Williams has garnered considerable critical acclaim but her commercial success has been moderate. She has a reputation as a perfectionist and as a slow worker when it comes to recording; six years passed between the release of her second and third albums. However, she frequently makes guest appearances on other artists' albums and contributes to compilations and soundtracks. She has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Leftover Salmon, and Steve Earle, among others. She has also opened concerts for artists such as Neil Young.
Early life
Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the daughter of poet and literature professor Miller Williams. Her father worked as a visiting professor in Mexico and Chile as well as different parts of the American South, before settling at the University of Arkansas. His daughter showed an affinity for music at an early age, and was playing guitar at 12.
Career
By her early 20s, Williams was playing publicly in Austin, Texas and Houston, Texas, concentrating on a folk-rock-country blend. She moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1978 to record her first album, for Smithsonian/Folkways Records. Titled Ramblin', it was a collection of country and blues covers. She followed it up in 1980 with Happy Woman Blues, which consisted of her own material. Neither album received much attention.
In the 1980s Williams moved to Los Angeles, California (before finally settling in Nashville, TN), where -- performing both backed by a rock band and in acoustic settings -- she developed a following and a critical reputation. Nevertheless, it was not until 1988 that Rough Trade Records released the self-titled Lucinda Williams. The single "Changed the Locks", about a broken relationship, received radio play around the country and gained fans among music insiders, including Tom Petty, who would later cover the song.
Its follow-up, Sweet Old World (Chameleon, 1992), was a melancholy album dealing with themes of suicide and death. Williams's biggest success during the early '90s was as a songwriter. Mary Chapin Carpenter recorded a cover of "Passionate Kisses" (from Lucinda Williams) in 1992, and the song became a smash country hit for which Williams received the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994.
Williams had garnered considerable critical acclaim, but her commercial success was moderate. Emmylou Harris said of Williams, "She is an example of the best of what country at least says it is. But, for some reason, she's completely out of the loop. And I feel strongly that that's country music's loss."
Williams also gained a reputation as a perfectionist and slow worker when it came to recording; six years would pass before her next album release, though she appeared as a guest on other artists' albums and contributed to several tribute compilations during this period.
The long-awaited release, 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was Williams' breakthrough to the mainstream. Containing the single "Still I Long for Your Kiss" from the Robert Redford film The Horse Whisperer, the album received wide critical notice and soon went gold. It received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. She toured with Bob Dylan and on her own in support of the album.
Williams followed up the success of Car Wheels with Essence (2001). This release featured a less produced, more stripped-down approach both musically and lyrically, and moved Williams further from the country music establishment while winning fans in the alternative music world. She won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Rock performance for the single "Get Right With God", an atypically uptempo gospel-rock tune from the otherwise rather low-key release. The title track was co-written and co-recorded with alternative country musician Ryan Adams.
Her seventh album, World Without Tears, was released in 2003. A musically adventurous though lyrically downbeat album, this release found Williams experimenting with talking blues stylings and electric blues.
In 2006, Lucinda recorded a version of the John Hartford classic "Gentle On My Mind," which played over the closing credits of the Will Ferrell filmTalladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Williams was a guest vocalist on the song "Factory Girls" from Irish punk-folk band Flogging Molly's 2004 album, "Within a Mile of Home", and appeared on Elvis Costello's The Delivery Man. She duetted with Steve Earle on the song "You're Still Standin' There" from his album I Feel Alright from 1996.
Williams released the album "West" on February 13, 2007, to mostly good reviews. The material is highly personal, chronicling the death of her mother and the breakup of a turbulent relationship.
Lucinda released her ninth studio album, "Little Honey", on October 14th.
