She is noted for her elegant interpretations of standards, ballads, and blues. Her characteristic inflections have sometimes prompted comparisons to stylistic devices employed by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Jones' recordings, particularly her debut record (Don't Go To Strangers, 1960), have earned wide admiration in a new generation of listeners.
She had three Grammy nominations, for the Don't Go to Strangers LP in 1960, Save Your Love for Me in 1981, and My Buddy in 1999.
Jones had a musical partnership of more than thirty years with tenor sax player Houston Person, who received equal billing with her. He also produced her albums and served as her manager.
Jones was born in Aiken, South Carolina, and raised in Harlem. She died at the age of 72 from cancer. She was survived by her husband, John Medlock, and a granddaughter.
Funny
Etta Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can pass you on the street
And my heart don't skip a beat, not much
So much my eyes want to cry
Funny how I've stopped loving you
I can listen to your name
And it doesn't start a flame, not much
Now that you are standing here
Darling, I don't shed a tear, this is just the rain in my eyes
And if I have proved to you
Everything I say is true, please let me believe my own lies
Funny how I've stopped loving you
And it's funny I don't miss
All the heaven in your kiss, your touch
No, I don't love you, not much
And if I have proved to you
Everything I say is true, please let me believe my own lies
Funny how I've stopped loving you
And it's funny I don't miss
All the heaven in your kiss, your touch
No, I don't love you, not much
Not much
The lyrics of "Funny" by Etta Jones speak to the complexity of the process of falling out of love. The singer acknowledges that they have stopped loving their former partner, as evidenced by their ability to walk past them without their heart skipping a beat or hearing their name without feeling a flame. However, despite this cognitive recognition, the singer is still grappling with the emotional fallout of their relationship, as their eyes want to cry and their heart wants to die. The chorus suggests a sense of resignation, as the singer acknowledges their lack of love for their former partner but also emphasizes that they do not miss the physical intimacy they once shared. The final plea for the former partner to let the singer believe their own lies speaks to the heartache of trying to move on from a relationship that once held so much promise.
Overall, the lyrics of "Funny" demonstrate that falling out of love is not a linear or straightforward process. Even when we cognitively recognize that we no longer love someone, our emotions may take longer to catch up. The song is a poignant reminder of the bittersweet nature of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny how I've stopped loving you
It's surprising that I no longer have feelings for you
I can pass you on the street
I can see you without feeling affected
And my heart don't skip a beat, not much
My heart doesn't race when I see you, but there is still some emotion there
So much my eyes want to cry
I want to cry but I'm holding back my tears
I can listen to your name
Hearing your name doesn't trigger strong emotions
And it doesn't start a flame, not much
Hearing your name doesn't reignite my love for you, but there is still some emotion there
So much my heart wants to die
I feel pain in my heart
Now that you are standing here
Now that you're in front of me
Darling, I don't shed a tear, this is just the rain in my eyes
I'm not crying over you, it's just tears from the rain
And if I have proved to you
If I have shown you
Everything I say is true, please let me believe my own lies
Please allow me to believe my own lies, even if they are true
And it's funny I don't miss
It's strange that I don't feel your absence
All the heaven in your kiss, your touch
All the pleasure I used to receive from your kisses and touches
No, I don't love you, not much
I don't love you anymore, but there is still some emotion there
Not much
There is still some small amount of emotion towards you
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIE NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind