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
You Love The Thunder
Jackson Browne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you see the life that you've left behind
When you think it over do you ever wonder?
What it is that holds your life so close to mine
You love the thunder and you love the rain
What you see revealed within the anger is worth the pain
And before the lightning fades and you surrender
You love the thunder and you love the rain (you love the rain)
You know your hunger like you know your name (you love the rain)
And I know you wonder how you ever came
To be a woman in love with a man in search of the flame
Draw the shade and light the fire
For the night that holds you and calls your name
And just like your lover, knows your desire
And the crazy longing that time will never tame
You love the thunder and you love the rain (you love the rain)
You know your hunger like you know your name (you love the rain)
I got your number if it's still the same
And you can dream
But you can never go back the way you came
You love the thunder (you love the rain)
You know your hunger (you love the rain)
You love the thunder (you love the rain)
I got your number (you love the rain)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
“You Love The Thunder” by Jackson Browne is a song about two people who are deeply connected to each other, despite their differences. The song suggests that the woman in the relationship is drawn to the man's passionate and fiery nature, represented by the thunder and rain. She is willing to endure the pain that comes with it, as she finds it worth it. The man is depicted as a someone on a quest for something greater, represented by the “flame”. The song implies that their love is unlikely but strong, driven by a longing that can never be fully satisfied.
The first verse sets the scene of the song, with the woman looking back on her past choices and reflecting on what ties her and her partner together. The chorus highlights the woman’s love of storms and how it reflects her passion for her partner’s intense nature. The following verse is from the man’s perspective, reflecting on how he connects with the woman's desire and how they share an intense passion that neither can control. The second chorus repeats the same idea. The third verse concludes the song with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the woman's love of the thunder and rain, and leaving the unresolved question of their future together.
Line by Line Meaning
When you look over your shoulder
When you reflect on your past
And you see the life that you've left behind
And you notice the experiences you've moved on from
When you think it over do you ever wonder?
Do you ever ponder why?
What it is that holds your life so close to mine
What is it that connects our lives so intimately?
You love the thunder and you love the rain
You embrace the chaos and turmoil
What you see revealed within the anger is worth the pain
The truth that emerges from frustration is valuable
And before the lightning fades and you surrender,
Before giving up after the chaos ends,
You've got a second to look at the dark side of the man
You have a chance to recognize the flaws in people
You know your hunger like you know your name
You are familiar with your desires
And I know you wonder how you ever came
And I know you are curious as to how you ended up
To be a woman in love with a man in search of the flame
Being in love with someone who is constantly seeking passion
Draw the shade and light the fire
Close the blinds and start the fire
For the night that holds you and calls your name
For the nighttime and its allure
And just like your lover, knows your desire
And like your partner, understands your longing
And the crazy longing that time will never tame
And the intense yearning that time can never quell
I got your number if it's still the same
I still have your contact information if it hasn't changed
And you can dream
And you can imagine
But you can never go back the way you came
But you can never return to where you once were
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jackson Browne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind