Taylor has toured Europe with the supergroup D.U.P. with fellow band members Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Candy Dulfer (Prince), Mudbone Cooper (Parliment-Funkadelic) and Jimmy Cliff. If you can imagine the love child of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dusty Springfield then you are beginning to get a feel for Taylor's mixture of fiery guitar playing, sultry vocals and 100% pure soul. But unlike many other young phenoms, she has quickly developed a resumรฉ to back up the hype. Born and raised amidst the coal mines of Britain's Black Country, she picked up a guitar and got turned on to the blues as a very young teenager.
Dave Stewart first discovered Joanne when he saw her play at the tender age of 16. He describes his reaction as follows. 'I have played with all sorts of blues musicians all over the world, such as R.L. Burnside and Jesse-Mae Hemphill. I heard something I thought I would never hear, a British white girl playing blues guitar so deep and passionately it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end! Not only was I in total shock but it took me a good few minutes to ask her how long she had been playing like that. "A few years," she replied. "How old are you now?" "Sixteen." I woke up a few seconds later on the floor.'
Taylor has toured the U.K. with her own band since she was 14, headlining top clubs such as Ronnie Scott's and the Marquee; she has also performed at several of the top European festivals, playing alongside many of her heroes like B.B. King. It is a safe bet that Taylor is the only teenage girl invited to sit in on one of Bill Wymans recording sessions.
Her own writing has led her to something beyond the blues, a soulful mix of roots and pop influences sung in a haunting smoky voice. Taylor has written with Bruce McCabe (Jonny Lang) and grammy winning songwriter/producer Kevin Bowe (Jonny Lang, Etta James, Paul Westerberg).
Diamonds In The Dirt
Joanne Shaw Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
WAS A HARD ONE AND I TOOK IT AND I
MISUNDERSTOOD
EVERY TIME I STOKE THE FIRES THE SAME
BUT I KNOW NOW THAT A SPARKS NOT
ALWAYS A FLAME
YOU BUILT YOUR WALLS,
SEALED AND SURROUNDED
BY A HEART OF GLASS
MAYBE I WAS WRONG
TO LET YOU UNDER MY SKIN
MAYBE I'M GOING DOWN FOR A WAR
THAT I NEVER COULD WIN
WHO'S TO SAY
GOOD LOVE FADES TO DUST
WHO'S TO SAY
ALL HEARTS LEARN TO LUST
WHO'S TO SAY
HEALING HAS TO HURT
WHO'S TO SAY
THAT THERE'S NO DIAMONDS IN THE DIRT
MAYBE WE NEEDED THE END TO BEGIN
MAYBE IT'S THE SAME OLD STORY,
SWEETER SPIN
A PART OF YOUR HEART IS ALONE
AND IT'S SET
A PART OF YOUR HEART ISN'T OVER IT YET
WHO'S TO SAY
OH WHO'S TO SAY
WHO'S TO SAY
THAT THIS WON'T GO MY WAY?
In the song โDiamonds in the Dirt,โ Joanne Shaw Taylor laments the difficulties of love and relationships. She describes her past experiences with love, acknowledging that the only lesson she learned was a hard one that she took away from a relationship that she misunderstood. Despite repeatedly trying to reignite the flames of love, she now understands that just as a spark isnโt always a flame, a simple spark of attraction isnโt always indicative of a long-lasting relationship. She then turns her focus onto her past lover, acknowledging that they built up walls around themselves, sealing themselves off from others and encasing their heart in glass. She reflects on the possibility that she may have been wrong to let this person into her life, and that she may be destined to lose a war that she never could win.
The chorus highlights the uncertain nature of love and relationships. The questions she poses - whether good love fades to dust, whether all hearts learn to lust, whether healing has to hurt, and whether there are no diamonds in the dirt - are all rhetorical questions that do not have clear-cut answers. She reflects on how all these uncertainties might have played a part in the relationshipโs demise, and considers whether ending it has opened new doors for her, leading to an opportunity to create a better future for herself.
Overall, "Diamonds in the Dirt" is a poignant song about love and its complexities. It highlights the struggles that people often face in relationships, and the uncertainties that come along with it. Taylorโs words are a reminder that sometimes, the end of a relationship can be an opportunity for growth and newfound freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
THE ONLY LESSON THAT I LEARNED IN LOVE
The only thing I learned about love is a painful lesson.
WAS A HARD ONE AND I TOOK IT AND I MISUNDERSTOOD
The lesson was hard, and although I learned it, I didn't truly understand it.
EVERY TIME I STOKE THE FIRES THE SAME
Whenever I try to ignite passion, it always follows the same pattern.
BUT I KNOW NOW THAT A SPARKS NOT ALWAYS A FLAME
I realize now that just because there is a spark, it doesn't mean that there will always be a flame.
YOU BUILT YOUR WALLS, YOU BUILT THEM TO LAST
You erected barriers around yourself, and they are impenetrable.
SEALED AND SURROUNDED BY A HEART OF GLASS
Your heart is fragile and vulnerable, yet you keep it fiercely protected.
MAYBE I WAS WRONG TO LET YOU UNDER MY SKIN
Perhaps I should not have allowed you to get so close to me.
MAYBE I'M GOING DOWN FOR A WAR THAT I NEVER COULD WIN
Maybe I'm fighting a battle that I was never meant to win.
WHO'S TO SAY GOOD LOVE FADES TO DUST
Who can say that true love inevitably fades away?
WHO'S TO SAY ALL HEARTS LEARN TO LUST
Who can claim that all hearts are destined to desire and crave?
WHO'S TO SAY HEALING HAS TO HURT
Who says that you must experience pain to recover?
WHO'S TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO DIAMONDS IN THE DIRT
Who is to say that something valuable cannot be found in unexpected or difficult circumstances?
MAYBE WE NEEDED THE END TO BEGIN
Perhaps the end is just the start of something new.
MAYBE IT'S THE SAME OLD STORY, SWEETER SPIN
Perhaps it is a familiar narrative, but with a more delightful outcome.
A PART OF YOUR HEART IS ALONE AND IT'S SET
There is a part of you that remains solitary and resolved.
A PART OF YOUR HEART ISN'T OVER IT YET
But, at the same time, there is a part of your heart that has not yet moved on.
WHO'S TO SAY OH WHO'S TO SAY
Who has the authority to declare what is possible and impossible?
WHO'S TO SAY THAT THIS WON'T GO MY WAY?
Who is to say that the outcome cannot be in my favor?
Contributed by Juliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Goertz
It doesn't get any better than Joanne. The woman's got the Blues in her soul. She's the real thing. Who are the 12 people who don't like this? I feel sorry for them.
Gary Parker
WOW!! Incredible song writing skills,, Rippin guitar licks and what a voice...TALENT !!!
Please come to U S for a tour... Miss your live shows !!!! Gary
Ed Gustafson
I've seen quite a few of Joanne's videos on here. I've seen a few different vids of this one, but too me this one is by far the best one. For one the video and sound quality are top notch. Her band is real tight. Her voice never sounded better. Her guitar playing speaks for itself. l love the tone of her guitar as well. If I wanted to turn someone on to her this would be the video I would share.
Jacqui Wall
Heard her play 6 times in the last 2 years (twice supporting Trower, a double whammy) - off to hear her again in November. She's awesome!
Anthony Austin
If that's Festival Hall, see yh there. Agree JJ+JP=JST. Lol
Mark Kelly
Just awesome. She just blows you away.
Beyond the Record
first time I listen to this woman. My heart just got stolen.
LEIF HOFFMAN
The lady can play! Also a very soulful voice!!!!!!
Benjamin Ganzleben
Sheโs just epic!
Gaz Taylor
Thanks for the amazing music and the continued inspirationย Joanne... you got talent to spare girl. See you at Nottingham Rescue Rooms in October :)