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".
Well Well Well
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep on blinking in my eyes
And I think I might go home again
Another own my memories
Almost scattered in the stars
And I think I might go home again.
Well well well, I'm on a tightrope
Well well well well well well.
Well well well, I'm on a tightrope
Well well well, I think I'm falling
Well well well well well well.
Getting high and staying out late
I've a heart that's big and strong
And I think I might go home again
Now I'm losing time and sleep
And I can't tell right from wrong
And I feel like I'm alone again.
Well well well, I'm on a tightrope
Well well well, I think I'm falling
Well well well well well well.
Well well well, this ain't the first time
Well well well, won't be the last time
Well well well well well well.
Got one hand in the stirring wheel
And the other on my eyes
Trying to make some kind of sense
Throw logic in my life.
Well well well, I'm on a tightrope
Well well well, I think I'm falling
Well well well well well well.
Well well well, this ain't the first time
Well well well, won't be the last time
Well well well well well well.
I'm on a tightrope, I think I'm falling
Coming home, coming home
This ain't the first time, won't be the last time
I'm coming home now.
The lyrics of Grace Jones's song "Well Well Well" describe the difficult journey of someone who is trying to find their way home after being lost in their memories, experiences, and emotions. The singer seems to have been on the road for a while, getting high and staying out late, and they feel like they are losing a grip on their life. They are blinking, which might suggest they are struggling to see clearly, both literally and metaphorically. They are also on a tightrope, which can imply that they are in a precarious position, trying to balance conflicting forces. The tightrope might also refer to the narrow path they need to follow to get back to their sense of self and purpose.
The singer seems to be searching for some "kind of sense" and trying to "throw logic in [their] life." However, they also feel like they are almost scattered in the stars, which could suggest a feeling of disintegration or dissolution. They are lamenting the fact that they can't tell right from wrong and that they feel alone. The repetition of the phrase "well well well" throughout the song, both in the chorus and in the verses, is a way to convey a mix of resignation, frustration, surprise, and hope. The singer acknowledges that they have been on this journey before and that they will probably be on it again, but they are still determined to come home.
Overall, "Well Well Well" is a song about the struggle to find meaning and direction in life, especially when one feels lost or overwhelmed. The tightrope metaphor is apt, as it suggests the need to navigate a delicate and dangerous path without losing one's footing. The song has a haunting quality to it, enhanced by Grace Jones's distinctive voice and the sparse arrangement of the music, which includes a simple drum beat, a bass line, and some ethereal synthesizer sounds. It is a testament to Jones's artistry that she could convey so much with so little, and create a mood that lingers long after the song is over.
Line by Line Meaning
Get this right, on the road again
I need to make sure I'm doing everything the right way before I hit the road again.
Keep on blinking in my eyes
There are distractions all around me that are making it hard to focus.
And I think I might go home again
I'm considering going back home to get myself together.
Another own my memories
My past experiences are weighing heavily on me.
Almost scattered in the stars
My memories are almost like they're lost in space, distant and hard to grasp.
Well well well, I'm on a tightrope
My life feels precarious, like I'm walking on a tightrope and one wrong move could send me tumbling.
Well well well, I think I'm falling
The tightrope is starting to slip and I feel like I'm losing control.
Getting high and staying out late
I'm indulging in reckless behavior, seeking escape from my problems.
I've a heart that's big and strong
Despite my struggles, I have a resilient spirit.
Now I'm losing time and sleep
My problems are starting to negatively impact my sleep and my ability to function.
And I can't tell right from wrong
I'm struggling to make good decisions and distinguish between what's right and what's wrong.
And I feel like I'm alone again
Even though I'm surrounded by people, I still feel a sense of loneliness.
Well well well, this ain't the first time
I've been in this type of situation before and it's not new to me.
Well well well, won't be the last time
I know that I'll probably find myself in similar situations again in the future.
Got one hand in the stirring wheel
I'm trying to maintain control of my life as best I can.
And the other on my eyes
At the same time, I'm trying to block out distractions and focus on my goals.
Trying to make some kind of sense
I'm attempting to find meaning and purpose in my life.
Throw logic in my life
I'm trying to use rationality and clear thinking to improve my situation.
I'm on a tightrope, I think I'm falling
Despite my efforts to stay in control, I feel like I'm still slipping and losing my balance.
Coming home, coming home
I'm making the decision to return to my roots and seek refuge in what's familiar.
This ain't the first time, won't be the last time
I know that returning home won't solve all my problems, but it's a start.
I'm coming home now.
I'm ready to face my problems and start the process of getting better.
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.