The San Francisco-based trio was first formed around 1954, then in a piano-guitar-bass configuration. Starting with the release of the group's self-titled debut album on Fantasy in 1956, Guaraldi would remain on the label for some time. Guaraldi's early recordings were decidedly low-key and morose compared to the work for which he would become famous, but his trademark melancholy and distinctive instrumental voicings, including his deep basslines, were indelible parts of his aesthetic framework from the very beginning.
Influenced by the Brazilian film Black Orpheus (1959)--whose soundtrack was a large part of the impending Bossa nova craze--the trio recorded the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (1962), having by this point settled into their now familiar piano-bass-drums lineup. The album featured renditions of songs from the film, as well as a number of originals; one such song was "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" which would, within a year, become one of the most commercially successful jazz instrumentals of its time, notably winning a Grammy for Best Instrumental Song. Several vocal versions (with lyrics by Carel Werber) would also achieve significant success.
It was thanks to Guaraldi's hit song that he was discovered by Lee Mendelson who wanted him to write music for Peanuts animation. Guaraldi's first Peanuts assignment was the music for the ill-fated Schulz documentary A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Though the special was never aired and remained unavailable to the public for several decades, the music was released as the album Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964). For later reissues, the album was retroactively renamed after the documentary.
Despite a troubled production process, 1965 saw the premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Guaraldi's ground-breaking amalgamation of Christmas music and his own unique brand of jazz was an inexorable part of the special's unforeseen success; the soundtrack, featuring originals alongside Guaraldi's interpretations of standards, continues to amass impressive sales even now. One of the songs from the special, "Linus and Lucy" (featured in the special's famous "dancing scene"), would become the de facto theme of Peanuts animations, often mistakenly referred to as the "Peanuts Theme". Another song on the soundtrack, "Christmas Time Is Here" (with lyrics by Mendelson), has become a Christmas standard in its own right.
With the passing of the '60s, Guaraldi began experimenting more and more with different sonic textures for his music, having all but replaced his acoustic piano with various electronic keyboards, most notably the Fender Rhodes. Consequently, Guaraldi would, less and less, perform and record within the context of a trio. While it was never "officially" disbanded, and Guaraldi still used this configuration from time to time, the group inevitably dissolved upon Guaraldi's untimely death in 1976.
Peanuts specials made subsequent to his death often reuse Guaraldi's recordings, or original music inspired heavily by Guaraldi's iconic scores; a testament to his importance to the identity of Peanuts. More importantly, generations of people have cited Guaraldi's inventive and playful jazz as their formative experience with the genre, imbuing a spark of the love of jazz in untold numbers of listeners that only seem to increase the more time goes by.
Cast Fate to the Wind
Vince Guaraldi Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Octobers drifting into Mays
You set your sail when the tide comes in
And you cast your fate to the wind
You shift your course along the breeze
Won't sail up wind on memories
The empty sky is your best friend
That time has such a way of changing a man throughout the years
And now you're rearranging your life through all your tears
Alone, alone
There never was, there couldn't be
A place in time for men to be
Who'd drink the dark and laugh at day
And let their wildest dreams blow away
So now you're old, you're wise, you're smart
You're just a man with half a heart
You wonder how it might have been
Had you not cast your fate to the wind
The lyrics to Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" tell the story of someone who is taking a risk by leaving their past behind and setting off into the unknown. The first two lines of the song describe the passing of time, as Octobers turn into Mays. The singer then urges the listener to set their sail when the tide comes in and cast their fate to the wind. This metaphorical language suggests that the listener is not entirely in control of their destiny and must be willing to take chances and trust in the universe.
The second verse expands on this idea, suggesting that the listener must be willing to adjust their course as circumstances change, and not cling to the past. The empty sky becomes their friend because they are not tied to any particular place or person. The chorus describes how time changes people, and how the listener is now struggling to rearrange their life through all their tears. Alone and reflective, they wonder what might have been if they had not taken the risk and cast their fate to the wind.
Overall, "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" is a song about taking chances and trusting in the unknown. The lyrics suggest that one's fate is not entirely in their control, and that sometimes the best course of action is to let go and see where the wind takes them.
Line by Line Meaning
A month of nights, a year of days
The passage of time is evident in the changing of seasons and the movement of days and nights.
Octobers drifting into Mays
The passage of time makes it seem as though the seasons are changing quickly and without warning.
You set your sail when the tide comes in
You make decisions or take action when it seems the time is right for you, when your situation is favorable.
And you cast your fate to the wind
You leave your future and your life to chance, letting external factors determine your path in life.
You shift your course along the breeze
You adapt to changes in your environment, going with the flow and changing course as necessary to get where you need to go.
Won't sail up wind on memories
You let go of the past, not allowing your past experiences to hold you back or prevent you from moving forward.
The empty sky is your best friend
You feel most comfortable and safe when you are in control of your own destiny, despite the unknowns.
And you just cast your fate to the wind
You choose to live your life carefree, without a worry for the future, and letting events unfold naturally.
That time has such a way of changing a man throughout the years
The passage of time has a profound impact on a person's life, causing them to grow and change in ways that they may not have expected.
And now you're rearranging your life through all your tears
You have been through a great deal of emotional turmoil and are now trying to make the best of what is left, despite the pain and suffering you have endured.
Alone, alone
You are facing your challenges alone, without anyone to guide you or help you navigate the difficult path ahead.
There never was, there couldn't be
The concept of living life without taking risks or chances is unrealistic and impossible to achieve.
A place in time for men to be
There is no specific time or era where men can live their lives without facing difficult choices or uncertain outcomes.
Who'd drink the dark and laugh at day
It is impossible to live a life without hardship or sorrow, but some people find the ability to laugh and find joy in even the darkest of situations.
And let their wildest dreams blow away
For some people, life and its challenges are an adventure in itself, and they do not hold onto plans or dreams that do not work out.
So now you're old, you're wise, you're smart
As you age, you gain experience and knowledge, which allows you to make smarter choices and wiser decisions.
You're just a man with half a heart
Despite your experience and knowledge, you are still vulnerable and may be emotionally damaged or incomplete.
You wonder how it might have been
You contemplate or speculate about how your life may have turned out differently, if you had made different choices or decisions.
Had you not cast your fate to the wind
You reflect on how your carefree lifestyle may have led to missed opportunities or different outcomes, if you had been more cautious or deliberate in your actions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Vince Guaraldi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mobrules29
Songwriters: Vince Guaraldi, Carel Werber, Bola Sete, Djalma De Andrade
A month of nights, a year of days,
Octobers drifting into Mays;
I set my sail as the tide comes in
And I just cast my fate to the wind.
I shift my course along the breeze;
Won't sail upwind on memories.
The empty sky is my best friend,
And I just cast my fate to the wind.
(Bridge:)
Time has such a way of changing
A man throughout the years;
And now I'm rearranging my life through all my tears
Alone, alone.
There never was, there couldn't be
A place in time for men like me
Who'd drink the dark and laugh the day
And let their wildest dreams blow away.
(Repeat Bridge)
So now I'm old, I'm wise and smart;
I'm just a man with half a heart.
I wonder how it might have been
Had I not cast my fate to the wind.
@brendarule2047
I was just a little kid in grade school in the 1960's when I fell in love with this song. It reminds me of crisp, new school dresses, kneesocks, breezes playing with falling leaves, and walking to school. Here I am in my 60's and I still think it is just beautiful.
@TheCenteroftheUniverse
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..."
And God blessed me with a life so tumultuous it is book-worthy. Plus, it keeps me off the street corners. :)
@brendarule2047
@Michael Summers Ah, Michael, and now you touch mine. I doubt you would have looked good in the dresses anyway. :) While I was wanting dresses, my brother was wanting a tall sissy bar for his sting ray.
@brendarule2047
@Shagata Ganai Off the street corners is the place to be, Shagata! Write that book! I often thank God that I was alive during the "best times" for music. It's hard to describe.
@brendarule2047
@Michael Summers Yes. And bless you, Michael. Keep the Faith!
@bbmtge
Great stuff, Brenda!!!
@mindfield7
If ever you needed a song to describe how good it is to be alive - this is it.
@TheAlparks
I agree !, it’s one of those you can ,listen over and over; I’m going to play it now lol
@muffs55mercury61
YES! And it was also good to be alive in the 1960s to see and hear all the music that came out during those years.
@laurieh878
Aww, what a nice thing to say!