Story Behind The Song

From the liner notes to Leni's 2008 CD, "Africa": i spoke to vieux this morning. he lives in lassia bogou in bamako. he talks to the spirits with the corie shells. i had sent money for an offering a few days ago to thank the spirits for their help during my project. it's an african custom and since this is an african record, i felt i would be appropriate. during my stays in africa my friends had taken me several times to the spirit guides. their predictions have often come true. i remember ami's cousin that threw the shells for me. she is a beautiful, soulful lady. ami and her friends rely on her for every thing. i remember the time in september she got very sad and said that she saw a dead man and a woman who would bring me the news of his passing. ami got very upset and ask her to throw the cories again and again, but the answer stayed the same. michael brecker had played on 2 songs already and i was about to record a few more tracks to bring home to new york for him to play on. he loved african music. we spent many hours in his hospital room telling stories, planning for new songs. i forgot about the incident and it was not until the night in january when i returned from playing at the festival in desert and looked at me e-mails for the first time in days to find my friend morley's message about his passing, that i remembered that afternoon. i sat frozen with grief in the empty lobby of the sofitel in bamako staring at the computer screen. it was very late at night, i was alone, only the cleaning crew that polished the marble floors and the receptionists were awake. i felt grateful that some where in my unconscious mind i had been given a chance to prepare for this huge loss. a flock of egrets that lived in the hotel gardens took flight in the early morning hours and i watched them disappear across the river into the morning mist. i wrote 1000 stars that day. new york july 29 2007

Song Description

Written in memory of Leni's close friend & collaborator, the saxophonist Michael Brecker, Leni composed this song the day after hearing of his passing, while she was in Mali.

Lyrics

i saw 1000 stars fall from the sky last night
falling, falling, falling
the desert moon was shining bright
i know i know i know
we come and then we go
but my heart wont understand
love is forever it doesn't end
love is forever

a flock of egrets took flight at sunset
turning and dancing over the water
shimmering light and shadows
on weightless feathered wings
they disapeared into the darkening sky
they disapeared into the darkening sky

i heard a thousand voices call your name today
calling, calling, calling
the drums were playing to ease your way
i know, i know, i know we come and then we go
the sun is rising over the river
yes, i believe
love is forever, love is forever