After recording and self-releasing two EPs in 2002, Newsom was signed to the independent label Drag City. Her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was released in 2004 to critical acclaim and garnered Newsom an underground following. She would receive wider exposure with the release of Ys (2006), which charted at number 134 on the Billboard 200.
She released two further albums: Have One on Me (2010) and Divers (2015), the latter of which outsold all of her previous albums. Newsom has been noted by critics for her unique musical style, sometimes characterized as psychedelic folk, and for her prominent use of harp instrumentation. She has also appeared as an actress with roles in the television series Portlandia and in the 2014 film Inherent Vice.
The Book of Right-On
Joanna Newsom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A light on
And the book of right-on's right on
It was right on
We should shine a light on
A light on
And the book of right-on's right on
It was right on
I killed my dinner with karate
Kick 'em in the face, taste the body
Shallow work is the work that I do
Do you want to sit at my table?
My fighting fame is fabled
And fortune finds me fit and able
And you do say oh oh
That you do pray oh oh
And you say
That you're ok
And do you want to run with my pack?
Do you want to ride on my back?
Pray that what you lack does not distract
And even when you run through my mind
Something else is in front, oh, you're behind
And I don't have to remind you
To stick with your kind
And you do say oh oh
That you do pray oh oh
And you say
That you're ok
And even when you touch my face
You know your place
And even when you touch my face
You know your place
And we should shine a light on
A light on
And the book of right-on's right on
It was right on
And we should shine a light on
A light on
And the book of right-on's right on
It was right on
The opening lines of Joanna Newsom’s “The Book of Right On” urge us to look at something. It calls on us to shine a light on “the book of right-on," which happens to be right on. The book of right-on might refer to what some people call “the book of life.” Many cultures believe that every person has a book of records that chronicles one’s life. The book of right-on might not necessarily be a record of one’s life, but rather something more philosophical, like a guide to living life right. This is supported by the phrase’s repetition throughout the song, indicating its importance.
The second half of the song touches on themes of power and hierarchy. The singer boasts about killing their dinner with karate, implying their physical prowess. They also ask if the listener wants to sit at their table, suggesting a position of status. The lyrics later suggest that something else is ahead of the listener, that they are not entirely deserving of the singer’s position. The final line of the song, “Even when you touch my face, you know your place,” indicates that the singer has power, and the listener remains subordinate.
Line by Line Meaning
We should shine a light on
We should bring attention to something important
A light on
We should bring clarity to something important
And the book of right-on's right on
The important thing to focus on is the book of right-on
It was right on
The book of right-on is accurate and true
I killed my dinner with karate
I am skilled in hunting and killing for survival
Kick 'em in the face, taste the body
I use my physical abilities to overcome and consume my prey
Shallow work is the work that I do
I do not engage in meaningful or fulfilling labor
Do you want to sit at my table?
Do you want to be included in my lifestyle and activities?
My fighting fame is fabled
I am known for my combat skills through legend and myth
And fortune finds me fit and able
I am successful and prosperous due to my abilities
And you do say oh oh
You express affirmation or agreement
That you do pray oh oh
You express a desire or hope for something
And you say
You verbalize something to be considered
That you're ok
You declare that you are doing well or are in agreement
And do you want to run with my pack?
Do you want to associate and collaborate with me and my group?
Do you want to ride on my back?
Do you want to rely on me to carry you through something?
Pray that what you lack does not distract
Hope that your weaknesses do not hinder you
And even when you run through my mind
Even though you occupy my thoughts
Something else is in front, oh, you're behind
Another issue or concern takes priority over you
And I don't have to remind you
I shouldn't have to emphasize or point out
To stick with your kind
To align yourself with those who share your interests and values
And even when you touch my face
Even though we have a physical connection
You know your place
You understand our respective roles and boundaries
And we should shine a light on
We should bring attention to something important
A light on
We should bring clarity to something important
And the book of right-on's right on
The important thing to focus on is the book of right-on
It was right on
The book of right-on is accurate and true
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Joanna Newsom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind