How many singer/songwriters can say that Elvis Presley recorde… Read Full Bio ↴Biography
How many singer/songwriters can say that Elvis Presley recorded one of their songs and has a co-write with Bob Dylan?
In 1972, the legendary Ahmet Ertegun signed Danny O'Keefe to Atlantic Records, then teamed him with the incomparable producer Arif Mardin, resulting in his top-five Billboard hit "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues." This was followed by the classic album Breezy Stories in 1973. Besides Elvis, many other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis; Willie Nelson; Chet Atkins; Waylon Jennings; Leon Russell; Charlie Rich; and Mel Torme went on to record this classic composition.
This tandem combined for three other D O'K classics during that decade: "Angel Spread Your Wings" also recorded by Judy Collins; "The Road" also recorded by Jackson Browne; and "Magdalena" also recorded by Donny Hathaway and Leo Sayer. These songs garnered heavy AM and FM airplay for Danny and were the building blocks for his distinguished performing and songwriting career.
Now, regarding the co-write with Bob Dylan: besides Danny's version, "Well, Well, Well" has been recorded by Mavis Staples; David Lindley; Maria Muldaur; The Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Harper and by Bonnie Raitt on her VH1 special.
Other notable co-writes and covers of Danny's compositions include: "Quits," sung originally as a duet with Linda Ronstadt (Andy Williams; Chris Hillman and Gary Stewart); "Along for the Ride" (John Denver); "Souvenirs" (Jimmy Buffet); "Next To You" (Sheena Easton); "Never Got Off the Ground" (co-written with David Mallett and recorded by Alison Krauss and Molly O'Brien); "Into the West" (Tim O'Brien); "When You Come Back Down" (Nickel Creek and Tim O'Brien); and most recently, "Anywhere On Earth You Are" (Allan Jackson on his 2006 CD "Like Red On A Rose.")
Danny believes that music is a powerful means for sharing concern and motivating change on critical issues such as the preservation of "song" in the world. After becoming increasingly concerned with the decimation of songbirds and their habitat, Danny started The Songbird Foundation (www.songbird.org) which works with musical artists to publicize the issue of songbird species decline due to devastation of their habitat. Using his music to publicize and popularize the issue, Danny successfully encouraged other musicians to do the same. Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffet, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nickel Creek, Jackson Browne and many others have responded by contributing public service announcements, perform benefit concerts and do their part to make audiences aware that to create a truly sustainable world requires changed patterns of consumption, especially with concern to aggressive sun-grown coffee in the rain forests of Latin America.
Danny's voice is a superb mixture blues and Americana; his songwriting speaks for itself.
Discography
1971 - Danny O'Keefe Cotillion Records
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun
1972 - O'Keefe Signpost/Atlantic
Produced by Arif Mardin
Contains the top-ten hit "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues"
1973 - Breezy Stories Atlantic Records
Produced by Arif Mardin
Contains the single "Angel Spread Your Wings"
1975 - So Long Harry Truman Atlantic Records
Produced by John Boylan
Contained the single "Quits"
1977 - American Roulette Warner Bros. Records
Produced by John Court and Kenny Vance
1979 - The Global Blues Warner Bros. Records
Produced by Jay Lewis and Danny O'Keefe
1984 - The Day To Day Coldwater Records
Produced by Mathew McCauley and Tony Peluso
Contained the singles "Along for the Ride" and "Someday"
Both singles charted in the "20's" in AC charts
1989 - Redux Beachwood/Chameleon Records
(this is a re-release of The Day To Day with a new title and two new songs)
Contained the singles "Along for the Ride" and "Someday"
Both singles charted on AOR charts in the 20's
VH1 played the video of "Along for the Ride"
2000 - Runnin' From the Devil Miramar
January 25th, 2000
2003 - "Don't Ask" w/Bill Braun
Produced by Bill Braun
All songs written and performed by Danny O'Keefe and Bill Braun
Shooting Star
Danny O'Keefe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She passes through the door it falls behind her
A fly’s wings curl burning in the air
A rainbow rises from a frozen cup of coffee
The elephant is sitting in the chair
The Bookworm is eating his way through the funnies
The morning is waiting for Elektra
But Elektra is mourning for the knight
And I’m falling
As I usually do
When recalling
All that’s left of you
The lady’s lover is chattering in the corner
Chewing on the holey sole of his shoe
The Dancer’s still singing from his poster
But he’s slowly fading from black to blue
Urantia is rising in the distance
The Adjuster is waiting in the dawn
Another shooting star has fallen
And when they don’t come back, they’re gone
When they don’t come back they’re gone
The first verse of "Shooting Star" sets a surreal scene that immediately captures the listener's attention. The imagery is vivid, with the fly's wings curling and burning in the air and a rainbow rising from a frozen cup of coffee. The elephant sitting in the chair adds to the dreamlike atmosphere. The second verse introduces a few more characters, such as the Bookworm and the Dumplings, who seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. However, the focus shifts to Elektra, who is mourning for her knight, implying that something tragic has happened.
The chorus comes in with the haunting refrain, "And I'm falling, as I usually do, when recalling all that's left of you." This suggests that the singer is going through a period of grief and is consumed by memories of someone who is no longer with them. The third verse brings in more bizarre imagery, with the lady's lover chewing on the holey sole of his shoe and the Dancer slowly fading from black to blue.
The final two lines of the song bring a sense of finality, as another shooting star has fallen and is gone forever. "When they don't come back, they're gone" is a melancholic statement about the fleeting nature of life, reminding the listener to cherish their loved ones while they can.
Line by Line Meaning
She passes through the door it falls behind her
As soon as she enters a place, her presence becomes powerful enough to create an impact on her surroundings.
A fly’s wings curl burning in the air
Her influences cause even the tiniest creatures to change, and they burn up in flames of passion for her.
A rainbow rises from a frozen cup of coffee
Even the lifeless and colorless things around her come to life, and they show such vivid colors that even a rainbow emanates from them.
The elephant is sitting in the chair
Things that do not seem to fit in or are awkward in their places might find their perfect position beside her.
The Bookworm is eating his way through the funnies
Her wisdom can penetrate even the hardest-to-reach brains, and can open up new worlds even to those who are not looking for it.
The Dumplings sit giggling in delight
The simplest things can bring happiness and joy to everyone around her, even those that normally seem serious, uninteresting, or mundane.
The morning is waiting for Elektra
Everyone and everything is waiting for the moment she arrives, and the world awaits her next move.
But Elektra is mourning for the knight
She is aware of the pain and heartache that life can bring, and the struggle that comes with it.
And I’m falling
The artist cannot help but lose themselves in the allure and magic of her presence, and cannot resist her pull.
As I usually do
This is not the first time that the artist has been entranced by her, and it certainly will not be the last.
When recalling
When thinking back on memories of her, the artist can almost feel her presence once again, and the emotions that come with it.
All that’s left of you
The artist is reminded of what has been lost - emotionally, mentally, or physically - and how it lives on in their memories.
The lady’s lover is chattering in the corner
No one can resist discussing or mentioning her, even if it is not directly related to their conversation or thoughts.
Chewing on the holey sole of his shoe
Even without realizing it, people around her are drawn to add a part of themselves to her legacy or aura, whether it is positive or negative.
The Dancer’s still singing from his poster
Even objects or media relating to her can have a life and passion that inspires others.
But he’s slowly fading from black to blue
As time passes, the initial passion or attraction might dwindle, leaving a melancholic after-effect that is still somehow beautiful.
Urantia is rising in the distance
Her presence can shine light on previously unexplored parts of the world or universe, making it appear new and different.
The Adjuster is waiting in the dawn
She could be the key to unlocking new forms of creativity or potential.
Another shooting star has fallen
She might leave a trail of heartbreak or disappointment in her wake, but there will always be hope and wonder where she has been.
And when they don’t come back, they’re gone
The artist realizes that sometimes, even the brightest shooting stars cannot stay forever, and that they must eventually move on from their time with her.
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Southern Style
Southern Style
I appreciate your posting the lyrics to this song, however I don't think the lyrics shown in the second verse were the lyrics penned by O'Keefe. I know every Lyric site shows it as presented here but as this is a song about unrequited love I feel it necessary to try to define the word "Electra"/"Elektra" which, at one point in time, referred to "pre-dawn"; Think sun rays coming over the horizon prior to sunrise. So what you have, in effect, is "morning waiting for Elektra but Elektra is mourning for the NIGHT". There is your unrequited love; Morning loves Elektra but Elektra loves Night.