Slick is considered to be one of the most important musicians in bringing the 1960s psychedelic rock to mainstream appeal. She is known for her witty, influential, thought provoking lyrics. Former lover and bandmate Paul Kantner once half-jokingly compared Slick to Oscar Wilde in her impact on music and modern culture.
Slick's longevity in the music business helped her earn a rather unusual distinction: the oldest female vocalist on a Billboard Hot 100 chart topping single. "We Built This City" reached #1 on November 16, 1985, shortly after her 46th birthday. The previous record was age 44 for Tina Turner, with 1984's #1 smash, "What's Love Got To Do With It". Turner (who is, coincidentally, within a month of Slick's age) turned 45 two months after the song topped the charts. Slick broke her own record in April 1987 at age 47 when "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" topped the U.S. charts. Her record stood for 12 years but was ultimately broken by Cher, who was 53 in 1999 when "Believe" hit #1.
Slick did vocals for a piece known as Jazzy Spies, a series of animated shorts about the numbers 2 through 10 (a #1 short was never made), which aired on Sesame Street. The segment for the number two appeared in the first episode of the first season of Sesame Street, November 10, 1969.
She was nominated for a Grammy award in 1980 as Best Rock Female Vocalist for her solo album Dreams.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 (as a member of Jefferson Airplane).
She was ranked #20 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.
Aside from singing, she also sometimes played piano, keyboards, oboe, and recorder for the bands.
Seasons
Grace Slick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky is cold and it throws down icy snow
The lakes are glass the rivers all a frozen mass
The trees are bare and the northwind blows the air
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
The summer air so hot it melts the Russian snow
The fields are brown there's no rain to make them grow
And the old ones sigh, the heat has made them tired and slow
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
The children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
September leaves are falling through the autumn haze
And the school bells tell everyone there'll be no more summer days
Warm nights are gone, all the leaves are turning brown
Then the windows close again when the winter comes around
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
So I will laugh and dance and watch the children sing
Then I will have the chance of finding joy in everything
Grace Slick's song "Seasons" is a poetic reflection of the changing of the seasons and how they affect people differently. The song begins in winter, where the sun is low and the landscape is barren and cold. However, despite the bleakness of the season, children still find joy in the changes, dancing and singing as if it were spring.
As the seasons progress, Slick describes the heat of summer and the tiredness it brings to the elderly. However, the children still find joy in the changes of the season, dancing and singing as if it were spring. Autumn arrives, and the leaves fall through the haze, signaling the end of summer days. The windows close again when winter comes, but Slick ends on a positive note, stating that she too will laugh and dance and find joy in everything.
"Seasons" is a beautiful depiction of finding joy and beauty in every moment, even during the difficult times. It reminds the listener to embrace change and find happiness in the different seasons of life.
Line by Line Meaning
When the winter comes the sun is low upon the fields
During winter, the sun is low in the sky and makes the fields cold and dark.
The sky is cold and it throws down icy snow
The sky becomes frigid and produces snow that falls like stones to the ground.
The lakes are glass the rivers all a frozen mass
Water bodies like lakes and rivers lose their fluidity and freeze into blocks of ice.
The trees are bare and the northwind blows the air
Trees become bare as leaves fall, and strong winds from the north blow the air.
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
Despite the cold weather, children still dance and sing with cheerfulness as if in spring.
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
Every time the seasons change, children enjoy what it brings with them.
Then the sun comes high and the spring rains come and go
As the weather changes, the sun gets higher and spring rainfalls come and go.
The summer air so hot it melts the Russian snow
Summer air becomes sweltering hot that it can even melt the snow in Russia.
The fields are brown there's no rain to make them grow
The fields become brown and dry because of no rain, making them hard for crops to grow.
And the old ones sigh, the heat has made them tired and slow
Old people heave a sigh because the heat makes them tired and slows their movements.
September leaves are falling through the autumn haze
Twirling leaves, rusty and amber in color, fall gently in the misty autumn weather.
And the school bells tell everyone there'll be no more summer days
Schools begin, and everyone understands summer break has ended.
Warm nights are gone, all the leaves are turning brown
Warm nights disappear, and all the leaves turn yellow and brown in hue.
Then the windows close again when the winter comes around
Windows that were opened for ventilation closed again when winter sets in.
So I will laugh and dance and watch the children sing
The singer intends to laugh, dance, and watch the children sing.
Then I will have the chance of finding joy in everything
By experiencing the joy and cheerfulness of children, the singer gains a chance to find happiness in everything.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@noradorapandora9579
When the winter comes the sun is low upon the fields
The sky is cold and it throws down icy snow
The lakes are glass the rivers all a frozen mass
The trees are bare and the northwind blows the air
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
Then the sun comes high and the spring rains come and go
The summer air so hot it melts the Russian snow
The fields are brown there's no rain to make them grow
And the old ones sigh, the heat has made them tired and slow
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
The children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
September leaves are falling through the autumn haze
And the school bells tell everyone there'll be no more summer days
Warm nights are gone, all the leaves are turning brown
Then the windows close again when the winter comes around
But the children dance and sing as if the time were spring
When the seasons change everything they find a joy in what it brings
So I will laugh and dance and watch the children sing
Then I will have the chance of finding joy in everything
@lastrada52
My late mother didn't care for rock music but she tolerated it. While ironing clothes in the kitchen one evening she had her beloved WNEW-AM big band station on. She was bopping to this tune on the radio & singing along with it in gibberish (she didn't know the exact lyrics). I came in to get a drink and said "Mom...what are you doing? That's Grace Slick's "Seasons," you're singing. What is Grace doing on your radio station?" My Mom just smiled. Said she liked it.
But of course, WNEW-FM -- its sister station was NY's premier rock station. I suspect someone from the FM side gave this to the AM side. My Mom liked it...she began to appreciate Grace Slick too. She came down into the basement one night to ask for some more of that "Slick woman." I played "Lawman," from Bark -- and she made me play it 3 times. Her only comment -- "she's a good one sonny."
Sometimes you can't convince someone to like something -- you have to allow them to discover it by accident in their own time. I miss Mom. She was a wise one. She told me Frank Sinatra was going to have a hit with his new song. I said, "yeah sure."
But then "That's Life," exploded and even my friends were buying it. Great days...lots of good memories.
@fuunkyfreesh18
Yes, I am 19 years old, and yes I wasn't there or even close to being there but Grace Slick is the most beautiful woman I have ever saw/heard. She is so talented, I wish there were more artists today like her.
@maxhenderson3295
Grace Slick and Melanie Safka are my absolute favorites of all time.
This song seems like something Melanie would have written for Grace. I'd love to hear a duet by these fabulous women.
@roystonmason9125
that would be wild , yes it is very MELANIE! I love that <<< I got to see them Both play ,, so nice
@iganatiousjr
I could not agree more.
@barbarakirk3064
Yes! I can imagine Melanie singing this!
@stripervince1
Excellent. You rock grace. Been a fan since 1967, almost 50 years
@ianbond1505
My very favorite singer of all time. Attractive, intelligent, talented, kind. She knew what she was doing. Love you, Grace!
@isolationblues
This is such a great song and I have always been a fan of Grace's. I think she wrote this piece. I have a high regard for her.
@IamMinnie90
This woman.....REAL MUSIC....Beautiful soul
@rpscot55
THANK YOU FOR POSTING!!! "Seasons" is one of my favorite songs from Grace's solo album "Dreams" which I bought when it came out without ever hearing a cut. Turned out to be one of her best solo works and one of my all time favorites! Powerful Voice, Incredible Beauty and all that Talent in one person. Loved the entire LP. Lucky enough to see her twice during Starship Hey Day when she was still in fine form. I remember us guys all clamoring to get a closer look. Awesome Shows!