Browne was born in Heidelberg, Germany, where American serviceman father was stationed. Browne moved to the Highland Park district of Los Angeles, California at an early age and soon began singing folk music locally. In 1966, his major career began as a part of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Often mixing catchy melodies with reflective, moody, and sometimes melancholic lyrics, some of his most popular hit singles include "Doctor My Eyes", "Running on Empty", and "Somebody's Baby". Considered a precociously-talented songwriter by many peers, Browne's solo career got its legs when he signed a publishing contract with Nina Music. His work have been performed by several artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Larry Norman, Linda Ronstadt, Nico, and Tom Rush, among many others.
After moving to Greenwich Village, New York, Browne worked, for a brief period, in Tim Buckley's back-up band and on Nico's Chelsea Girl. This album includes two of Jackson's songs and the pair were reputedly lovers for awhile. After leaving New York City, Browne formed a folk band with Ned Doheny and Jack Wilce.
In 1971, Browne signed with Asylum Records and released Jackson Browne (1972), which included "Doctor My Eyes", a major hit and later coverec by the Jackson Five . He didn't sustain pop success, though, and his next album, For Everyman (1973), while considered of high quality, was a commercial failure.
Late for the Sky (1974) established a significant audience for Browne, and fans and critics often consider this Browne's best album. Highlights include the searching title song, the elegiac "For a Dancer" and apocalyptic "Before the Deluge", the pure arrangements featuring David Lindley's evocative violin and guitar playing, and the Magritte-inspired cover. The title track was also featured in Martin Scorsese's film, Taxi Driver.
Browne released his breakthrough album, The Pretender (1976) soon after the suicide of his wife, Phyllis. Featuring livelier production by Jon Landau, the title song is a vividly described account of trying to maintain one's ideals in the struggle against the realities of day-to-day life.
During this time, Browne produced and played on Warren Zevon's first two Asylum albums.
Browne began recording his next LP while on tour, and Running on Empty (1977) became his biggest commercial success. Breaking the usual conventions for a live album, it was truly made on the road, including tracks recorded on buses and in hotel rooms, with none of the songs having appeared on any of his prior albums. Running on Empty contains many renowned songs, such as the propulsive title track (Browne's biggest hit single), "The Road", "Rosie", and "The Load-Out/Stay" (Browne's affectionate and knowing send-off to his concert audiences).
In 1979, Browne was a founding member of Musicians United for Safe Energy.
Browne achieved less critical acclaim with Hold Out (1980), although it was commercially successful--his only number 1 record, and with his hit single "Somebody's Baby" from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack. Lawyers in Love followed in 1983 and contained hints of a more political focus, especially in the mysteriously satirical title track.
Political protest came out full force in Lives in the Balance (1986), an overt condemnation of Reaganism and American policy in Central America. Flavored with new instrumental textures, it was a huge success with Browne fans, though not with mainstream audiences. World in Motion (1989) was even more politically-oriented and polarizing. Browne frequently played for causes he believed in, including Amnesty International (making several appearances on the 1986 A Conspiracy of Hope Tour), Farm Aid, and the Christic Institute.
After four years of silence and a break-up with his girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah, Browne returned with I'm Alive, a critically acclaimed album with a more personal perspective that sold respectably, the title track being a modest radio hit. Looking East (1996) was released soon after, but was not as successful critically or commercially. The Naked Ride Home was released in 2002. On 11 May 2003, Jackson Browne made a celebrity guest star debut on the FOX series The Simpsons.
As a whole, Browne's work is marked by compelling melodies, simple, honest, and insightful lyrics, and a flair for composition rarely seen in the world of rock and roll. He is often referred to as "a thinking man's rock star."
Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. He also participated in the Vote for Change tour in October 2004, playing a series of concerts in American swing states. These concerts were organized by MoveOn.org with the general goal of mobilizing people to vote in that year's Presidential campaign. Browne's appearances were joint performances with Bonnie Raitt and Keb' Mo', and in one instance with Bruce Springsteen. Three of Browne's albums were selected by Rolling Stone magazine as among its choices for the 500 best albums of all time.
Browne released "Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1"in 2005 and "Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2" in 2008, both on Inside Recordings. The "Vol. 1" album consists of live recordings of eleven previously released tracks and "The Birds of St. Marks," a song that does not appear on any of Browne's studio albums. The "Vol. 2" album contains roughly the same mix of twelve songs (popular hits vs. deep cuts). Interestingly, both albums also contain separately tracked "intros" to some songs, giving a brief glimpse of the intimacy between artist and audience at the shows where the songs were recorded.
"No one gives a shit but Jackson Browne." - Randy Newman in "A Piece Of The Pie"
Website: www.jacksonbrowne.com
Boulevard
Jackson Browne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They look at life with such disregard
They say it can't be won
The way the game is run
But if you choose to stay
You end up playing anyway
It's okay
The kid's in shock up and down the block
Down at the golden cup
They set the young ones up
Under the neon light
Selling day for night
It's alright
Nobody rides for free
Nobody gets it like they want it to be
Nobody hands you any guarantee
Nobody
The hearts are hard and the times are tough
Down on the boulevard the night's enough
And time passes slow
Between the store front shadows and the street lights glow
Everybody walks right by like they're safe or something
They don't know
Nobody knows you
Nobody owes you nothin'
Nobody shows you what they're thinking
Nobody baby
Hey, hey, baby
You got to watch the street, keep your feet
And be on guard
Make it pay baby
It's only time on the boulevard
The song Boulevard by Jackson Browne is a poignant commentary on life on the streets, particularly that of the boulevard. Browne, who is known for his brilliant songwriting skills, carefully crafts every line of the song to paint a vivid picture of the harsh reality of life on the streets. The lyrics "Down on the boulevard they take it hard, they look at life with such disregard, they say it can't be won, the way the game is run" suggest that people who live on the streets feel defeated about life; they have lost hope in the system that they feel does not work in their favor. But despite their feelings of hopelessness, they still end up playing the game, because that's what life is all about.
Browne's lyrics are further emphasized in the following lines: "It's alright, nobody rides for free, nobody gets it like they want it to be, nobody hands you any guarantee, nobody". These lines suggest that nobody can get anything in life without paying a price, and nothing comes easy. Life is hard, and it will always be. Even though people may have their own ideas about how they want their life to be, it doesn't mean that they will get it. Life is unpredictable, and one may not always have control over their destiny. In the end, it's all up to fate, and nobody can guarantee anything.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the boulevard they take it hard
People who are down on their luck and have nothing else turn to the boulevard as their last hope, but the boulevard is unforgiving and harsh.
They look at life with such disregard
Those on the bouleard have given up on trying to make a better life for themselves and see life as something to endure rather than enjoy.
They say it can't be won
People on the boulevard believe that it is impossible to change their circumstances and improve their lives.
The way the game is run
The 'game' refers to the system or society that keeps people trapped in poverty and despair no matter how hard they try to succeed.
But if you choose to stay
Despite the boulevard being a bleak place, some people still choose to remain there for various reasons.
You end up playing anyway
Staying on the boulevard means that you will still be caught up in the 'game' and its rules, even if you don't want to be.
It's okay
The situation may seem hopeless, but it's okay to continue fighting and to have hope for a better future.
The kid's in shock up and down the block
Children are shocked and exposed to disturbing things that happen on the boulevard, but they become desensitized over time.
The folks are home playing beat the clock
People who have not experienced life on the boulevard are consumed with trying to make the most of their time and live as comfortably as they can.
Down at the golden cup
The Golden Cup is a place on the boulevard where people gather to try and escape their lives for a moment and forget their troubles.
They set the young ones up
Predatory people on the boulevard try to take advantage of the vulnerable and innocent, especially children.
Under the neon light
The bright, artificial lights of the boulevard create an otherworldly atmosphere that seems detached from reality.
Selling day for night
People on the boulevard try to make a living by selling counterfeit goods, their bodies, or other things that are illicit or dangerous.
It's alright
Despite the darkness and dangers of the boulevard, some are able to make peace with their lives and find contentment in small things.
Nobody rides for free
There is always a cost associated with living on the boulevard, and no one comes out unscathed.
Nobody gets it like they want it to be
People on the boulevard have given up on their dreams and aspirations, and have accepted life as it is.
Nobody hands you any guarantee
There are no promises or assurances on the boulevard, only uncertainty and risk.
The hearts are hard and the times are tough
People on the boulevard have hardened themselves against the world and it has made their lives difficult and challenging.
Down on the boulevard the night's enough
The night on the boulevard is long and bleak, and it is enough to fill people with fear and loneliness.
And time passes slow
The time on the boulevard seems to drag on forever, as if it has stretched time into a slow, painful experience.
Between the store front shadows and the street lights glow
The shadows between the stores and the neon lights create a murky, ambiguous space filled with uncertainty and danger.
Everybody walks right by like they're safe or something
People who have not lived on the boulevard are oblivious to the dangers and hardships that exist there, and they feel safe because of their ignorance.
They don't know
Outsiders do not understand what it's like to live on the boulevard and the struggles that come with it.
Nobody knows you
Living on the boulevard makes you feel isolated and alone, and no one cares about your life or well-being.
Nobody owes you nothin'
The harsh reality of the boulevard is that no one will give you anything without wanting something in return.
Nobody shows you what they're thinking
People are guarded and secretive on the boulevard, and you can never be sure of their true intentions or thoughts.
Nobody baby
The repetition of 'nobody' emphasizes just how alone and isolated people feel on the boulevard.
Hey, hey, baby
The 'hey, hey, baby' refrain is a way of acknowledging the harsh reality of the boulevard but also trying to find some positivity or hope within it.
You got to watch the street, keep your feet
To survive on the boulevard, you need to be constantly aware of your surroundings and be quick on your feet.
And be on guard
Living on the boulevard means being on guard and never letting your guard down.
Make it pay baby
In order to make a life for yourself on the boulevard, you need to work hard and be resourceful in order to make a living.
It's only time on the boulevard
Ultimately, time is the only thing that people on the boulevard have, and how they use it will determine their fate.
Lyrics © Jackson Browne/Swallow Turn Music/Night Kitchen Music/Open Window Music
Written by: JACKSON BROWNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind