It was after relocating to New York City in the early '90s (to study at N.Y.U.'s film school) that Osborne began to take a singing career seriously after singing Billie Holiday's classic "God Bless the Child" at a local bar's "open mic night." In addition to Holiday, Osborne looked to such legendary vocalists as Etta James and Ray Charles as role models, as the up-and-coming singer decided not to cater to major record companies and formed her own label, Womanly Hips, which resulted in such releases as 1992's in-concert Soul Show, among others. But eventually, Osborne decided to sign on with a major label, Mercury, which in turn issued the singer's next release, 'Relish,' in March 1995. The album eventually racked up sales of three million copies and proved to have a long life, as almost a year after its initial release the track "One of Us" became a massive MTV and radio smash, camping out at the number-one spot on the U.S. singles chart for 2 weeks. Other tracks ("Right Hand Man" and "St. Teresa") failed to match the success of Osborne's first hit, but the singer still managed to connect with a large and appreciative audience, especially while touring as part of the 1997 edition of Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair tour. Osborne received numerous Grammy nominations in both 1996 and 1997.
Producing a worthy followup to Relish proved to be a time-consuming challenge for Osborne. Mercury tried to buy her some time by issuing a compilation release, 'Early Recordings' (which collected the early releases 'Live at Delta '88' and 'Blue Million Miles'). In the meantime, Osborne focused on supporting a few groups/causes she felt strongly about, such as Rock the Vote and Planned Parenthood (eventually being named an honorary member of Planned Parenthood's Board of Advocates), besides covering "I'm Just a Bill" as a duet with Isaac Hayes on the 1998 'Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote' benefit album. Osborne also studied briefly with the late Qawwali master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and performed alongside such notables as Stevie Wonder, Melissa Etheridge, Taj Mahal, Luciano Pavarotti, Spearhead, Bob Dylan, and the Chieftains.
September 2000 finally saw the release of Osborne's second all-new studio album, titled 'Righteous Love'; but it failed to match its predecessor's commercial success and sank from sight shortly after its release. In 2002, Osborne bounced back with 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of covers that leaned heavily on classic soul and R&B tunes from the 1960s and '70s. A career retrospective, 'One of Us,' came out in 2005.
Osborne played a prominent role in the 2002 film "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," performing with the legendary Motown house band the Funk Brothers in a concert performance segment, and appearing with several members of the group in an interview segment. She and her band accompanied the Dixie Chicks for a national tour in the summer of 2003, during which time she also joined veteran San Francisco jam-rockers the Dead as a vocalist, and released her fourth album, titled 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of classic rock and soul covers.
During 2005 and 2006, she performed on numerous occasions with Phil Lesh and Friends. In February 2007, she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry.
In November 2006, Osborne released 'Pretty Little Stranger,' her self-described "Nashville album."
In May 2007, Osborne issued 'Breakfast in Bed,' a return to the soul music that she had covered on 'How Sweet It Is'. 'Breakfast in Bed' also featured the two songs ("Heatwave" and "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted") that she had covered for the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
She sings lead vocals on the cover of "Spoonful" on Vivian Campbell's solo album 'Two Sides Of If'.' Osborne also provided some vocals for "Wayfaring Stranger" on Spearhead's 1997 album 'Chocolate Supa Highway.' Joan is featured on The Holmes Brothers 2007 collection 'State of Grace' performing "Those Memories of You," an old Allan O'Bryant and Bill Monroe bluegrass tune.
Her album Bring It On Home was released on March 27, 2012. It is a collection of vintage blues and soul covers, and it received a 2013 Grammy Awards nomination for Best Blues Album.
Osborne was a member of Trigger Hippy from 2012 to 2018.
Osborne released the original album Love and Hate in 2014, and in 2017 the album Songs of Bob Dylan. A new album of original songs, Trouble and Strife, is due in September 2020.
Ladder
Joan Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Today and every day
Today and every day
Today and every day
I'm standin' here in your closet
Unbuttonin' all your clothes
I sleep in your bed tonight
You're givin' me crooked answers
I'm crackin' your little code
I'm learnin' another language
So full it's about to explode
You give me a ladder now
I surely believe I'll climb
It don't even matter now
I'm willing to take my time
I'm gonna love you anyway
[Chorus]
Today and every day
Today and every day
I'm gonna love you anyway
Today and every day
Today and every day
I wanted it to be easy
I know that I'll make you tired
Some tell me you're slow and lazy
Some tell me you're so inspired
You wanted a long flirtation
Your plane doesn't ever land
Some things I don't want to look at
I don't want to understand but
You give me a ladder now
I surely believe I'll climb
It don't even matter now
I'm willing to take my time
I'm gonna love you anyway
[Chorus]
Today and every day
The lyrics to Joan Osborne's "Ladder" speak to the complexity and challenge of a romantic relationship. The singer describes standing in their partner's closet, unbuttoning their clothes and sleeping in their bed, but never finding them there. The partner gives "crooked answers" and speaks in a language that the singer must learn to understand. Despite the difficulties, the singer is determined to climb the ladder that the partner has given them and to love them anyway, every day.
The ladder can be interpreted as a metaphor for the effort and work necessary to maintain a relationship. The singer acknowledges that it won't be easy, and that there are things they don't want to look at or understand. But they are willing to take their time and climb the ladder, to put in the work and effort required to love their partner every day, even when it's difficult.
Overall, "Ladder" is a poignant reflection on the challenges and rewards of love and relationships. It speaks to the need for persistence and perseverance, even when things are tough, in order to climb the ladder to a deeper connection and understanding with one's partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Today and every day
The singer emphasizes her commitment to love the subject of the song every day.
I'm standin' here in your closet
The singer feels like she's invading the subject's personal space by going through their wardrobe.
Unbuttonin' all your clothes
The singer is examining the subject's clothing in detail, suggesting an intimate relationship.
I sleep in your bed tonight
The singer is physically close to the subject, but notes that they don't seem to be around.
But I never find you home
The subject is physically absent, despite the singer's proximity to various aspects of their life.
You're givin' me crooked answers
The subject is being evasive in their communication with the singer.
I'm crackin' your little code
The singer is trying to decipher the subject's hidden messages or motives.
I'm learnin' another language
The singer has to put in extra effort to understand the subject and their intentions.
So full it's about to explode
The singer is struggling to keep up with the subject's level of complexity and is reaching a breaking point.
You give me a ladder now
The subject provides the singer with a way to access a higher level of understanding or intimacy in the relationship.
I surely believe I'll climb
The singer is confident in her ability to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the subject.
It don't even matter now
The singer is not concerned about how long it takes to reach her goals because she feels that progress has been made.
I'm willing to take my time
The singer is prepared to be patient in order to achieve the level of closeness or understanding she desires.
I'm gonna love you anyway
Despite the challenges associated with the relationship, the singer remains committed to loving the subject.
[Chorus]
The singer repeats her determination to love the subject every day.
I wanted it to be easy
The singer hoped that developing an intimate relationship with the subject would be straightforward and natural.
I know that I'll make you tired
The singer acknowledges that the subject may be challenged or worn out by her efforts to understand them.
Some tell me you're slow and lazy
Others have a negative perception of the subject, viewing them as unmotivated or lacking energy.
Some tell me you're so inspired
However, the singer also hears positive things about the subject, recognizing their potential for creativity or enthusiasm.
You wanted a long flirtation
The singer believes that the subject is interested in a prolonged period of getting to know each other before moving forward in the relationship.
Your plane doesn't ever land
The subject may be emotionally distant or hesitant to commit fully to the relationship, like an airplane never touching down.
Some things I don't want to look at
The singer acknowledges that there may be parts of the subject's life or personality that she finds difficult or uncomfortable.
I don't want to understand but
Despite this, she is still committed to figuring out the subject and developing a deeper connection with them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC M BAZILIAN, ROB HYMAN, JOAN OSBORNE, RICK CHERTOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind