Soul Shadows
The Crusaders Lyrics


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San Francisco morning coming clear and cold
Don't know if I'm waking or I'm dreaming
Riding with Fats Waller on the Super Chief
He said, musics real, the rest is seeming

Oh, he played
A feeling that won't go away
Left a sound of his soul in the air
I can hear it up there
And I know

He left those soul shadows
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
He left a soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind

Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
I swear I can hear a far-off music
Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago
Coltrane reaching for the notes his mind can hear
They remain a part of all that I know

Oh, they played
A feeling that won't go away
Left a sound of their souls in the air
I can hear it up there
And I know

They left them soul shadows
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
They left a soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind

Oh, they played
A feeling that won't go away
Left a sound of their souls in the air
I can hear it up there
And I know

Soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
Soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind

Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
I swear I can hear a far-off music
Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
And Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago

You oughta hear them play
Feelings that won't go away
Left a sound of their souls in the air
I hear up there
And I know

They left them soul shadows
All on my mind, on my mind, all on my mind




They left them soul shadows
All on my mind, on my mind

Overall Meaning

The Crusaders’s song Soul Shadows is a tribute to the jazz legends who influenced and inspired the band members. The lyrics describe waking up to a cold San Francisco morning and feeling the presence of jazz greats Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and John Coltrane. The song celebrates the enduring legacy of these musicians and their ability to leave “soul shadows” that continue to influence and inspire long after they are gone.


The opening lines of the song are ambiguous, and the singer is unsure if they are waking or dreaming. This sets the stage for the metaphysical theme of the song - the idea that the music of these jazz greats transcends time and space, leaving an indelible imprint on the present. The lines “He said, musics real, the rest is seeming” emphasize the emotional and spiritual power of music, suggesting that it is more than just a collection of notes and sounds.


The repeated phrase “on my mind” highlights the lingering impact of these jazz legends on the singer’s consciousness. Ultimately, the song pays homage to the transformative and enduring legacy of jazz music, a legacy that lives on in the “soul shadows” of the musicians who helped shape the genre.


Line by Line Meaning

San Francisco morning coming clear and cold
It's a cold, clear morning in San Francisco.


Don't know if I'm waking or I'm dreaming
I'm not sure if I'm awake or dreaming.


Riding with Fats Waller on the Super Chief
I'm on the Super Chief with Fats Waller.


He said, musics real, the rest is seeming
Fats Waller said that music is real, everything else is just an illusion.


Oh, he played
Fats Waller played some music.


A feeling that won't go away
The music left an indescribable feeling that will stay with me forever.


Left a sound of his soul in the air
Fats Waller's music left a part of his soul in the atmosphere.


I can hear it up there
I can still hear the music lingering in the air.


And I know
I'm aware of the impact of Fats Waller's music on me.


He left those soul shadows
Fats Waller left behind soul shadows - traces of his music's impact.


On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
It's something that continues to linger in my thoughts.


Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
I'm standing by the window watching the fog roll in.


I swear I can hear a far-off music
I'm sure I can hear distant music playing somewhere.


Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
Jelly Roll Morton is playing in Storyville.


Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago
Louis Armstrong is playing in Chicago with great intensity.


Coltrane reaching for the notes his mind can hear
John Coltrane is playing music according to what his mind can perceive.


They remain a part of all that I know
Their music still resonates with me and becomes a part of all that I've learned.


Soul shadow
Soul shadows - traces of music's impact on the soul.


On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
Something that continues to stay on my mind.


You oughta hear them play
You need to hear them play.


All on my mind, on my mind, all on my mind
Their music has made a profound impact on me and has become a part of my thoughts and memories.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Sample, Will Jennings

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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