Buttercup
Lucinda Williams Lyrics
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Like you talk about climbing trees
You look like a little kid,
With bruises on your knees
You will never cop,
To the damage that's been done
You will never stop,
'Cause it's too much fun
Now you want somebody to be your buttercup,
Good luck finding your buttercup
You already suck me dry,
Can't do it any more honey
You rough me up and make me cry,
And you wanna borrow money
You say you feel like a failure,
And wish you cold take it all back
Well honey I gotta tell you,
It's a little too late for that
Now you want somebody to be your buttercup,
Good luck finding your buttercup
Glory is an act of the other
You're always feeling bad
Maybe you couldn't talk to your mother,
Or stand up to your dad
You want my forgiveness,
That I'll give to you
But you got yourself into this mess,
There's nothing I can do
Now you want somebody to be your buttercup,
Good luck finding your buttercup
First time I saw you,
You would make me melt
The last time I saw you,
You hit below the belt
You might have a beautiful mouth,
You might have beautiful eyes
But soon or later, it all goes south,
You tell too many lies
Now you want somebody to be your buttercup,
Good luck finding your buttercup
Good luck finding your buttercup
Good luck finding your buttercup
The song "Buttercup" by Lucinda Williams, from her 2014 album "Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone," is a reflective but caustic portrait of a manipulative and self-centered partner who seeks forgiveness and validation but rejects responsibility for their past behavior. Williams' lyrics draw on vivid imagery and raw emotion to paint a picture of a damaged and damaged relationship that has run its course, leaving the singer feeling drained and disillusioned.
The song opens with a comparison between the partner's casual admission of destructive behavior ("You talk about the junk you did / Like you talk about climbing trees") and their childlike appearance, despite the bruises on their knees. Their refusal to acknowledge the harm they have caused ("You will never cop / To the damage that's been done") underscores their lack of accountability and empathy. The chorus features the repeated refrain, "Now you want somebody to be your buttercup / Good luck finding your buttercup," suggesting that the partner is looking for someone to rescue them or take responsibility for their problems but is unlikely to find it.
The verses that follow describe the singer's exhaustion and frustration with the partner's behavior, which includes emotional manipulation, financial dependence, and a pattern of lying and self-pity ("You rough me up and make me cry / And you wanna borrow money...You say you feel like a failure / And wish you could take it all back"). The final verse offers some insight into the partner's background, suggesting that they may have a history of trauma or abuse that has shaped their behavior ("Maybe you couldn't talk to your mother / Or stand up to your dad"). Despite the singer's willingness to forgive, there is a sense of resignation and regret in the closing lines, as they acknowledge that the partner's problems are not something they can fix ("you got yourself into this mess / There's nothing I can do").
Line by Line Meaning
You talk about the junk you did,
Like you talk about climbing trees
You speak of your harmful behavior as casually as reminiscing about your childhood
You look like a little kid,
With bruises on your knees
Despite your destructive habits, you still seem youthful and innocent
You will never cop,
To the damage that's been done
You refuse to take responsibility for the harm you have caused
You will never stop,
'Cause it's too much fun
Your enjoyment of your harmful actions outweighs any consideration for the damage they cause
Now you want somebody to be your buttercup,
Good luck finding your buttercup
You seek a loyal and devoted partner, but your destructive behavior will make that difficult to find
You already suck me dry,
Can't do it any more honey
Your parasitic behavior has exhausted me, and I cannot tolerate it any longer
You rough me up and make me cry,
And you wanna borrow money
You harm me both physically and emotionally, while also expecting me to provide for you financially
You say you feel like a failure,
And wish you cold take it all back
You acknowledge your mistakes and express regret, but it is too late to undo the damage
Well honey I gotta tell you,
It's a little too late for that
I must inform you that the damage has already been done and it is impossible to completely undo it now
Glory is an act of the other
You're always feeling bad
You always compare yourself to others and feel inferior, which prevents you from feeling any sense of accomplishment
Maybe you couldn't talk to your mother,
Or stand up to your dad
Perhaps your upbringing and family dynamics have contributed to your destructive behavior and negative self-image
You want my forgiveness,
That I'll give to you
You seek my forgiveness, and I am willing to provide it
But you got yourself into this mess,
There's nothing I can do
You are responsible for your harmful behavior and the consequences that result, and it is beyond my ability to fix
First time I saw you,
You would make me melt
When I first met you, I was deeply attracted to you
The last time I saw you,
You hit below the belt
When we last interacted, you acted in an unfair or hurtful way
You might have a beautiful mouth,
You might have beautiful eyes
You possess physical beauty
But soon or later, it all goes south,
You tell too many lies
Your superficial charm and beauty will eventually fade, and your tendency to deceive others will cause problems in relationships
Good luck finding your buttercup
Good luck finding your buttercup
Good luck finding your buttercup
It will be difficult for you to find a partner who can overlook your destructive behavior and remain devoted to you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUCINDA WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind