Her credits include being an original cast member of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1968), the female lead (Sheila) in the Los Angeles company of Hair (1968), a number 1 single "The Right Time of the Night" (1977) and 3 Oscars for Best Song - "It Goes Like it Goes," from Norma Rae (1980), "Up Where We Belong," (with Joe Cocker) from "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), & "I've Had the Time of My Life," (with Bill Medley) from "Dirty Dancing" (1987). (Her duets with Cocker & Medley were also #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.)
She toured with Leonard Cohen in 1972 & 1979. In 1987, she recorded "Famous Blue Raincoat" - an album of Cohen's compositions.
The Panther
Jennifer Warnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The moon breaking through the tress
And in the stillness of the evening
I heard a rustling in the leaves
And I saw a panther in the yard
Moving slow across the ledge
With silver eyes and a cool regard
And hunger with a cutting edge
Open the door, let it in
This mystery you found
It's all yours now
Come lay the panther down
So I called the eagle and the raven said
My prayer to the sky with the moon as my witness
I looked the panther in the eye and beheld
His violent beauty
That cut so deep and hard
Through my civilized indifference
And reckless disregard
So I open the door and let it in
This mystery I found is all mine now
Time to lay the panther down
In Jennifer Warnes's song "The Panther," the lyrics are written from the perspective of someone who has had a powerful dream. The dreamer wakes up shaking and describes the moon breaking through the trees. The stillness of the evening is disrupted by a rustling of the leaves, and the dreamer sees a panther in the yard. The panther is described as having silver eyes and a cool regard, but also possessing a hunger with a cutting edge. The dreamer then calls upon the eagle and the raven to say a prayer to the sky with the moon as their witness. The dreamer beholds the panther's violent beauty that cuts through their civilized indifference and reckless disregard. Finally, the dreamer decides to open the door and let the mystery they found in the panther into their life.
The symbolism in "The Panther" is rich and powerful. The panther is often associated with strength, power, and grace, but also with danger and a ferocity that can be unleashed at any moment. The dreamer's decision to open the door and let the panther in represents a willingness to embrace the unknown and accept the risks associated with any new endeavor or relationship. The lyrics suggest that the dreamer recognizes the beauty and power of the panther and is willing to confront their own fears and limitations in order to welcome this energy into their life.
Overall, "The Panther" is a powerful meditation on the role of mystery and risk in our lives. It suggests that we must be willing to confront our fears and embrace the unknown in order to truly live and grow as human beings. By opening the door and letting the panther in, the dreamer is choosing to take that risk and embrace the power of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream, woke up shaking
I had a nightmare that frightened me and made me shake uncontrollably as soon as I woke up
The moon breaking through the trees
The moonlight was shining through the trees and creating a stunning visual effect
And in the stillness of the evening
It was quiet and peaceful outside as night fell
I heard a rustling in the leaves
I noticed that something was moving among the leaves, creating a soft rustling sound
And I saw a panther in the yard
To my shock, I saw a panther right there in my yard
Moving slow across the ledge
It was walking slowly and cautiously along a high ledge
With silver eyes and a cool regard
Its eyes were shining silver in the moonlight, and its demeanor was calm and collected
And hunger with a cutting edge
Despite its calm appearance, the panther was clearly hungry and ready to pounce at any moment
Open the door, let it in
I decided to embrace this unexpected mystery and welcome it into my life
This mystery you found
The panther's sudden appearance and undeniable impact on my life
It's all yours now
I realized that this mystery was mine to deal with and make meaning of
Come lay the panther down
I was ready to face the panther and confront its impact on my life
So I called the eagle and the raven said
I sought guidance from the natural world, calling on the wisdom of eagles and ravens
My prayer to the sky with the moon as my witness
I spoke my fears and hopes out loud, addressing the moon as a witness to my struggle
I looked the panther in the eye and beheld
I bravely confronted the panther, meeting its gaze directly
His violent beauty
The panther's raw and powerful energy, which was both beautiful and dangerous
That cut so deep and hard
The panther's impact on my life was profound and transformative, cutting deeply into my soul
Through my civilized indifference
The panther forced me to confront my own indifference to the wildness and primal nature of the world
And reckless disregard
I had been ignoring the power and beauty of nature, but the panther's arrival changed all that
This mystery I found is all mine now
The panther's impact on my life was profound and transformative, and I knew that it was up to me to make meaning of it
Time to lay the panther down
It was time for me to embrace the lessons and challenges that the panther had brought into my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOYLE BRAMHALL, JENNIFER WARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind