| Jackson Browne – Late for the Sky Lyrics | 6 years ago |
|
This is about a man and a woman confronting the realization that she had an affair. It is about that long conversation that ensued "and still we continued into the night". It almost seems drawn from Browne's own life with, "Now for me some words come easy But I know that they don't mean that much Compared with the things that are said when lovers touch" Perhaps a reference to the fact that even a great poet and songwriter realized that his words paled in comparison to the whispers between two people in a sexual situation. The strongest line in this song was: "Looking hard into your eyes There was nobody I'd ever known Such an empty surprise to feel so alone". He goes on to do what jilted lovers do, he mulls over the possibility that he has been a fool longer than he knows "How long have I been sleeping?" Suggesting that he dosen't entirely believe that this is the only time that this has happened. He eventually accepts that his life with this person is over "Awake again I can't pretend and I know I'm alone" And in the end arises from the bed and leaves. But before leaving he reveals perhaps that he shared in the infidelity "in the bed where we both lie" can be interpreted two different ways and I tend to believe it was his hint at his own affairs on the way out the door. And "Late for the sky" can be interpreted as simply freedom or a jet ride away, given the personal nature of the song and guessing his lifestyle at this time I believe it was both. I've always thought this song was another one like "Fountain of Sorrow" that was born from actual events in Browne's life. I believe that primarily because I recently divorced someone after 20 years of marriage and this song that I had heard 100 times before suddenly seemed so clear that it was as though someone was reading my mail. Jackson Browne has a way of opening up and exposing his hardships and strife in his life through nearly confessional songs that provide insight into his soul that most artists would never share. I am sure it is therapeutic for him to put his feelings down on pen and paper. He encapsulates moments in his life and sets them on a shelf for us to rediscover decades later and relate to our own. And that's a very cool way to repay your listeners. It is also what makes him one of the greatest artists of our time. |
|
| Jackson Browne – Fountain Of Sorrow Lyrics | 6 years ago |
|
We all have that moment when we look at someone and say to ourselves and realize that this is love. But we rarely remember the moment that we realize it is probably over. That just seems to happen as a slow painful process. To me this a song about a man who finds an old photo and realizes that what he had with a person is gone and has been for some time. I picture a woman laughing with friends and someone calling out "smile" and points behind her and when she turns around she drops her guard for a moment and expresses being let down that it was just him. The expression of sorrow. Browne tends to go on in this song and place the cause of the sorrow upon himself, which is probably the way he felt at the time. There are hints of an affair "so you go running off in search of a perfect stranger". And the entire song gets very intricately reflective and apologetic to the end with upbeat lyrics and music thrown in at the end of each verse "but now your alright, and it's good to see your smiling face tonight". These almost seem out of place in this song. I believe it was a very personal song written for a particular person. I've heard that he later said it was more credit than the person deserved. But what makes this song so special is that just as the photograph encapsulated that moment of discovery, this song encapsulated that moment in his life and he is a VERY talented artist to put pen to paper and take this snapshot of his life as it was on the day he wrote it. |
|
| James Taylor – Shower The People Lyrics | 6 years ago |
|
Although it could apply to anyone, I tend to believe that the reference early on of "Father and Mother, Sister and Brother" leans this song to having been written with family in mind. Nearly all of us, and especially those of us getting on in age experience riffs and disagreements with our family members that never get repaired, mostly because we "stand there with our foolish pride". This song says to me to never miss an opportunity to rain love onto my family members and if there are any "squeaky wheels" to rain even more down on them. Then I will feel those bad feelings "beginning to ease". A great song, by a great artist. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.