Intruder
Janis Joplin (born 19 January 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas, United States, di… Read Full Bio ↴Janis Joplin (born 19 January 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas, United States, died 4 October 1970 in Los Angeles, California) was an American singer, songwriter, composer and painter. Originally the lead singer for the blues rock band Big Brother & The Holding Company, Joplin left the band in late 1968 for a solo career. She released two solo albums, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (1969) and Pearl (1971), the latter released after her death. During her solo career, she was backed by the Kozmic Blues Band and later, the Full Tilt Boogie Band. Her version of the Kris Kristofferson song "Me and Bobby McGee" reached #1 in the United States on March 20, 1971.

Intruder
Janis Joplin Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You come around here
Trying to make your demand.
You've got a need, darling,
I've seen it grow and expand.

Yeah, you want to reveal my life
With your own two hands.
Well, tell me now
What are you trying to do ?

Those holes in your life
Show what you require.
You're needin' new eyes,
Oh Lord, honey take any wire ?

Yeah you've gotta save us all
Before the next big fire.
Tell me now
What are you trying to do ?

Walked in my life,
Child, and I don't even know your name.
You put others around behind ya
As if they were lame.

You insist a simple feeling
Will be all the same.
Well, tell me now
What are you trying to do ?

Now I look like I'm suffering,
N-n-n-n-n-n-now I'm doing fine.
One look at yourself baby,
Child, I got you alive.

Yeah, you're gonna take care of yours,
I'll take care of mine.




What are you trying to do ?
Hey!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Janis Joplin's song "Intruder" express her frustration with someone who is trying to intrude and take control over her life. The song begins with Joplin calling out the intruder for trying to make demands and needing something from her. Joplin has observed the intruder's desire to reveal her life with their own hands, but is unsure of what they are really trying to achieve. She questions the intruder's motives and wonders why they are trying to take control of her life.


Joplin continues to express her frustration towards the intruder by pointing out the holes in their own life and their constant need for something new. She questions their intentions again, wondering why they are trying to save everyone before the next big fire. Despite the intruder's persistence, Joplin refuses to let them take control of her life, declaring that she will take care of herself while they take care of theirs.


The lyrics suggest that the intruder is someone who is trying to manipulate and control Joplin, but she will not allow it. Joplin's strong voice and assertive lyrics demonstrate her determination to maintain control over her own life, and not let anyone else take that away from her.


Line by Line Meaning

You come around here Trying to make your demand. You've got a need, darling, I've seen it grow and expand.
You keep coming back expecting me to give into your demands. Your need for something has been growing and you've been trying to have it fulfilled here.


Yeah, you want to reveal my life With your own two hands. Well, tell me now What are you trying to do ?
You want to be the one to discover everything about me on your own. What is your intention for doing so?


Those holes in your life Show what you require. You're needin' new eyes, Oh Lord, honey take any wire ?
The gaps in your life indicate what you need to fill them. You need to see things from a new perspective and would try anything to attain it.


Yeah you've gotta save us all Before the next big fire. Tell me now What are you trying to do ?
You're convinced that you're the one who can rescue everyone from a future disaster. What is your plan for doing so?


Walked in my life, Child, and I don't even know your name. You put others around behind ya As if they were lame.
You came into my life with no introduction and immediately began to act as though the people around me were beneath you.


You insist a simple feeling Will be all the same. Well, tell me now What are you trying to do ?
You've insisted that a simple emotion would suffice in the situation, but what is your true motivation?


Now I look like I'm suffering, N-n-n-n-n-n-now I'm doing fine. One look at yourself baby, Child, I got you alive.
You mistook my state of peace for one of suffering. But now, after seeing yourself, I can tell you're not as lost as you thought.


Yeah, you're gonna take care of yours, I'll take care of mine. What are you trying to do ? Hey!
You're going to handle your own affairs, and I will tend to mine. So what exactly is it that you're trying to achieve?




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JANIS JOPLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

黃子昂

You come around here
Trying to make your demand.
You've got a need, darling,
I've seen it grow and expand. 

Yeah, you want to reveal my life
With your own two hands.
Well, tell me now
What are you trying to do ? 

Those holes in your life
Show what you require.
You're needin' new eyes,
Oh Lord, honey take any wire ? 

Yeah you've gotta save us all
Before the next big fire.
Tell me now
What are you trying to do ? 

Walked in my life,
Child, and I don't even know your name.
You put others around behind ya
As if they were lame. 

You insist a simple feeling
Will be all the same.
Well, tell me now
What are you trying to do ? 

Now I look like I'm suffering,
N-n-n-n-n-n-now I'm doing fine.
One look at yourself baby,
Child, I got you alive. 

Yeah, you're gonna take care of yours,
I'll take care of mine.
What are you trying to do ?
Hey!



Mickey Flipper

There’s holes in your lies
Show what you require
You need and you ask
No longer, honey, you take and acquire

You insist a simple feeling
Be called the same

Now I look like I’m stumbling
Go on and commit them souls, baby



All comments from YouTube:

David Holiday

This is one of my favorite songs from the first BB album. I would love to hear a live BB version of this. Does anybody know of one? Please let me know. Thanks D

S

Janis, you legend

Scahoni

Absolutely

Shayne Lombardo

Janis Lyn Joplin what a miraculously Talented woman her music and voice are very powerful and I dig all of it love you Janis R.I.P Pearl 1943-1970

Jade Shannon

Another cool song

charles fitze

I love this song

Dave Cavaz

Janis SUPERBEST...!!! You're my Queen...! Thanks for emotions...

黃子昂

You come around here
Trying to make your demand.
You've got a need, darling,
I've seen it grow and expand. 

Yeah, you want to reveal my life
With your own two hands.
Well, tell me now
What are you trying to do ? 

Those holes in your life
Show what you require.
You're needin' new eyes,
Oh Lord, honey take any wire ? 

Yeah you've gotta save us all
Before the next big fire.
Tell me now
What are you trying to do ? 

Walked in my life,
Child, and I don't even know your name.
You put others around behind ya
As if they were lame. 

You insist a simple feeling
Will be all the same.
Well, tell me now
What are you trying to do ? 

Now I look like I'm suffering,
N-n-n-n-n-n-now I'm doing fine.
One look at yourself baby,
Child, I got you alive. 

Yeah, you're gonna take care of yours,
I'll take care of mine.
What are you trying to do ?
Hey!

Rajah O'bagal

great

Mickey Flipper

There’s holes in your lies
Show what you require
You need and you ask
No longer, honey, you take and acquire

You insist a simple feeling
Be called the same

Now I look like I’m stumbling
Go on and commit them souls, baby

More Comments