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.
Spider Web
Joan Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he could see just fine
Dreamed about Ray Charles last night
And he could see just fine you know
I asked him for a lullaby
He said "Honey I don't sing no more"
No more, no more, no more
Ray don't sing no more
He said "Since I got my eyesight back
My voice has just deserted me
No 'Georgia On My Mind' no more
I stay in bed with MTV"
Then Ray took his glasses off
And I could look inside his head
Flashing like a thunderstorm
I saw a shining spider web
Spider web
Spider web
Spider web
In Ray Charles' head
I dreamed about Ray Charles last night
He took me flying in the air
Showed my own spider webs
Said, "Honey, you had best take care
The world is made of spider webs
The threads are stuck to me and you
Be careful what you're wishing for
'Cause when you gain you just might lose"
You just might lose your
Spider web
Spider web
Spider web
What Ray Charles said
When you're feelin' lonely
When you're hidin' in your bed
Don't forget your string of pearls
Don't forget your spider web
When I go to sleep tonight
Don't let me dream of brother Ray
No, no, no, don'
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he sees
Just like him best the other way
Spider web
Spider web
Spider web
What Ray Charles said
In Ray Charles head
All I got's my spider web
Keepin' me alive
C'mon Ray
The song "Spider Web" by Joan Osborne is a tribute to Ray Charles, the blind singer and musician, who lost his sight as a child but regained it later in his life. It is said that Osborne wrote the song after a dream she had about Ray Charles. The dream seems to be a metaphor for the web of life and the interconnectedness of all things. In the dream, Joan Osborne asks Ray Charles to sing her a lullaby, but he tells her that he doesn't sing anymore since he got his eyesight back. He then takes off his glasses, and she can see a spider web flashing in his head like a thunderstorm.
The spider web seems to represent the delicate threads that connect us all, and the fragility and beauty of life. Ray Charles tells Osborne to be careful what she wishes for because when you gain, you just might lose. The spider web may also symbolize the traps and entanglements of life that we can get caught up in. The song is a reminder to be mindful of our actions and choices and to be aware of the consequences that they may have.
Overall, the song "Spider Web" by Joan Osborne is a complex and thought-provoking piece of music that uses metaphor and imagery to explore the themes of interconnectedness, fragility, and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I dreamed about Ray Charles last night
The singer had a dream about Ray Charles and is now narrating about her experience with him.
And he could see just fine
In the dream, Ray Charles was able to see properly despite his blindness which was surprising to the singer.
Dreamed about Ray Charles last night
The singer reiterates that the entire experience was just a dream.
And he could see just fine you know
The artist is again surprised that Ray Charles can see in the dream despite his blindness in reality.
I asked him for a lullaby
The artist asks Ray Charles to sing her a soothing song.
He said "Honey I don't sing no more"
Ray Charles tells the singer that he no longer sings.
No more, no more, no more
Ray Charles is emphasizing the fact that he has stopped singing.
Ray don't sing no more
This line is repeated for added emphasis that Ray Charles has stopped singing.
He said "Since I got my eyesight back
Ray Charles tells the artist that after he regained his eyesight, something changed.
My voice has just deserted me
Ray Charles feels that his voice has abandoned him after he regained his eyesight.
No 'Georgia On My Mind' no more
The iconic song that Ray Charles is famous for, 'Georgia On My Mind', is something he can no longer perform in his current state.
I stay in bed with MTV"
Ray Charles has changed his focus from music to watching MTV while staying in bed.
Then Ray took his glasses off
Ray Charles takes off his glasses in the dream.
And I could look inside his head
The singer is able to see inside Ray Charles' head in the dream.
Flashing like a thunderstorm
The images inside Ray Charles' head are vivid and randomly flashing like a thunderstorm.
I saw a shining spider web
the artist sees a bright and luminous spider web inside Ray Charles' head in the dream.
Spider web
The spider web becomes a recurring theme throughout the song, representing the complex and interconnected nature of the world.
Spider web
Repetition of the spider web theme.
Spider web
Repetition of the spider web theme.
In Ray Charles' head
The spider web is situated inside Ray Charles' head in the dream.
He took me flying in the air
Ray Charles takes the artist on a flight in the dream.
Showed me my own spider webs
Ray Charles shows the artist her own spider webs which implies that everyone has their own interconnectedness in the world.
Said, "Honey, you had best take care
Ray Charles advises the singer to be cautious.
The world is made of spider webs
Ray Charles alludes to how everything is connected in the world through the analogy of spider webs.
The threads are stuck to me and you
The threads, which create the spider web, are intertwined between individuals, connecting them to each other.
Be careful what you're wishing for
Ray Charles warns the singer to be careful about what she wishes for.
'Cause when you gain you just might lose
Gains and losses are interconnected, and one can lead to the other, just like threads can break and lead to the crumbling of a spider web.
You just might lose your
The line is left incomplete, but it implies that one might lose their interconnectedness with the world and people around them.
Spider web
Repetition of the spider web theme.
Spider web
Repetition of the spider web theme.
Spider web
Repetition of the spider web theme.
What Ray Charles said
The artist reiterates what Ray Charles had said about the spider webs and interconnectedness, emphasizing the importance of the message.
When you're feelin' lonely
In times of isolation and loneliness.
When you're hidin' in your bed
In times when you may be feeling down or helpless.
Don't forget your string of pearls
The singer implies that individuals should always remember their strengths and positive aspects.
Don't forget your spider web
The artist encourages individuals to remember their interconnectedness with others in such difficult times.
When I go to sleep tonight
The singer shifts to the present and expresses her hopes for what her future dreams would hold.
Don't let me dream of brother Ray
The singer doesn't want to be haunted by anymore dreams about Ray Charles, suggesting that the dream has taught her everything she needs to know.
No, no, no, don't get me wrong
The singer wants to clarify her feelings about Ray Charles, and does not want to sound ungrateful.
I'm glad he sees just like him best the other way
The artist is grateful that Ray Charles was able to see properly in the dream, but prefers him to remain as he was before, implying that things happen for a reason.
In Ray Charles head
The song ends with a reiteration of the spider web being situated inside Ray Charles' head as seen in the dream.
All I got's my spider web
The singer emphasizes that our interconnectedness with others in the world is our only support system.
Keepin' me alive
The interconnectedness and support we receive from others is what keeps us going in life.
C'mon Ray
The song ends with the artist calling out to Ray Charles for one last time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Rick Chertoff, Gary Michael Lucas, Sammy Merendino, Joan Osborne, Christopher John Palmaro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind