Sweet music: Cassandra Wilson

One of my favorite ‘Wilson’ names in music is Cassandra Wilson. She mixes blues, jazz, R&B, indigenous elements with her fantastic voice.

One of the songs she sings: ‘Solomon Sang’ is in reference to ‘The Song of Solomon’ which is biblical, yes, but of course anything having to do with Christianity, usually is preceded by its histories in other lands and places and spiritual paths. In ‘Solomon Sang’ Cassandra Wilson refers to the Queen of Sheba (which is what The Song of Solomon revolves around) as Makeda. Makeda is the Ethiopian name for the Queen of Sheba.

Lie back and relax for a beautiful experience.

I also include Cassandra Wilson’s version of ‘Last Train from Clarkesville‘ which was the Monkees’ first single in 1966 and was a jangly upbeat sixties type song. I love Cassandra’s version. ‘Last Train from Clarkesville’ was conceived by its creator and songwriters as a protest song expressing the wishes of a soldier to stay as long as he could with his family before he leaves for the Vietnam War.

Solomon Sang

He had silver and gold
Riches untold
And the beast of the field lay at his feet

Everybody bowed 
He wondered why or how
It all came to be

No one understood his sorrow
No one saw his pain
He was praying for grace
Ravens pray for rain

And when he stood before the altar
Solomon sang
Solomon sang

Wisdom was his calling
Pride sent him falling
Love was blissful misery

When the days grew dim
Life began again
In the questions of the Queen

Did she understand his sorrow
Did she see his pain
Vanity and precious stones
Weigh you down the same

But when he laid down with Makeda
Solomon sang
Solomon sang

Love for woman
Love for God
Not so simple
Not too hard
For the spirit
Pleasure is sweet
And surrender set him free
Free
Set him free

When our time is ended
How will we have spent it
Did we see the beauty in each day

Was it God’s devotion
Behind each emotion
Or did it all just slip away

Can you understand his sorrow
Can you see his pain
Nothing lives forever 
But the love that bears your name

And when he stood up in the temple 
Solomon sang

Solomon sang
Solomon sang
Solomon sang