Raised in Syracuse, New York, she found success in the 70s as a model, working in New York and Paris (where she shared an apartment with Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange), before rising to public prominence as a singer and personality.
Jones secured a record deal with Island Records, which resulted in a string of club hits. The three disco albums she recorded - Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978), and Muse (1979) - generated dance singles such as Sorry That's The Trouble, I Need A Man, and a classic cover of La Vie En Rose. During this period, she also became a muse to Andy Warhol, appearing in his portraits and accompanying him to Studio 54 on many occasions.
As the 70s drew to a close, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music to suit a different style, a significant departure from her previous output that resulted in some of her strongest work. Still with Island, and now working with producers Alex Sadkin and Chris Blackwell at Compass Point Studios, and with the considerable talents of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie) behind her, she released the acclaimed Warm Leatherette (1980) and Nightclubbing (1981). These included re-imaginings of songs by Sting, Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Flash And The Pan, The Normal, and Tom Petty, as well as originals like the innuendo-filled Pull Up To The Bumper and the haunting I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango). Parallel to her musical shift was an equally dramatic visual departure; Jones - working heavily with style artist Jean-Paul Goude - adopted a severe, androgynous look that enhanced her already striking presence, the iconic cover of Nightclubbing exemplifying this new identity. Her collaboration with Sadkin and Blackwell continued with the dub reggae-influenced album Living My Life, which featured Nipple To The Bottle, The Apple Stretching, and the Jones-penned and much-sampled My Jamaican Guy.
Later in the 80s, she worked with Trevor Horn for the conceptual musical collage Slave to the Rhythm (1985), and with Nile Rodgers for Inside Story (1986) - her first album away from the Island label. Inside Story produced her last US Hot 100 hit to date, I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You), while Bulletproof Heart in 1989 produced the #1 US club hit Love on Top of Love - Killer Kiss, produced by C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivilles. Though a chart regular in the UK Grace Jones never achieved mainstream musical success in the US, but most of her singles became huge hits in the dance underground.
Jones' strong visual presence was extended to her stage work. Her performances were unique spectacles as she adopted various personas and wore outlandish costumes throughout, particularly during her years with Goude. Her most memorable performances include the Paradise Garage in 1985, wherein she collaborated with legendary visual artist Keith Haring for her costume and the extraordinary One Man Show filmed in Drury Lane Theatre London and in New York and released on video in 1982 (it is yet to be re-released).
In 2008 she returned with the album "Hurricane".
Use Me
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is there a point of duty?
And he keeps trying to tell me
All you wanna do is use me
But my answer to all that use me stuff
Oh baby
Now, I wanna spread the news
Keep on using me till you've used me up
Use me
Use me
Mother sat down
And you know she told me
"If he can overcome you
All he's gonna do is use you"
But my answer to all that use me stuff
Oh baby
Now, I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Well, keep on using me till you've used me up
Use me (used me up)
Use me
Now, I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Come on and keep on using me till you've used me up
Use me (used me up)
Use me
Sometimes, it's true
You really do abuse me
I lost the only people
Who ever really didn't use me
But, oh baby
When you love me, I can't get enough
Oh baby
Now, I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Well, keep on using me till you've used me up
Use me (used me up)
Till you've used me up
Until you've used me up (use me)
Come on and use me up
Use me
Use me
Come on and use me
Use me, use me
Use me
Use me (use me, use me)
(Use me, use me) use me
(Use me, use me) use me
(Use me, use me)
(Use me, use me) use me
(Use me, use me) use me
(Use me, use me)
(Use me, use me) use me
(Use me, use me) use me
(Use me, use me)
(Use me, use me) use me
The song "Use Me" by Grace Jones is about a person who is aware of their partner's intentions to use them but is willing to accept this due to the pleasure they experience from being used. Despite warnings from friends and family that the partner is exploiting them, Grace Jones insists that they don't mind being used as long as it feels good. The lyrics convey a sense of control and power, with Grace being the one who chooses to allow the partner to use her.
The lyrics also suggest that Grace has been used multiple times in the past, causing her to lose people who loved her for who she was. This implies that she is aware of the consequences of being used for a prolonged period, but still chooses to pursue fleeting moments of pleasure regardless. The song is an expression of her independence and willingness to take risks, even if it means being used and discarded.
Overall, "Use Me" is a song that reflects an individual's understanding of their partner's intentions but chooses to embrace it for personal gratification. The lyrics convey a sense of assertiveness, dominance, and willingness to take risks in love.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend feels that
My friend believes that
Is there a point of duty?
Is there a responsibility or obligation?
And he keeps trying to tell me
And he constantly attempts to inform me
All you wanna do is use me
All you desire to do is exploit me
But my answer to all that use me stuff
However, my response to all of that exploitation is
Oh baby
Oh my dear
Now, I wanna spread the news
Now, I want to share the information
That if it feels this good gettin' used
That if being exploited feels this pleasurable
Keep on using me till you've used me up
Continue to exploit me until there is nothing left to take
Use me
Exploit me
Mother sat down
My mother sat me down
And you know she told me
And as you know, she informed me
"If he can overcome you
"If he can manipulate or outsmart you
All he's gonna do is use you"
All he will do is exploit you"
Now, I'm going to spread the news
Now, I will share the information
That if it feels this good gettin' used
That if being exploited feels this pleasurable
Well, keep on using me till you've used me up
Certainly, continue to exploit me until there is nothing left
Now, I'm going to spread the news
Now, I will share the information
Come on and keep on using me till you've used me up
Please, keep exploiting me until there is nothing left to take
Sometimes, it's true
Occasionally, it is accurate
You really do abuse me
You actually do mistreat me
I lost the only people
I lost the only individuals
Who ever really didn't use me
Who never really exploited me
But, oh baby
But, oh my dear
When you love me, I can't get enough
When you love me, I desire more and more
Now, I'm going to spread the news
Now, I will share the information
Till you've used me up
Until there is nothing left to take
Until you've used me up (use me)
Until there is nothing left to take (exploit me)
Come on and use me up
Please, exploit me until there is nothing left
Use me
Exploit me
Use me (use me, use me)
Exploit me (exploit me repeatedly)
(Use me, use me) use me
(Exploit me, exploit me) exploit me
(Use me, use me) use me
(Exploit me, exploit me) exploit me
(Use me, use me)
(Exploit me, exploit me)
(Use me, use me) use me
(Exploit me, exploit me) exploit me
(Use me, use me) use me
(Exploit me, exploit me) exploit me
(Use me, use me)
(Exploit me, exploit me)
(Use me, use me) use me
(Exploit me, exploit me) exploit me
(Use me, use me) use me
(Exploit me, exploit me) exploit me
(Use me, use me)
(Exploit me, exploit me)
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bass
My friends feel that it's their appointed duty
And they trying to tell me
All you wanna do is use me
But my answer to all that use me stuff, oh baby
Now I'm gonna to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Keep on using me 'til you've used me up
Use Me
Use Me
Mother sat down
And you know she told me
"If he can overcome you, all he's gonna do is use You"
But my answer to all that use me stuff, oh baby
Now I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Keep on using me 'til you've used me up
Use Me
Use Me
Now I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Come on and keep on using me 'til you've used me up
Use Me
Sometimes it's true
You really do abuse me
I lost the only people
Who ever really didn't use Me
But oh baby, when you love me I can't get enough, oh baby
Now I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Well keep on using me 'til you've used me up
'Til you've used me up
Come on and use me up
Use Me
KimSE4
RIP Robbie Shakespeare. One of the greatest bass players of all time, and this could be my favourite. Genius.
John Phillips
Stunning production, brilliant musicianship and Ms Jones. Pure class.
John Phillips
@Brian de Goede like a god's heartbeat
Brian de Goede
Sly and Robbie
Jerald Armstrong
38 years later and this is still legit. Love.
Victor
Grace Jones is a legend
Brett Hilliar
This is just the best of lady Jones. Admire her talent, always.
Brian Huxtable
Snap
Min Stokes
Grace, Sly and Robbie = perfection
Bass
My friends feel that it's their appointed duty
And they trying to tell me
All you wanna do is use me
But my answer to all that use me stuff, oh baby
Now I'm gonna to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Keep on using me 'til you've used me up
Use Me
Use Me
Mother sat down
And you know she told me
"If he can overcome you, all he's gonna do is use You"
But my answer to all that use me stuff, oh baby
Now I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Keep on using me 'til you've used me up
Use Me
Use Me
Now I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Come on and keep on using me 'til you've used me up
Use Me
Sometimes it's true
You really do abuse me
I lost the only people
Who ever really didn't use Me
But oh baby, when you love me I can't get enough, oh baby
Now I'm going to spread the news
That if it feels this good gettin' used
Well keep on using me 'til you've used me up
'Til you've used me up
Come on and use me up
Use Me