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.
Spooky
Joan Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything is getting kind of groovy
You call me up and ask me
Would I like to go with you and see a movie?
First I say no, I've got some plans for tonight
And then I stop and say all right
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you, you
You always keep me guessing
I never seem to know what you are thinking
And if a girl looks at you
It's for sure your little eye will be a-winking
I get confused, I never know where I stand
And then you smile and hold my hand
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you
And if you decide some day to stop this little game
That you are a-playing
I'm gonna tell you all the things
My heart's been a-dying to be saying
Just like a ghost you've been a-haunting my dreams
And now I know you're not what you seem
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Spooky
And if you decide some day to stop this little game
That you are a-playing
I'm gonna tell you all the things
My heart's been a-dying to be saying
Just like a ghost you've been a-haunting my dreams
And now I know you're not what you seem
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Spooky little boy like you
Spooky little boy like you
A spooky little boy like you
The song "Spooky" by Joan Osborne is a playful, upbeat tune about the confusion that can come with being in love with someone who keeps you guessing. The first verse sets the scene: it's evening, and the singer's potential love interest has called her up to invite her to a movie. She initially declines but then changes her mind. In the chorus, she describes love with this person as "kind of crazy" because he is a "spooky little boy." He keeps her guessing and doesn't always reveal what he's thinking, but at the same time he's charming and keeps her hooked.
The second verse continues this theme of uncertainty: the spooky little boy is always winking at other girls, which makes the singer confused about where she stands with him. But he's also affectionate towards her, and when he holds her hand, she can't help but fall for him all over again. The bridge suggests that the singer is ready for some clarity: if the spooky little boy decides to stop playing games, she's ready to open up about her feelings. However, the final chorus implies that even if he were to reveal his true self, he would still be a bit spooky and unpredictable, and the singer would still be under his spell.
Overall, "Spooky" is a fun, lighthearted song about the confusing but thrilling aspects of falling in love with someone who keeps you on your toes. The alliteration in the title and chorus ("spooky little boy") adds to the playfulness of the song, and the catchy melody makes it a feel-good tune that's easy to sing along to.
Line by Line Meaning
In the cool of the evening
During the tranquil dusk hours
When everything is getting kind of groovy
When the atmosphere feels lively and pleasant
You call me up and ask me
You dial my number and question
Would I like to go with you and see a movie?
If I would like to accompany you to watch a film
First I say no, I've got some plans for tonight
Initially, I decline the offer as I have scheduled activities for the night
And then I stop and say all right
Subsequently, I change my mind and agree
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you, you
Romance can be unpredictable and strange with an enigmatic gentleman like yourself
You always keep me guessing
You frequently perplex me
I never seem to know what you are thinking
I am consistently unaware of what thoughts are crossing your mind
And if a girl looks at you
If a female gazes at you
It's for sure your little eye will be a-winking
It's certain that your small eye will be closing and opening playfully
I get confused, I never know where I stand
I become bewildered, not knowing my position in our relationship
And then you smile and hold my hand
Then you grin and grasp my hand
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Love can be wild with a mysterious young man like yourself
And if you decide some day to stop this little game
If you someday cease this little play
That you are a-playing
That you are engaging in
I'm gonna tell you all the things
I will express all the emotions
My heart's been a-dying to be saying
My heart has been yearning to express
Just like a ghost you've been a-haunting my dreams
Similar to a phantom, you've been occupying my dreams
And now I know you're not what you seem
And at present, I comprehend that you are not as you appear
Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you
Love can be insane with a mysterious young man like yourself
Spooky
Eerie
Spooky little boy like you
A mysterious young man like yourself, who is eerie
Spooky little boy like you
A mysterious young man like yourself, who is eerie
A spooky little boy like you
A young man like yourself, who is enigmatic and eerie
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BUDDY BUIE, HARRY MIDDLEBROOKS, J COBB, J R COBB, MIKE SHAPIRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind