Phillips spent his formative years in Stockton, CA, where he founded a band called Bloody Holly, but prior to his 20th birthday Phillips headed to Los Angeles to study film, and he quickly found himself beneath the spell cast by local bands as the Rain Parade and Dream Syndicate. Phillips soon joined with Stockton acquaintance Jeff Clark to form Shiva Burlesque. The band dissolved after two critically acclaimed records, and Phillips soon began writing and demo-ing using the Grant Lee Buffalo alias.
Following some solo dates, Phillips invited former bandmates Joey Peters and Paul Kimble to join him, and the trio signed to Warner subsidiary Slash in 1992. Phillips' golden, honey-soaked voice went largely to waste in Shiva Burlesque, but the new band enabled him to step out as a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. GLB went on to release four very different LPs, consistent in excellence. A cult following, successful tours, and across-the-board critical acclaim (he was voted Rolling Stone's Male Vocalist of the Year following their second LP) didn't translate into sales, however. Frustrated with his label's dead-on-arrival promotion, Phillips asked for his band to be released from their contract, and he was obliged. (It was erroneously reported that GLB had been dropped.) Phillips dissolved his band, anxious to forge a new path.
In October of 1999, he headed to Jon Brion's studio and recorded a handful of new songs, played exclusively by himself. Dubbed Ladies' Love Oracle, it was self-released the following year online and at his numerous appearances at Largo in Hollywood. After landing a deal with Zoe/Rounder, Phillips issued the excellent Mobilize in 2001. The next year, Rounder reissued Ladies' Love Oracle in time for Phillips' joint tour with Kristin Hersh and Joe Doe. In 2004, he released Virginia Creeper, followed by an album of covers (Nineteeneighties) in 2006. Strangelet appeared in 2007 on Rounder Records, followed by Little Moon (2009), and Walking in the Green Corn (2012) .
Discography
Ladies Love Oracle (2000)
Mobilize (2001)
Virginia Creeper (2004)
Nineteeneighties (2006)
Strangelet (2007)
Little Moon (2009)
Walking in the Green Corn (2012)
Violet
Grant-Lee Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing makes me happier
Than to simply look into your eyes
And see you smile
Violet oh violet little darlin’ one
Wonder what you’re dreaming of
Wonder what it is the book of life
Dream of all the joys to see
And all you’re gonna do
Every flower in the world
A waiting for you
Violet oh violet welcoming the day
How we’re gonna laugh in to the hours
We’re gonna play
Dream of all the joys to see
And all you’re gonna do
Every flower in the world
A waiting for you
Violet oh violet such a darlin’ one
Nothing makes me happier
Than to know that you are having fun
You’re having fun
The song Violet by Grant-Lee Phillips is a beautiful tribute to his daughter, celebrating her innocence and potential for a bright future. The song opens with the artist expressing his admiration for Violet, calling her a darling child and remarking that nothing makes him happier than looking into her eyes and seeing her smile. He then wonders what she might be dreaming of and what kind of life she will live in the future.
The chorus of the song is particularly striking, with the artist encouraging Violet to dream of all the joys she will experience and the beautiful things she will see in the world. He assures her that every flower in the world is waiting for her and that the possibilities for her life are endless. The second verse of the song echoes these sentiments, with Phillips urging Violet to welcome each day with a joyful heart and promising that they will have fun together.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of a parent’s love for their child, and a reminder to appreciate the innocence and potential of youth. Through his lyrical language, Phillips paints a picture of a bright and hopeful future for Violet, full of wonder, joy, and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Violet oh violet such a darlin’ child
The singer is fond of the child and finds her adorable.
Nothing makes me happier
The singer is delighted and content in the company of the child.
Than to simply look into your eyes
The singer finds joy in observing the child and her expressions.
And see you smile
The artist feels pleased and happy when the child smiles.
Violet oh violet little darlin’ one
The artist addresses the child affectionately and admiringly.
Wonder what you’re dreaming of
The singer is curious and ponders about what the child could be wishing for or imagining.
Wonder what it is the book of life
The singer is referring to the unknown future and the possibilities that await the child.
Has just begun
The artist believes that the child's future is bright and full of potential.
Dream of all the joys to see
The artist suggests that the child should imagine and pursue all the happiness life can offer.
And all you’re gonna do
The artist encourages the child to explore and experience all that the world has to offer.
Every flower in the world
The singer is metaphorically saying that the world is full of beautiful things for the child to discover and enjoy.
A waiting for you
The artist believes that the world is eagerly anticipating and welcoming the child's presence.
Violet oh violet welcoming the day
The singer is addressing the child and acknowledging the arrival of a new day full of possibilities.
How we’re gonna laugh in to the hours
The singer is looking forward to spending time with the child and enjoying fun-filled moments together.
We’re gonna play
The singer is anticipating playful activities with the child.
Violet oh violet such a darlin’ one
The artist is repeating the loving and endearing address to the child.
Nothing makes me happier
The artist reiterates the joy the child brings into their life.
Than to know that you are having fun
The singer's happiness is linked to the child's enjoyment.
You’re having fun
The singer is glad that the child is having a good time.
Contributed by Zoe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.