@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
She was a friend to me when I needed one
Wasn't for her I don't know what I'd done
She gave me back something that was missing in me
She could of turned out to be almost anyone
Almost anyone--
With the possible exception
Of who I wanted her to be
Running into the midnight
With her clothes whipping in the wind
Reaching into the heart of the darkness
For the tenderness within
Stumblin' into the lights of the city
And then back in the shadows again
Hanging onto the laughter
That each of us hid our unhappiness in
Talk about celestial bodies
And your angels on the wing
She wasn't much good at stickin' around--but
That girl could sing
She could sing...
In the dead of night
She could shine a light
On some places that you've never been
In that kind of light
You could lose your sight
And believe there was something to win
You could hold her tight
With all your might
But she'd slip through your arms like the wind
And be back in flight
Back into the night
Where you might never see her again
The longer I thought I could find her
The shorter my vision became
Running in circles behind her
And thinking in terms of the blame
But she couldn't have been any kinder
If she'd come back and tried to explain
She wasn't much good a saying goodbye--but
That girl was sane
Wasn't for her I don't know what I'd done
She gave me back something that was missing in me
She could of turned out to be almost anyone
Almost anyone--
With the possible exception
Of who I wanted her to be
Running into the midnight
With her clothes whipping in the wind
Reaching into the heart of the darkness
For the tenderness within
Stumblin' into the lights of the city
And then back in the shadows again
Hanging onto the laughter
That each of us hid our unhappiness in
Talk about celestial bodies
And your angels on the wing
She wasn't much good at stickin' around--but
That girl could sing
She could sing...
In the dead of night
She could shine a light
On some places that you've never been
In that kind of light
You could lose your sight
And believe there was something to win
You could hold her tight
With all your might
But she'd slip through your arms like the wind
And be back in flight
Back into the night
Where you might never see her again
The longer I thought I could find her
The shorter my vision became
Running in circles behind her
And thinking in terms of the blame
But she couldn't have been any kinder
If she'd come back and tried to explain
She wasn't much good a saying goodbye--but
That girl was sane
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Rumours ran round that this was about Valerie Carter. I don't know, but she is an incredible singer.
@MMMerry I’ve heard the same thing about it being about Valerie Carter. I’d never heard ‘O-o-h Child’ before I first watched Over The Edge, her version still blows me away, (even when it’s not accompanied by that awesome closing scene with the Correctional Buses and the Overpass from OTE. Makes me wanna cry just thinking about it.). I don’t listen to much other Valerie Carter, but sometimes I just gotta hear her version of O-o-h Child and it lifts me. Idk if it’s that the song is great or if it’s simply nostalgia, but I don’t care, I LOVE her version. <br /> <br /> See what I’m saying? Valerie’s still having the same effect on us, the same effect she had on Jackson. She’s one of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Sisters Of Mercy’…Life imitates art imitates life. Valerie is dead now, but her cover of Ooh child will never die
I know it's really cheesy and 80s, but I like the beat to this song. Lyrically, it's about this guy who knows a girl but she moves on (perhaps she's more of a freespirit type who is always moving?) and he just can't get her out of his mind.
A very profound song. People have “emotional stamps” that are created by others they have met in their lives with whom they have shared some love and sadness with. This song is about one of those “stamps” and plays on that in a very effective way. <br /> <br /> The song is about a man’s feelings and emotional attachment to a woman who helped him through a hard time by being his friend and lover. She is a free spirited type, very beautiful, and an artist (singer). She is as unhappy as he is, but she lives her life in a free fashion unbound by interpersonal hang ups and relationships. She is extremely attractive to this man during this time in his life, because he can relate to her. He does not want to get her back (as is suggested below) but there is something in the way this relationship developed and guided him through a tough time, plus her untamed nature, that makes him think back to this point in his life with a fond yet sad reflection of love that was lost... or perhaps never found, with this rare, exotic, talented, hurt, very free spirited woman. He looks at her in the end, as a person that others may find crazy, (because of the way that she lives her life so loosely) with understanding, particularly because the time when he knew her he was suffering from a hardship (probably a lost relationship). Reflecting back on her, he comes to a new understanding of her way of being, and the purpose behind her aloof jaded, yet free spirited existence. <br /> <br /> Chances are, he will come back to the “emotional stamp” he has with her from time to time, in order to remember, or when his current relationship fails or falters. He uses this memory as a tool to help him when he is down.<br /> <br /> The song invokes strong memories for me… and I would guess, other as well. <br />
This was definitely about Valerie Carter. He mentions it in a video after she died. He said he was obsessed with her at one point.
I think we all have people in our lives that are there when we need them but eventually disappear and we want so much more from them.
I love the line 'Hanging onto the laughter That each of us hid our unhappiness in'.
My favorite JB song.
In the first verse - I think that after the death of his wife, "she was a friend when I needed one..." refers to someone who befriended him in the difficult time...a diversion. I think that "with the possible exception of who he wanted her to be" refers to the exception of the possibility of her being his wife.
Is the last line really "that girl was sane"? Guess I'll have to listen to it again.
According to Wiki, Jackson Browne had a relationship with Laura Nyro and this song is about her. I can believe it. She really could sing too. One of the great singer-songwriters of that era.
Actually, I recall that this was written about Linda Rondstadt, whom JB had a relationship with as well... <br /> <br /> And the reference to "Running into the midnight, With her clothes whipping in the wind" was linked to Linda's "Hasten Down the Wind" album... as shown here.. <br /> amazon.com/Hasten-Down-Wind-Linda-Ronstadt/dp/B001Q89FA6/ref=sr_1_44 <br /> <br /> Thus, Wiki needs to be updated.. ;-) <br />
This song was written about Cassie Gaines, the back-up singer of Lynard Skynard who died in the plane crash along with her brother Steve Gaines and Ronnie.