"Joanne" as written by and Michael Nesmith....
Joanne
Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow by a pond
And she touched me for a moment
With a look that spoke to me of her sweet love
Then the woman that she was
Drove around with desperation
And I saw as she went
A most hopeless situation
For Joanne and the man and the time
That made them both run
She was only a girl
I know that well but still I could not see
That the hold that she had
Was much stronger than the love she felt for me
But staying with her and my little bit of wisdom
Broke down her desires like a light through a prism
Into yellows and blues and a tune
That I could not have sung
Tho the essence is gone
I have no tears to cry for her
And my only thoughts of her are kind
Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow by a pond
And she touched me for a moment
With a look that spoke to me of her sweet love
Then the woman that she was
Drove around with desperation
And I saw as she went
A most hopeless situation
For Joanne and the man and the time
That made them both run
Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow by a pond
And she touched me for a moment
With a look that spoke to me of her sweet love
Then the woman that she was
Drove around with desperation
And I saw as she went
A most hopeless situation
For Joanne and the man and the time
That made them both run
She was only a girl
I know that well but still I could not see
That the hold that she had
Was much stronger than the love she felt for me
But staying with her and my little bit of wisdom
Broke down her desires like a light through a prism
Into yellows and blues and a tune
That I could not have sung
Tho the essence is gone
I have no tears to cry for her
And my only thoughts of her are kind
Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow by a pond
And she touched me for a moment
With a look that spoke to me of her sweet love
Then the woman that she was
Drove around with desperation
And I saw as she went
A most hopeless situation
For Joanne and the man and the time
That made them both run
Lyrics submitted by jowanatalkboutit
"Joanne" as written by Michael Nesmith
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
While staying with her
..."And she TOUCHED me for a moment" (why "touch'd", here? pretty, but. . .)...
..."With a look that spoke to me of her sweet LONG"...
..."For Joanne and the man and the time that made them both RUN" (every time it's this line, it's "RUN"; the word "wrong" does not appear in these lyrics at all)...
..."light THROUGH a prism" ("thru" is kind of not respecting the poet, Michael Nesmith, to me, anyways)...
..."THOUGH the essence is gone. . .no TEARS to cry for her. . .my only THOUGHTS of her ARE kind"...
I am a peaceful, romantic soul, and am therefore very sorry if I seem like an unnecessary stickler, today. Still, I truly love Michael Nesmith's way with poetry, and must help it to be properly preserved through the ages.
--One's duty indeed, in return for the joy of foraying into his (therefore one's very own) World, is to recognize how lovingly & meticulously he chooses his words, and to therefore make every effort to preserve his intention--and well.
[Even songs such as "Different Drum" (which he wrote & gave to The Stone Poneys--you know, Linda Ronstadt singing?) have original, often-surprising lyrics. These are meant to paint vivid pictures on the surfaces of open minds--pictures reminiscent & echoing enough to sink into our secret hearts and "bring us back". He woos, speaks to, remembers with us in quiet tones and terms that are masterfully open-ended for all their specificity. Those gentle hues, both precise and subtle--he's simply a Great in his skill at leaving the emotion up to listeners' imaginations, thereby & magically calling up "strangers'" personal experiences and, in turn, arousing chords of human relate-ability between all of us. I've always believed that Michael Nesmith's poetry-in-rhythm, if you will, has the deft power to leave indelible impressions and revived memories within the breasts of every person who hears it.]
So you see, I can't quite leave a Michael Nesmith song uncorrected. I just *can't*--hey, you better quit laughin' at me! =D
It is a simple, timeless picture of Beauty we find in Joanne (and the song, too)--an important story, lesson, and gift for every Heart who was ever young. This's how young love goes; the kind of poignant young-heart's story not easily represented or expressed in pop-radio. A stormy (perhaps torrid? yay!) turmoil-turned, in reflection of many years, -blessing. This is what a heart can say when the pain is gone, the lover is longer-gone, the youth fades... it can finally sit back and smile about that sad time in gratitude. Finally.
So, for meaning?... well, I suppose it's just that man looking back on a love affair, like happens to all of us, in his long-ago, hormone- and heart-charged young life... =).
(You must see that he is very creative with his expressions! Do read about the man, sometime, and you will almost certainly be surprised at the many innovative things he has done for our world, artistically speaking [at the very least]!)
You're Welcome in Advance, If I've Helped--Only, ENJOY!,
"Jaxxy"... =).
P.S.... BOY, I hope this is readable. Michael Nesmith gets me floaty.
i just watched him sing it live in a video and it was clearly "love".
This may be all wrong, but it feels right. Overall I hear this song (which has haunted me of late) as a sweet reminiscense of a relationship that briefly but permantly marked the singer, and was doomed from the outset. Have we not all had some such experience along the way? I know I have, and 30 or more years later my mind goes sweetly back to what might have been, but never was. No regrets and no anger - "my only thoughts of her are kind" - and also a wise realization that it all worked out for the best in the end. Still, we are touched and changed in a way that can only find expression through this kind of poetry. It is a lovely little song, and I only regret that Nesmith did not pen many more like this one, and that very few folks write this kind of poetic music any more.
youtube.com/…
It was inspired by Joanne Woodward, but it's not necessarily about her. He turned into something more universal.
..."And she TOUCHED me for a moment" (why "touch'd", here? pretty, but. . .)...
..."With a look that spoke to me of her sweet LONG"...
..."For Joanne and the man and the time that made them both RUN" (every time it's this line, it's "RUN"; the word "wrong" does not appear in these lyrics at all)...
..."light THROUGH a prism" ("thru" is kind of not respecting the poet, Michael Nesmith, to me, anyways)...
..."THOUGH the essence is gone. . .no TEARS to cry for her. . .my only THOUGHTS of her ARE kind"...
I am a peaceful, romantic soul, and am therefore very sorry if I seem like an unnecessary stickler, today. Still, I truly love Michael Nesmith's way with poetry, and must help it to be properly preserved through the ages.
--One's duty indeed, in return for the joy of foraying into his (therefore one's very own) World, is to recognize how lovingly & meticulously he chooses his words, and to therefore make every effort to preserve his intention--and well.
[Even songs such as "Different Drum" (which he wrote & gave to The Stone Poneys--you know, Linda Ronstadt singing?) have original, often-surprising lyrics. These are meant to paint vivid pictures on the surfaces of open minds--pictures reminiscent & echoing enough to sink into our secret hearts and "bring us back". He woos, speaks to, remembers with us in quiet tones and terms that are masterfully open-ended for all their specificity. Those gentle hues, both precise and subtle--he's simply a Great in his skill at leaving the emotion up to listeners' imaginations, thereby & magically calling up "strangers'" personal experiences and, in turn, arousing chords of human relate-ability between all of us. I've always believed that Michael Nesmith's poetry-in-rhythm, if you will, has the deft power to leave indelible impressions and revived memories within the breasts of every person who hears it.]
So you see, I can't quite leave a Michael Nesmith song uncorrected. I just *can't*--hey, you better quit laughin' at me! =D
It is a simple, timeless picture of Beauty we find in Joanne (and the song, too)--an important story, lesson, and gift for every Heart who was ever young. This's how young love goes; the kind of poignant young-heart's story not easily represented or expressed in pop-radio. A stormy (perhaps torrid? yay!) turmoil-turned, in reflection of many years, -blessing. This is what a heart can say when the pain is gone, the lover is longer-gone, the youth fades... it can finally sit back and smile about that sad time in gratitude. Finally.
So, for meaning?... well, I suppose it's just that man looking back on a love affair, like happens to all of us, in his long-ago, hormone- and heart-charged young life... =).
(You must see that he is very creative with his expressions! Do read about the man, sometime, and you will almost certainly be surprised at the many innovative things he has done for our world, artistically speaking [at the very least]!)
You're Welcome in Advance, If I've Helped--Only, ENJOY!,
"Jaxxy"... =).
P.S.... BOY, I hope this is readable. Michael Nesmith gets me floaty.