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
The Road And The Sky
Jackson Browne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
They told me I was going to have to work for a living
But all I want to do is ride
I don't care where we're going from here
Honey, you decide
Well I spend my time at the bottom of a wishing well
I used to know where they ended and the world began
But now it's getting hard to tell
I could be just around the corner from heaven or a mile from hell
I'm just rolling away from yesterday
Behind a wheel of a stolen Chevrolet
I'm going to get a little higher
And see if I can hot-wire reality
Now can you see those dark clouds gathering up ahead?
They're going to wash this planet clean like the bible said
Now you can hold on steady and try to be ready
But everybody's gonna get wet
Don't think it won't happen just because it hasn't happened yet
I'm just rolling away from yesterday
Behind the wheel of a stolen Chevrolet
I'm going to get a little higher
And see if I can hot-wire reality
"The Road And The Sky" is a song by Jackson Browne that talks about the struggle between chasing your dreams and the reality of everyday life. The song starts with the lines "When we come to the place where the road and the sky collide, throw me over the edge, and let my spirit glide." These lyrics are a metaphoric way of saying that the singer is ready to take risks and follow their dreams, even if it means leaving behind what once seemed like the "safe" path.
The singer then talks about their desire to ride and be free rather than work. They are willing to go wherever their partner (honey) decides, as all they want to do is ride. However, they are starting to find it hard to differentiate between their dreams and the reality of the world. They could be so close to achieving their dreams, or they could be miles away from them.
The song ends with a reference to the biblical flood; "Now can you see those dark clouds gathering up ahead? They're going to wash this planet clean like the bible said." This reference signifies that the singer sees the world as a dark and difficult place, but that doesn't mean they are going to give up. They're going to keep driving towards their dreams, hoping to eventually "hot-wire reality."
Line by Line Meaning
When we come to place where the road and the sky collide
At a point where life's journey meets the vast possibilities of what lies beyond
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
I am willing to let go of my doubts and fears and embrace the unknown with an open heart
They told me I was going to have to work for a living
Society expects me to conform and toil away for a wage in exchange for survival
But all I want to do is ride
My heart yearns for the freedom of the open road and the thrill of new experiences
I don't care where we're going from here
The destination matters less than the journey itself when you have a free spirit
Honey, you decide
I trust you to guide us through the twists and turns of life, because we are in this together
Well I spend my time at the bottom of a wishing well
I often find myself contemplating my dreams and desires, as if making wishes
And I can hear my dreams singing clear as a bell
My aspirations echo within me and inspire me to keep striving towards them
I used to know where they ended and the world began
There was once a clear boundary between my inner thoughts and external reality, but now it's blurred
But now it's getting hard to tell
I struggle to distinguish between my own aspirations and society's expectations
I could be just around the corner from heaven or a mile from hell
I am uncertain whether my path will lead me to fulfillment or destruction, but I choose to ride on
I'm just rolling away from yesterday
I am leaving behind my past mistakes and regrets, and moving forward without looking back
Behind a wheel of a stolen Chevrolet
I am taking control of my own destiny, even if it means breaking the rules a little
I'm going to get a little higher
I am seeking a higher level of consciousness, either through mind-altering substances or personal growth
And see if I can hot-wire reality
I am attempting to manipulate my perception of reality to better suit my desires and aspirations
Now can you see those dark clouds gathering up ahead?
I am aware of the potential dangers and obstacles that lie ahead on my journey
They're going to wash this planet clean like the bible said
A catastrophic event, such as a flood, could completely reset society and force us to start anew
Now you can hold on steady and try to be ready
You can prepare as much as possible for the future, but it's impossible to be fully ready for the unknown
But everybody's gonna get wet
We will all experience the consequences of our actions and the forces of nature at some point, regardless of preparation
Don't think it won't happen just because it hasn't happened yet
Just because something hasn't happened in the past, doesn't mean it won't in the future. It's important to be aware and brace ourselves for the unexpected.
Lyrics © Jackson Browne/Swallow Turn Music/Night Kitchen Music/Open Window Music
Written by: JACKSON BROWNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind