Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Sa… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on 9 December 1950) and brought up in Birmingham, England, is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.

She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.

Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.

Words
Joan Armatrading Lyrics

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It's down to words I use
It's up to what I say
If you'll stay

Run my fingers down the page
Lost for words
What to say

I should be saying something
But what shall I say
Should be feeling something
What will I feel if you say
It's over
Please don't
Don't say
It's over
I want to you
Stay

The emotion's in my heart
Can't even write it down
Where do I start

Find the trigger for your smile
I'm desperate to get it back

I'm desperate
I'm desperate

Got to get back that feeling
Got to get back that spark
Got to get back that feeling
Got to get back that spark

Stay
Stay
Oh won't you stay

I should be saying something
But what shall I say
Should be feeling something
What will I feel if you say
It's over
Please don't say
Don't say it's over
I want you to
Stay

Got to get back that feeling
Got to get back that spark

Got to get back that feeling
Got to get back that spark

Overall Meaning

The song "Words" by Joan Armatrading is a ballad that speaks about the power of words in a relationship. Armatrading is trying to express her feelings for her significant other, but finds herself at a loss for words. She is feeling a deep connection and does not want the relationship to end, but the fear of loss and inability to express her emotions are causing her distress.

Throughout the song, Armatrading tries to connect through writing, running her fingers down the page in hopes of finding the right words. She is desperate to regain the spark and trigger the smile of her partner, hoping that they will stay and not walk away. The song is a plea for her lover to see the depth of her love and to understand the importance of the words they use and say to one another.

Overall, the song is a powerful reminder of the role that words have in relationships and how they can affect the depth and longevity of a connection. The song is a beautiful and emotional ballad that speaks to anyone who has struggled to express their feelings for another person.

Line by Line Meaning

It's down to words I use
The words I choose to say are very important

It's up to what I say
The impact of what I actually say is very significant

If you'll stay
Whether you stay or not is dependent on what I say

Run my fingers down the page
I am struggling to find the right words to say

Lost for words
I do not know what to say

What to say
I need to find the right words to say

I should be saying something
I need to speak up

But what shall I say
I don't know what to say

Should be feeling something
I know I should be feeling something, but I'm not sure what

What will I feel if you say
I am worried about how I will feel if you say something specific

It's over
I'm afraid of our relationship ending