The band formed in Benton Harbor, Michigan as the Four Sounds. The original line-up consisted of Gene Harris (September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) on piano, Andrew Simpkins (April 29, 1932 – June 2, 1999) on double bass and Bill Dowdy (August 15, 1932 - May 12, 2017) on drums, along with saxophonist Lonnie `The Sound' Walker, who dropped out the following year. The group moved to Washington and then New York, where as the Three Sounds, they cut a record for Riverside Records, before signing an exclusive contract with Blue Note.
Between 1958 and 1962, the group released nine LPs for Blue Note. They toured nationally during this period, building a large following in jazz clubs across the country. Later Three Sounds recordings were also released by Limelight and Verve Records.
The Three Sounds song "Put On Train", from the 1971 Gene Harris album The 3 Sounds was featured as the prominent background sample in the hip-hop group Beastie Boys song "What Comes Around" on their 1989 album Paul's Boutique. It previously stated here that this sample came from the Three Sounds album Live at the It Club, recorded in 1970, however this was not released (on Live at the It Club Vol. 2) until 2000.
Stairway to the Stars
The Three Sounds Lyrics
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And climb that stairway to the stars
With love beside us to fill the night with a song
We'll hear the sound of violins
Out yonder where the blue begins
The moon will guide us as we go drifting along
Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Over the rim of the hill?
And settle high on the crest of a thrill!
Let's build a stairway to the stars
A lovely stairway to the stars
The Three Sounds's song "Stairway to the Stars" is a beautiful and romantic tune that invites listeners to dream and escape from reality. The lyrics suggest the idea of building a stairway to the stars as a metaphor for reaching our biggest dreams and aspirations. The song is an invitation to enjoy love and all its beauty, while also embracing the magic of the universe.
The first two lines of the song, "Let's build a stairway to the stars, And climb that stairway to the stars," are a call to action to dream big and pursue our goals, supported by the presence of love. The lyrics are poetic and descriptive as they bring to life the sounds of violins playing far away where the sky begins, and the image of a beautiful moon guiding the lovers along. The chorus repeats the message of the first verse, indicating that building a beautiful stairway to the stars is not just a fanciful idea, but a possibility with love as our guide.
The lyrics suggest that we can sail away to distant places, imagining enjoying life's pleasures, and let our dreams take us to the highest peaks. This song is a beautiful love song asking us to cherish our loved ones, cherish our dreams, and never stop believing that we can achieve anything if we stay true to ourselves and follow our hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's build a stairway to the stars
Let's create a path towards our dreams and aspirations
And climb that stairway to the stars
Let's work hard to achieve our goals and reach the top of the stairs
With love beside us to fill the night with a song
We will have someone special to share our journey with and make beautiful memories with them
We'll hear the sound of violins
We will experience moments of joy and happiness, like sweet music to our ears
Out yonder where the blue begins
We will explore new horizons and expand our perspectives
The moon will guide us as we go drifting along
We will find our way through life's uncertainties, and enjoy the journey as it unfolds
Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Can't we relax and let life take us on a peaceful journey without any rush or worry
Over the rim of the hill?
Towards new adventures and opportunities that are waiting for us on the other side of the hill
Can't we sail away on a little dream
Can't we use our imagination to visualize and manifest our heart's desires into reality
And settle high on the crest of a thrill!
And reach the peak of our excitement, where we can bask in the glory of our accomplishments
Let's build a stairway to the stars
Let's keep striving for excellence and never stop pursuing our dreams
A lovely stairway to the stars
A beautiful and fulfilling journey towards our aspirations
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind