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
For a Dancer
Jackson Browne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pay attention to the open sky
You never know what will be coming down
I don't remember losing track of you
You were always dancing in and out of view
I must have thought she'd always be around
Always keeping things real by playing the clown
Now you're nowhere to be found
I don't know what happens when people die
Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear
Playing right in my ear
That I can't sing
I can't help listening
I can't help feeling stupid standing 'round
Crying as they ease you down
'Cause I know that you'd rather we were dancing
Dancing our sorrow away
(Right on dancing)
No matter what fate chooses to play
(There's nothing you can do about it anyway)
Just do the steps that you've been shown
By everyone you've ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own
No matter how close to yours
Another's steps have grown
In the end there is one dance you'll do alone
Keep a fire for the human race
And let your prayers go drifting into space
You never know what will be coming down
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
Just as easily, it could all disappear
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Don't let the uncertainty turn you around
(The world keeps turning around and around)
Go on and make a joyful sound
Into a dancer you have grown
From a seed somebody else has thrown
Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own
And somewhere between the time
You arrive and the time you go
May lie a reason you were alive
But you'll never know
Jackson Browne's song "For a Dancer" is a beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to a lost friend. The first verse encourages keeping a fire burning in your eye and paying attention to the open sky since you never know what may come your way. He reminisces about his friend, who he never lost track of, but who was always dancing in and out of view. The singer had thought she'd always be around, always keeping things real by playing the clown. But now she's nowhere to be found.
The second verse of the song is a contemplation on what happens after people die. The singer admits he can't seem to grasp the concept, comparing it to a song he hears playing in his ear that he can't sing along to. He laments standing around feeling stupid and crying as they ease his friend down, knowing she'd rather they were dancing their sorrow away. He recognizes that no matter what fate chooses to play, nothing can be done about it anyway.
The third verse encourages the listener to do the steps they've been shown by everyone they've ever known until the dance becomes their very own. No matter how close another's steps have grown, in the end, there is one dance you'll do alone. The final verse asks the listener to keep a fire for the human race and let their prayers go drifting into space, never knowing what will come down. The end of the verse suggests that perhaps there is a better world drawing near, but just as easily, it could all disappear, along with any meaning we may have found.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep a fire burning in your eye
Always maintain your passion and dedication for life.
Pay attention to the open sky
Be aware of the opportunities and possibilities that life presents.
You never know what will be coming down
Life is unpredictable and you never know what the future holds.
I don't remember losing track of you
I never lost sight of you and always knew you were there.
You were always dancing in and out of view
You were always moving and changing, and I enjoyed watching your journey.
I must have thought she'd always be around
I assumed you would always be here with me.
Always keeping things real by playing the clown
You managed to stay true to yourself and have fun despite life's challenges.
Now you're nowhere to be found
You are no longer with me and I miss you.
I don't know what happens when people die
I am uncertain about what occurs after someone passes away.
Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try
I find it difficult to understand and accept death.
It's like a song I can hear
The idea of death is present and familiar, but still difficult to fully comprehend.
Playing right in my ear
Death is constantly present and reminding me of its inevitability.
That I can't sing
I cannot fully accept and understand death.
I can't help listening
Despite my difficulty comprehending it, I cannot stop thinking about death.
I can't help feeling stupid standing 'round
I feel foolish not knowing how to deal with your death.
Crying as they ease you down
I am saddened by the thought of you passing away and being buried.
'Cause I know that you'd rather we were dancing
I know you would have preferred us to celebrate and dance through life's trials and tribulations.
Dancing our sorrow away
Using dance as a way to deal with and overcome our grief.
(Right on dancing)
A reminder to keep dancing and living life joyfully.
No matter what fate chooses to play
Even if life throws obstacles our way, we must keep dancing and remain resilient.
(There's nothing you can do about it anyway)
Life is unpredictable, and the best we can do is stay positive and keep dancing.
Just do the steps that you've been shown
Follow the examples set by those who have come before us.
By everyone you've ever known
Draw from the experiences and teachings of everyone you have encountered.
Until the dance becomes your very own
With time, the lessons you've learned and experiences you've had will become a part of your unique approach to life.
No matter how close to yours
Others may mimic your dance, but it will never be exactly the same.
Another's steps have grown
Other people will develop their own approach to life's dance, based on their unique experiences and values.
In the end there is one dance you'll do alone
Ultimately, everyone must approach life's journey alone and decide what steps to take.
Keep a fire for the human race
Maintain hope and belief in the potential for humanity's future.
And let your prayers go drifting into space
Hope for the future should be sent out into the world, towards the greater unknown.
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
Despite the challenges, there is hope that humanity will continue to improve.
Just as easily, it could all disappear
However, things could quickly turn for the worse if we become complacent or apathetic.
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Even if we find meaning in our lives, it could all be lost if we do not remain vigilant.
Don't let the uncertainty turn you around
Do not let fear and uncertainty prevent you from pursuing a meaningful life.
(The world keeps turning around and around)
Despite life's uncertainties, the world keeps moving forward, and so should we.
Go on and make a joyful sound
Find joy in life's journey and express it through song and dance.
Into a dancer you have grown
Through life's ups and downs, you have honed your unique approach to living.
From a seed somebody else has thrown
Your journey was shaped by the guidance and examples of those who came before you.
Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own
Pass on your own experiences and knowledge to future generations.
And somewhere between the time
At some point in our lives,
You arrive and the time you go
Between birth and death,
May lie a reason you were alive
There may be a greater purpose to our existence.
But you'll never know
We may never truly understand our purpose, but must keep dancing forward anyway.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jackson Browne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind