Early life
Croce was born in South Philadelphia. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania in 1960 where in 1976, he was the first former student to be added to the high school's Wall of Fame. Then, while attending Villanova University (1965 graduate), Croce became interested in becoming a professional musician and met his future wife, Ingrid, at a hootenanny at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, where he was a judge for the contest.
Early career
During the early 1960s, Croce formed a number of college bands and performed at coffee houses and universities, and later with his wife Ingrid as a duo in the mid-1960s to early 1970s. At first their performances included songs by Ian and Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez, and Woody Guthrie, but in time they began writing their own music, such as "Age", "Hey Tomorrow", and "Spin, Spin Spin" which later led to Croce's hit songs in the early seventies.
At the same time, Croce got his first long-term gig at a rural bar and steak house in Lima, Pennsylvania, called the Riddle Paddock. There, over the next few years, Croce developed a very engaging rapport with tough audiences and built his musical repertoire to over 3,000 songs. His set list included every genre from blues to country, rock 'n roll to folk, with tender love songs and traditional Bawdy Ballads, always introduced with a story and an impish grin.
In 1968, Jim and Ingrid Croce were encouraged to move to New York City to record their first album with Capitol Records. For the next two years, they drove over 300,000 miles playing small clubs and concerts on the college concert circuit promoting their album Jim & Ingrid Croce.
Then, disillusioned by the music business and New York City, Croce sold all but one guitar to pay the rent, and they returned to the Pennsylvania countryside where Croce got a job driving trucks and doing construction to pay the bills. He called this his "Character Development Period" and spent a lot of his time sitting in the cab of a truck, composing songs about his buddies and the folks he enjoyed meeting at the local bars and truck stops.
Success
In 1970, Croce met classically trained pianist/guitarist, singer-songwriter Maury Muehleisen from Trenton, New Jersey. Initially, Croce backed Muehleisen on guitar at his gigs. But in time, their musical strengths led them each to new heights. Muehleisen's ethereal and inspired guitar leads became the perfect accompaniment to Croce's down-to-earth music.
In 1972, Croce signed to a three record deal with ABC Records releasing You Don't Mess Around with Jim and Life & Times in the same year. The singles "You Don't Mess Around with Jim", "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" and "Time In A Bottle" (written for his newborn son, A. J. Croce) helped the former album reach #1 on the charts in 1974. Croce's biggest single "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", hit number 1 on the US charts in the summer of 1973, selling two million copies.
Sudden death
Croce, 30, and Muehleisen, 24, died in a small commercial plane crash on September 20, 1973 in Natchitoches, Louisiana one day before releasing his third ABC album, I Got a Name. The posthumous release included three hits, "I Got A Name", "Workin' At The Car Wash Blues" and "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song."
Musical legacy
In 1990, Croce was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In the late 1990s, Ingrid Croce, Croce's widow, and their son, A.J. Croce obtained the publishing rights for Croce's entire catalog of songs. Since then they have released Jim Croce Home Recordings, Facets, Jim Croce: Classic Hits, and the first-ever DVD of Jim's television performances on "Have You Heard – Jim Croce Live", with their most recent release in January 2006 of a CD of the same title. They also co-produced a PBS special, with archive footage from the Croce family collection, along with excerpts of their DVD Have You Heard – Jim Croce Live.
In 1985, Ingrid Croce opened "Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar", located in the historic Gaslamp District in San Diego, California, partially as a tribute to her late husband.
Quotes
His personal motto: "If you dig it, do it. If you really dig it, do it twice."
On his roots: "I never really thought of my neighborhood in South Philly as being a neighborhood, it was more a state of mind. For people who aren't familiar with those kind of places, it's a whole different thing. Like 42nd Street in New York City is a state of mind."
Lovers Cross
Jim Croce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was just a matter of time
But now I've come to my decision
And it's a-one of the painful kind
'Cause now it seems that you wanted a martyr
Just a regular guy wouldn't do
But baby I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you
'Cause girl you really tried
But for ev'ry time that we spent laughin'
There were two times that I cried
And you were tryin' to make me your martyr
And that's the one thing I just couldn't do
'Cause baby, I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you
'Cause tables are meant for turnin'
And people are bound to change
And bridges are meant for burnin'
When the people and mem'ries they join aren't the same
So I'll hope that you can find
Another who can take what I could not
He'll have to be a super guy
Or maybe a super god
'Cause I never was much of a martyr before
And I ain't 'bout to start nothin' new
And baby, I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you
'Cause tables are meant for turnin'
And people are bound to change
And bridges are meant for burnin'
When the people and mem'ries they join aren't the same
So I'll hope that you can find
Another who can take what I could not
He'll have to be a super guy
Or maybe a super god
'Cause I never was much of a martyr before
And I ain't 'bout to start nothin' new
And baby, I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you
The Jim Croce song, "Lover's Cross," tells the story of a man who has come to a difficult decision to end a relationship that has been causing him more pain than happiness. The lyrics suggest that his partner wanted him to be a martyr for their love, asking him to make extreme sacrifices and put up with unacceptable behavior. However, he has decided that he cannot continue in this relationship as he is not willing to suffer in the name of love. The chorus emphasizes this sentiment with the repeated line, "And baby, I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you."
The theme of the song is about the importance of self-preservation and the idea that sometimes we must put our own needs and well-being first, even in matters of the heart. The lyrics suggest that the singer has come to this realization after enduring too much suffering and heartache in the relationship. He acknowledges that people are bound to change and that sometimes the only solution is to let go of what no longer serves us.
Line by Line Meaning
Guess that it was bound to happen
It was inevitable that our relationship would come to an end
Was just a matter of time
It was only a question of when
But now I've come to my decision
I have made up my mind
And it's a-one of the painful kind
My decision is a difficult one
'Cause now it seems that you wanted a martyr
You were seeking a partner who would suffer for your love
Just a regular guy wouldn't do
You required someone extraordinary
But baby I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you
But I am not willing to sacrifice myself for your love
Yes, I really got to hand it to you
You deserve credit
'Cause girl you really tried
You put in effort
But for ev'ry time that we spent laughin'
Despite the happy times we shared
There were two times that I cried
I also experienced sadness and pain
And you were tryin' to make me your martyr
You were attempting to make me suffer for your love
And that's the one thing I just couldn't do
But I am not willing to make that sacrifice
'Cause tables are meant for turnin'
Circumstances can change quickly
And people are bound to change
People may transform over time
And bridges are meant for burnin'
Connections can be broken
When the people and mem'ries they join aren't the same
When individuals and the memories they share are no longer compatible
So I'll hope that you can find
I wish for you to find
Another who can take what I could not
A partner who is able to fulfill your needs
He'll have to be a super guy
He will need to be exceptional
Or maybe a super god
Or perhaps divine intervention is necessary
'Cause I never was much of a martyr before
I have never been willing to suffer for love
And I ain't 'bout to start nothin' new
And I am not willing to start now
And baby, I can't hang upon no lover's cross for you
I am not willing to sacrifice myself for your love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: James Croce
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Cuenca
on Operator
I like this song!