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
Ready Or Not
Jackson Browne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not sure what it means
My baby's feeling funny in the morning
She's having trouble getting into her jeans
Her waist-line seems to be expanding
Although she never feels like eating a thing
I guess we'll reach some understanding
When we see what the future will bring
I met her in a crowded barroom
One of those typical Hollywood scenes
I was doing my very best Bogart
But I was having trouble getting into her jeans
I punched an unemployed actor
Defending her dignity
He stood up and knocked me through that barroom door
And that girl came home with me
Now baby's feeling funny in the morning
She says she's got a lot on her mind
Nature didn't give her any warning
Now she's going to have to leave her wild ways behind
She says she doesn't care if she never spends
Another night running loose on the town
She's gonna be a mother
Take a look in my eyes and tell me brother
If I look like I'm ready
I told her I had always lived alone
And I probably always would
And all I wanted was my freedom
And she told me that she understood
But I let her do some of my laundry
And she slipped a few meals in between
And the next thing I remember, she was all moved in
And I was buying her a washing machine
My baby's feeling funny in the morning
She says she's got a lot on her mind
Nature didn't give her any warning
But she's feeling better about it all the time
She says she's ready for some meaning
After all of her running around
Well bless my soul, she's got a rock-and-roll band man
Thinking 'bout settling down
The lyrics of Jackson Browne's song "Ready Or Not" tell an ironic story about a man who meets his girlfriend at a typical Hollywood bar scene. While he is trying to impress her with his best Bogart impression, he has trouble getting into her jeans. However, he eventually wins her over and brings her home with him. The lyrics suggest that the couple had a wild lifestyle that has caught up with them, and now the woman is feeling some early signs of pregnancy. She feels overwhelmed and is considering giving up her wild ways. Nevertheless, she has found value and meaning in settling down with her partner.
The opening line of the song is intriguing since it sets up the rest of the lyrics. The singer seems to be oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend may be pregnant, despite the fact that she is having trouble getting into her jeans. It is only when she tells him that she has a lot on her mind that he starts to understand the situation. Meanwhile, the woman is contemplating leaving her wild ways behind, suggesting that she has found something meaningful in settling down with her partner.
Overall, the song's bittersweet lyrics explore the unexpected changes that can happen in a relationship, making the song an excellent example of Jackson Browne's skill at capturing the nuances of human emotion through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone's going to have to explain it to me
I am clueless and need someone to make me understand
I'm not sure what it means
I do not know the true meaning of what is happening
My baby's feeling funny in the morning
My partner is experiencing strange feelings early in the day
She's having trouble getting into her jeans
She is finding it difficult to fit into her clothes
Her waist-line seems to be expanding
Her waist appears to be getting bigger
Although she never feels like eating a thing
Despite not having any appetite, this happens
I guess we'll reach some understanding
Maybe we will eventually comprehend the situation
When we see what the future will bring
In due course, the future will reveal what is in store
I met her in a crowded barroom
We first crossed paths in a busy bar
One of those typical Hollywood scenes
A cliche setting that is expected in Hollywood
I was doing my very best Bogart
I was trying to act cool like Humphrey Bogart
But I was having trouble getting into her jeans
I struggled to win her over
I punched an unemployed actor
I hit a jobless performer
Defending her dignity
In order to preserve her self-respect
He stood up and knocked me through that barroom door
He retaliated and sent me flying out the door of the bar
And that girl came home with me
And that lady ended up accompanying me home
She says she's got a lot on her mind
She feels like there's a lot bothering her
Nature didn't give her any warning
She was not prepared for what happened naturally
Now she's going to have to leave her wild ways behind
She has to abandon her carefree lifestyle
She says she doesn't care if she never spends
She claims that it does not matter if she never goes out again
Another night running loose on the town
Another night of partying and enjoying herself on the town
She's gonna be a mother
She is going to become a parent
Take a look in my eyes and tell me brother
Look into my eyes and confirm if you think I am ready
If I look like I'm ready
Confirm if I give off the impression that I am ready
I told her I had always lived alone
I informed her that I had consistently lived alone
And I probably always would
And that it would likely remain that way
And all I wanted was my freedom
My only demand was that I be allowed to maintain my freedom
And she told me that she understood
She informed me that she was aware of my position
But I let her do some of my laundry
I allowed her to handle some of my washing
And she slipped a few meals in between
She occasionally made me meals
And the next thing I remember, she was all moved in
Before I knew it, she had moved in
And I was buying her a washing machine
And I ended up purchasing a washing machine for her
But she's feeling better about it all the time
But she is gradually coming to terms with everything
She says she's ready for some meaning
She declares that she is ready for deeper significance
After all of her running around
After all of her previous reckless behavior
Well bless my soul, she's got a rock-and-roll band man
She is dating a musician in a rock-and-roll band
Thinking 'bout settling down
He is considering settling down with her
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jackson Browne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind