When you're alone, the magic moonlight dies
At break of dawn, there is no sunrise
What lonely hours, the evening shadows bring
What lonely hours, with memories lingering
Like faded flowers, life can't mean anything
When your lover has gone
The lyrics to Sonny Rollins/John Coltrane's song "When Your Lover Has Gone" explore the heartache and loneliness that is felt when a relationship ends. The first verse questions the worth of the planning and dreaming that comes with each new love affair when the hopes and dreams that are cherished so often end up perishing, leaving you with nothing but castles in the air. The second verse describes the emptiness and lack of magic that is felt when you're alone without your lover. The starlit skies lose their appeal, the magic moonlight dies, and even the sunrise at break of dawn doesn't hold any joy. The final verse speaks to the ongoing loneliness and longing that is felt after a lover leaves, even in the evening shadows and with memories lingering, life itself can feel meaningless.
Overall, the lyrics are a poignant reminder of the emotional impact that a breakup can have on an individual's life. The loneliness and heartache can make even the most beautiful moments feel empty and meaningless, and it can be difficult to move on from the pain.
Line by Line Meaning
What good is the scheming, the planning and dreaming
Why invest effort in planning and dreaming-up an idealistic romance?
That comes with each new love affair
That people often associate with every new romantic relationship they pursue.
The dreams that we cherish, so often might perish
The hopes and dreams that are dear to us may frequently fail and disappoint us.
And leaves you with castles in air
And result in mere fantasies or illusions in one's mind, without any chance of becoming a reality.
When you're alone, who cares for starlit skies
When you're left by yourself, nobody is there to appreciate and share the beauty of the starry skies with you.
When you're alone, the magic moonlight dies
When you're alone, the enchanting glimmer of the moonlight fades and loses its appeal.
At break of dawn, there is no sunrise
In the absence of a loved one, even the sunrise at dawn does not bring any joy or happiness.
When your lover has gone
When the one you love has left you.
What lonely hours, the evening shadows bring
The evening shadows bring a sense of loneliness and sadness during lost love.
What lonely hours, with memories lingering
The hours spent alone are unbearable, as memories of the departed loved one continue to linger and cause pain.
Like faded flowers, life can't mean anything
Similar to wilting flowers, life loses its worth and meaning in the absence of love.
When your lover has gone
When your partner has left you and your life feels like it has no purpose.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EINAR AARON SWAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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