Her eponymous debut album was released to major acclaim in 1971 and was followed two years later by Heart Food. She recorded demos for a third album in 1974 and they were released in 2005 under the title Dreams Come True. Read Full BioJudee Sill (October 7, 1944 - November 23, 1979) was an American singer-songwriter. The first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum label, she released two albums before disappearing into obscurity and eventually dying of drug abuse in 1979.
Her eponymous debut album was released to major acclaim in 1971 and was followed two years later by Heart Food. She recorded demos for a third album in 1974 and they were released in 2005 under the title Dreams Come True.
Sill was heavily influenced by Bach's metric forms and suites, while lyrically her work drew substantially on Christian themes of rapture and redemption.
Judee's father and brother both died in separate incidents when Judee was quite young. Her mother's subsequent marriage to Tom and Jerry animator Kenneth Muse was marked by heavy drinking, and this, combined with her rebellious nature, drove her away from home and into a life of crime and drug use in her teens.
Having learned her signature gospel-inflected keyboard style during her incarceration for writing bad checks, Sill kicked her heroin addiction and decided to pursue songwriting. Now a talented pianist, organist and guitarist, Sill returned to the West Coast where she encountered Graham Nash and David Crosby (touring with them for a time as their opening act) and David Geffen who offered her a contract with his nascent label. Her albums were received well by critics but found little commercial success. Judee struggled with drug addiction during phases again following a car accident and its resulting physical pain and dropped out of the music scene and died of a drug overdose in November of 1979.
It was through Geffen that she met Graham Nash, who quickly became a fan, and produced the first single for her album, "Jesus Was a Cross Maker." The rest of Judee Sill was orchestrated and produced by Bob Harris, Sill's ex-husband. Judee Sill was released in 1971 to immediate acclaim. Lushly orchestrated, the album featured Sill's voice in multiple overdubs, often in a four-part chorale or fugue. The album fit in well with the light rock/folk-rock underpinnings of what came to be known as the "Laurel Canyon sound" associated with other female singer-songwriters such as Carole King and Joni Mitchell (Mitchell, also signed to Asylum, was at work on Ladies of the Canyon at the time). A tour as the opening act for Nash and David Crosby exposed her intimate songwriting and skillful guitar playing to a larger audience, but her record failed to make much of an impact, despite the somewhat heavy airplay of "Jesus Was a Cross Maker." A self-professed perfectionist, one song could often take her a year to write, and it wasn't until late 1972 that Sill returned to record and release her second and last album, Heart Food. It too received enthusiastic reviews but did poorly commercially. Sill took over the chores of both orchestrating and arranging Heart Food, with the production relying more heavily on multilayered strings and lush expanse. Unable to draw a sizable crowd yet unwilling to play as a support act, Sill's name and moderate fame both receded, and she disappeared from view entirely. Rumors abound as to what happened next, although it is definitely known that she returned to her heroin addiction as well as becoming heavily involved with cocaine. Graham Nash has said that he learned as early as 1974 that Sill had died of an overdose, a claim that would later prove to be incorrect, but considering how closely the two had worked only a few years earlier it does illustrate just how completely Sill had dropped out by this time.
Her first success was the selling of her song "Lady-O" to The Turtles. Long after her death, she has been lauded by many musicians, including Jim O'Rourke who mixed the posthumous collection of unreleased material, Dreams Come True. Her two original albums have been reissued as a double CD with a number of live recordings and demos as bonus tracks.
Jesus Was a Cross Maker
Judee Sill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Please come down flyin' low for me
One time I trusted a stranger
Cuz' I heard his sweet song
And it was gently enticin' me
Tho there was somethin' wrong
But when I turned he was gone
Blindin' me, his song remains remindin' me
He's a bandit and a heart breaker
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker
Sweet silver angels over the sea
Please come down flyin' low for me
He wages war with the devil
A pistol by his side
And tho he chases him out windows
And won't give him a place to hide
He keeps his door open wide
Fightin' him he lights a lamp invitin' him
He's a bandit and a heart breaker
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker
Sweet silver angels over the sea
Please come down flyin' low for me
I heard the thunder come rumblin'
the light never looked so dim
I see the junction git nearer'
and danger is in the wind
And either road's lookin' grim
Hidin' me, I flee, desire dividin' me
He's a bandit and a heart breaker
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker
Yes, Jesus was a cross maker
Yes, Jesus was a cross maker
Sweet silver angels over the sea
Please come down flyin' low for me
One time I trusted a stranger
Cuz I heard his sweet song
And it was gently enticin' me
Tho there was somethin' wrong
But when I turned he was gone
Blindin' me, his song remains remindin' me
He's a bandit and a heartbreaker.
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker
Sweet silver angels over the sea
Please come down flyin' low for me
The song "Jesus Was a Cross Maker" tells a story of a woman who falls for a man's sweet words and charms, but ultimately realizes that he is a bandit and a heartbreaker. She contrasts this man with Jesus, who she refers to as a cross maker, perhaps alluding to the idea that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for mankind's salvation. She calls out for help from "sweet silver angels" to fly down and save her from her predicament.
The first verse sets the stage for the story, as the woman recalls how she once trusted a stranger because his sweet song enticed her even though she felt there was something wrong. When she turned to look at him, he was gone. The second verse reveals that this man wages war with the devil and keeps his door open wide, despite his heartbreaker tendencies. The final verse shows the woman's fear as she hears thunder and approaches a dangerous junction, with desire dividing her. She concludes that while the man may be a bandit and a heartbreaker, Jesus was a cross maker.
Overall, the song may be interpreted as a cautionary tale about being lured in by false promises and the ultimate salvation found in faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet silver angels over the sea
The speaker is calling out for help from divine beings.
Please come down flyin' low for me
The speaker wants the angels to come down and offer their assistance in a humble manner.
One time I trusted a stranger
The speaker has taken a risk by trusting someone they don't know.
Cuz' I heard his sweet song
The stranger used a charming and enticing manner to earn the speaker's trust.
And it was gently enticin' me
The stranger's actions were luring and appealing to the speaker.
Tho there was somethin' wrong
Despite the warning signs, the speaker still trusted the stranger.
But when I turned he was gone
The stranger disappeared when the speaker became aware of his true nature.
Blindin' me, his song remains remindin' me
The memory of the stranger's actions still lingers in the speaker's thoughts.
He's a bandit and a heart breaker
The stranger was a dishonest and untrustworthy person.
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker
In contrast to the deceptive stranger, Jesus had a noble and selfless mission.
He wages war with the devil
Jesus is in conflict with evil forces such as the devil.
A pistol by his side
Metaphorically, Jesus is prepared to fight evil with his strength of character and moral guidance.
And tho he chases him out windows
Jesus is determined to drive out the devil and won't give him a place to hide.
And won't give him a place to hide
Jesus is resolute in his fight against evil and won't let it take hold anywhere.
He keeps his door open wide
Jesus welcomes all people, including those who need redemption and guidance.
Fightin' him he lights a lamp invitin' him
Jesus is in a battle with evil, but he still holds out the light of hope and the possibility of redemption.
I heard the thunder come rumblin'
The speaker senses trouble or danger approaching.
the light never looked so dim
The speaker is experiencing a feeling of hopelessness or despair.
I see the junction git nearer'
The speaker is approaching a crossroads or a decision point in their life.
and danger is in the wind
The speaker is aware of the risks and challenges ahead.
And either road's lookin' grim
Both options that the speaker is considering seem bleak and unpromising.
Hidin' me, I flee, desire dividin' me
The speaker is struggling with a decision, torn between different desires or motivations.
Yes, Jesus was a cross maker
The speaker acknowledges that Jesus made sacrifices and faced challenges in the pursuit of his mission.
Sweet silver angels over the sea
The speaker is still calling out for divine guidance and support.
Please come down flyin' low for me
The speaker reiterates their plea for humble and immediate assistance from the angels.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Judee Sill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind