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Joanne Lyrics
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 her on 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
Though 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 her on 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
For Joanne and the man and the time
That made them both run
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
Drove her on 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
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
I have no tears to cry for her
And my only thoughts of her are kind
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
Drove her on 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
That made them both run
Song Info
Submitted by
jowanatalkboutit On Dec 05, 2006
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The lyrics are a bit wrong, here...
..."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.
Floaty and long-winded, but at least this one was a more enjoyable read.
Floaty and long-winded, but at least this one was a more enjoyable read.
Is floaty even a word??????????
Is floaty even a word??????????
Definition for floaty: Web definitions: buoyant: tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas; "buoyant balloons"; "buoyant balsawood boats"; etc. OK, you can be 'floaty." I'll allow it :) Just glad I'm not the one with the rise in gas...
Definition for floaty: Web definitions: buoyant: tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas; "buoyant balloons"; "buoyant balsawood boats"; etc. OK, you can be 'floaty." I'll allow it :) Just glad I'm not the one with the rise in gas...
This song is actually about a cow named Joanne (hence living in a meadow by a pond) that wandered off from Nesmiths ranch to that of Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson being "the man" in the lyrics
This song is actually about a cow named Joanne (hence living in a meadow by a pond) that wandered off from Nesmiths ranch to that of Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson being "the man" in the lyrics
LOL...glad I read all the comments before commenting on the word "floaty." Still makes me chuckle, which is always good.
LOL...glad I read all the comments before commenting on the word "floaty." Still makes me chuckle, which is always good.
Isn't this guy a Monkee?!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cool.
Yes, he is! Very cool. Can't wait to see him Nov 5.
Yes, he is! Very cool. Can't wait to see him Nov 5.
It's not "for Joanne and the man and the time that made them both wrong", it's "the time that made them both RUN". You can hear it plain as day, on the original recording, but especially here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQUvL0RQY8
It was inspired by Joanne Woodward, but it's not necessarily about her. He turned into something more universal.
Hmmm...I was under the impression that it was a cow, as a girl would not live "in a meadow by a pond". I could be wrong. If it was a cow, indeed, I am immeasurably touched. I mean, how many people write an ode to these deserving, gentle, docile beings who we literally milk dry and then, sadly, slaughter. :-(
@harry s.10 maybe their friendship turned sour and so he then said it was about a cow ????
@harry s.10 maybe their friendship turned sour and so he then said it was about a cow ????
With a look that spoke to me Of her sweet love While staying with her
im not sure which way you're trying to say it goes but "sweet long" doesn't make sense.. i just watched him sing it live in a video and it was clearly "love".
Sweet long makes perfect sense - think of it in terms of yearning or longing for something. "Her sweet long" means that for which she sweetly yearns. It was probably not for the singer, because he follows by describing her as being driven in desperation, possibly for someone else. I always interpreted this as a song about a love triangle, "Joanne and the man and the time that made them both run." "The hold that she had (on the other man) was much stronger than the love she had for me" Seems like the singer was taken with Joanne, who...
Sweet long makes perfect sense - think of it in terms of yearning or longing for something. "Her sweet long" means that for which she sweetly yearns. It was probably not for the singer, because he follows by describing her as being driven in desperation, possibly for someone else. I always interpreted this as a song about a love triangle, "Joanne and the man and the time that made them both run." "The hold that she had (on the other man) was much stronger than the love she had for me" Seems like the singer was taken with Joanne, who was in turn obsessed with someone else, probably someone unobtainable to her. The singer could never be that man to her, as he came to realize having broken down her desires "like a light through a prism" -to discover "a tune that he could not have sung."
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.
Beautiful interpretation. Just wonderful. On a personal note, I read where inaction is the number one reason for doomed relationships. I believe the stats show 48% ;)
Beautiful interpretation. Just wonderful. On a personal note, I read where inaction is the number one reason for doomed relationships. I believe the stats show 48% ;)
Was this song written about a cow? I heard that recently.
Slight correction here:
"Then the woman that she was Drove her on with desperation"
@GordianPiusIII that sure makes a lot more sense . . .
@GordianPiusIII that sure makes a lot more sense . . .
One of the prettiest most poetic songs ever
The lyrics are a bit wrong, here...
..."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.