Purdy's albums "Paris in the Morning" and "You Can Tell Georgia" have sold a combined 80,000 single downloads online worldwide.[citation needed] His catalog of music has sold over 800,000 single downloads worldwide.[1] A regular at The Hotel Café in Los Angeles, Purdy traveled to the UK with Tom McRae in 2006 as part of McRae's Hotel Cafe Tour.
His appearance at the Wireless Festival in Leeds led to a special request from The Who member Pete Townshend and his girlfriend Rachel Fuller to play with them at their acoustic In the Attic Series shows. Purdy also began to affiliate with The Giving Tree Band starting in 2012, performing live shows in conjunction on a tour across America.
All of his albums are available for free listening on his homepage. His song, 'Wash Away (Reprise)', was featured on the hit ABC TV series, Lost, while Grey's Anatomy additionally featured 'I Love the Rain the Most,' 'The City,' 'Far Away Blues,' and 'Suitcase.' House MD featured 'Rainy Day Lament' and 'Good Days'.
Purdy's song "Mary" (off the album Julie Blue) was featured in the film The Secret Life of Bees. He has also had a song in the movie starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, "Going the Distance", the song entitled, Miss Me. Several of Purdy's songs are featured in the 2013 film Straight A's. Also, Purdy's song "Outlaws" was featured in the movie "A Case of You". Purdy played the lead role of Elliott and composed the score for the feature film.
San Jose
Joe Purdy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
on the street corner
I should have warned you
all of the boys
with all of their poison
they'll rob you blind
and i knew your mother
where was your father?
Yeah well nobody knows
i wish things were different
the hand you were given
it just don't seem fair
and you play with what you're given
you're doing fine
you try not to think about it
well most of the time
you just do what you have to
to make sure you get through
yeah but sometimes it hurts
singing Mona, you know you wander
on the street corner
I should have warned you
all of the boys
with all of their poison
as they make their way
yeah to San Jose
yeah well you're still so young
yeah but you feel so old
it's just that the things you've been through
that are making you cold
well I think you're gonna turn soon
gotta careful with my moves
just might lose you for good
yeah and I can't fight your demons
yeah cuz i'd have to fight you
they're so far inside you
and I just can't seem to get through
and it ain't none of my business
ain't none of my place
yeah but i still had to try
singing Mona, you know you gonna
on the street corner
I should have warned you
all of the boys
with all of their poison
as they make they're way
yeah to San Jose
oh now and i think i've lost you
can't reach you no more
cause you're high as a kite
and i'm down here on the floor
yah i'm begging you to come back down
but you can't even hear that
it's floated away
oh yeah it's such a shame
cause i remember the days
of the sunshine and rain
yeah when we used to play
on your mother's front lawn
singing those old songs
without a care in the world
oh i'm just singing
Mona
you know you wander
on the street corner
I know you're gonna offer
all of the boys and
all of their poison
they make their way
yeah to San Jose darling
yeah to San Jose now
Yeah Mona
you know you're gonna
on the street corner...
The song "San Jose" by Joe Purdy tells the story of a girl named Mona who wanders on the street corner. The singer expresses regret for not warning her about the boys who would rob and poison her. The lyrics indicate that Mona's mother has passed away and her father is nowhere to be found. The singer wishes things were different and that Mona had a better hand in life. Despite this, she plays with the cards she's been dealt with and tries not to think about it, but sometimes the pain is too much. The boys with poison eventually make their way to San Jose where Mona is.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Mona has been through a lot and is struggling with addiction. The singer believes that she is still young but feels old after everything she has been through. He thinks she will turn the corner soon, but he has to be careful with his moves, or he might lose her for good. He cannot fight her demons because they are too far inside her. The singer knows it's none of his business and none of his place, but he still has to try to help her.
The chorus repeats the warning of the boys with poison making their way to San Jose. The song ends with the singer lamenting about how he has lost Mona, who is now high as a kite and unreachable. He remembers the days when they used to play without a care in the world, singing old songs on Mona's mother's front lawn. Despite everything that has happened, he is still singing Mona's name and warning her about the boys and their poison.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona, you know you wander
Addressing Mona, acknowledging that she is aimlessly wandering
on the street corner
Specifying the location where Mona is wandering
I should have warned you
Recognizing a missed opportunity to provide a cautionary message to Mona
all of the boys
Referring to male individuals who may cause harm
with all of their poison
Describing the toxicity of the boys' behavior
they'll rob you blind
Asserting that the boys will take advantage of Mona
and i knew your mother
Stating awareness of Mona's mother
god rest her soul
Expressing a wish for Mona's mother to be at peace
where was your father?
Questioning the whereabouts of Mona's father
Yeah well nobody knows
Conveying ambiguity about Mona's father's absence
i wish things were different
Expressing a desire for Mona's situation to be better
the hand you were given
Referring to the circumstances that Mona was born into
it just don't seem fair
Acknowledging that Mona's situation is unjust
and you play with what you're given
Observing that Mona deals with her circumstances
you're doing fine
Affirming Mona's ability to cope
you try not to think about it
Noting Mona's avoidance of her situation
well most of the time
Indicating that Mona does sometimes think about her situation
you just do what you have to
Observing that Mona takes the necessary actions to survive
to make sure you get through
Highlighting Mona's persistence
yeah but sometimes it hurts
Acknowledging that Mona experiences pain
singing Mona, you know you wander
Repeating the opening lines of the song for emphasis
as they make their way
Referring to the boys from earlier in the song
yeah to San Jose
Specifying the destination of the boys' movement
yeah well you're still so young
Recognizing that Mona is still at a relatively young age
yeah but you feel so old
Acknowledging the emotional burden that Mona carries
it's just that the things you've been through
Attributing Mona's feelings of weariness to her previous experiences
that are making you cold
Implying that Mona has become distant or unemotional
well I think you're gonna turn soon
Suggesting a potential turning point for Mona
gotta careful with my moves
Acknowledging the need for caution while trying to help Mona
just might lose you for good
Recognizing that Mona may not respond positively to help
yeah and I can't fight your demons
Admitting an inability to solve Mona's personal struggles
yeah cuz i'd have to fight you
Implying that Mona's struggles are deeply embedded within her
they're so far inside you
Highlighting the internal nature of Mona's struggles
and I just can't seem to get through
Acknowledging that attempts to help Mona may be futile
and it ain't none of my business
Admitting that the situation is not one's responsibility
ain't none of my place
Recognizing that involvement may not be appropriate
yeah but i still had to try
Asserting a willingness to attempt to help regardless
oh now and i think i've lost you
Acknowledging a potential disconnection between the singer and Mona
can't reach you no more
Implying a sense of helplessness or inability to help
cause you're high as a kite
Noting that Mona is under the influence
and i'm down here on the floor
Conveying that the artist is powerless or defeated
yah i'm begging you to come back down
Expressing a plea for Mona to return to reality
but you can't even hear that
Highlighting the intensity of Mona's state
it's floated away
Describing how Mona's current state is removed from reality
oh yeah it's such a shame
Expressing regret for the situation
cause i remember the days
Recalling a past time
of the sunshine and rain
Describing a pleasant memory
yeah when we used to play
Remembering a shared activity
on your mother's front lawn
Specifying the location of the shared activity
singing those old songs
Recalling the music that accompanied the shared activity
without a care in the world
Emphasizing the carefree nature of the memory
oh i'm just singing
Bringing attention to the present moment
Mona
Addressing Mona
I know you're gonna offer
Predicting that Mona will encounter harmful individuals
yeah to San Jose darling
Reiterating the destination of the harmful individuals
yeah to San Jose now
Emphasizing the immediacy of the situation
Contributed by Penelope P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.