He claimed that he was of the "Angel Race", not from Earth but from Saturn. Some of his most notable influences were African and African-American theatre, theosophy, and masonic Afro-futurism. His interest in these art forms and principles led to the development of a complicated but consistent set of cosmic philosophies and lyrical poetry, which preached spiritual awareness and peace.
Born on 22nd May 1914 as Herman Poole Blount, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was nicknamed "Sonny" from his youth. Later, after his release from a detention camp for protesting against World War II, he took on the name and persona of Sun Ra (after the ancient Egyptian sun god).
Sun Ra could play many modern and classical works from memory and had worked in country and western bands before moving to Chicago. His personal music collection contained over 10,000 discs, and he was constantly reviewing and studying. Many of his improvisational and compositional innovations were extensions of ideas from twentieth-century European composers. He is responsible for having brought these ideas into jazz decades before many commercial artists popularised the same methods.
From 1955 until his death on 30th May 1993, Sun Ra led a big-band ensemble with a constant core of John Gilmore (the only sax player John Coltrane thought "worth listening to") and Marshall Allen (master of alto saxophone pyrotechnics), wrapped by an ever-changing lineup of sidemen who are big names in modern jazz today. The Arkestra, so named as to be an "ark between two worlds", never repeated a performance and rarely repeated an arrangement. Additionally, they appeared under a variety of names, including "The Solar Myth Arkestra", and the "Blue Universe Arkestra".
There is some disagreement as to Sun Ra's date of birth. He stated that he had "arrived on Earth" on a number of dates. He was fond of showing his doubters his United States passport, which clearly gave the place of birth as the planet Saturn. 22nd May 1914 appeared on his passport, but other sources place his birth anywhere from 1910 to 1918; most sources support a birth year of 1914 or 1915.
Discipline
Sun Ra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you are children of the sun
each and every one
the child of the sun
the sun shines on everyone
shines on the good
shines on the bad
The song "Discipline 27" by Sun Ra and His Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra begins with the repeated phrase "children of the sun", which is a reference to the idea that we are all connected to a universal, cosmic energy. The lyric emphasizes that we are all equal parts of a greater whole, and that the same life-giving energy that sustains us also illuminates the world around us. The line "the sun shines on everyone" reinforces this idea, suggesting that there is no distinction between good and bad, but rather an underlying unity that connects all things.
The overall message of the song is one of discipline and self-control, which is reflected in the repetition of the title "Discipline 27". This suggests that there is a structured, organized approach to achieving a state of balance and harmony with the universe. By following this discipline, we are able to tap into the power of the sun and become more aligned with the natural world.
Overall, "Discipline 27" is a deeply philosophical song that explores the nature of existence and our place within it. Through its lyrics and music, it encourages listeners to embrace discipline and self-control in order to become more attuned to the forces that shape our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
children of the sun
You are beings born from the energy and light of the sun
you are children of the sun
You are all offspring of the sun, connected by this shared origin
each and every one
Every individual, without exception
the child of the sun
An intimate acknowledgement of one's own relationship to the sun, and thus to the universe
the sun shines on everyone
The life-giving energy of the sun bestows itself upon all without discrimination
shines on the good
The rays of the sun bless those who act with kindness, compassion and love
shines on the bad
The same light falls on those who behave with cruelty, hatred and indifference
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SUN RA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind