Lansing was born to a Mormon family on April 6, 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her film career began in 1948; although most of her early roles were uncredited. She appeared in both big budget films and "b-movies," including Singin' in the Rain, Easter Parade, On the Riviera, Queen of Outer Space, Marriage on the Rocks and A Touch of Evil. As an actress, Lansing was often cast in "blonde bombshell" roles played by contemporaries Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren, and as such, received top billing for her work in Hot Cars in 1956.
She also emerged as an occasional bit player in theater productions in the nascent medium of television. She had roles on The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, I Love Lucy, State Trooper, This Man Dawson, Maverick, Love That Bob, and had a recurring role in The Beverly Hillbillies as Gladys Flatt.
An actors strike in the early 1960s led Lansing to take up singing, and she broke into the nightclub scene soon thereafter. In May 1965, Lansing cut her first record album. It was composed of a collection of songs written especially for her by composer Jimmie Haskel and actress Stella Stevens. At this time, Lansing was tapped to make a series of Scopitones, which were early music videos filmed on 16mm, and viewed in a video jukebox. Inspired by burlesque performances, Lansing's campy and sexy videos for "Web of Love" and "The Silencer" led her to be dubbed the "Queen of Scopitones."
Lansing died at age 44 on August 7, 1972 in Santa Monica, California after a battle with breast cancer.
Trapped In The Web Of Love
Joi Lansing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was game and you took aim and struck me to the heart
Trapped in a web of love
I'm trapped in a web of love
I took sips from your sweet lips and now I can't get free
Like a bird in a cage flapping it's wings in rage
I can't fly away
You've clipped my wings I've got to stay
Love's a great big cobra that reared its ugly head
I got hung with honey tounge
Wish that I was dead
I'm trapped, baby!
The song Trapped in the Web of Love by Joi Lansing is a lamentation of the traps of love. Lansing compares love to a big game hunter, a witch doctor, and a great big cobra, all of which are powerful forces that have taken hold of her. She says that she was once game and love took aim and struck her to the heart. The imagery of a poison dart suggests that love can be a dangerous game where people can get hurt. Though love was meant to be a source of happiness, it has become a trap for her. She feels like a bird trapped in a cage, flapping its wings in rage, unable to fly away because her wings have been clipped. The metaphor suggests that love may confine and restrict people, making them feel like they are trapped.
Lansing suggests that she has been entranced by love, like a potion that has been concocted by a witch doctor. She describes taking sips from sweet lips, which has caused her to become addicted or bound to love. She recognizes that she is trapped and cannot break free from its clutches. This is reinforced by her comparison of love to a great big cobra that has reared its ugly head. The cobra's venomous kiss is akin to the honey-tongued flattery of her lover, which has also taken hold of her. The wish that she was dead implies that the pain of love is unbearable, and she longs for an escape from it. In conclusion, the song Trapped in the Web of Love is a powerful expression of the traps of love, a theme that has resonated with many people over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Love's the big game hunter who held the poison dart
Love is a skilled predator who used their charm to pierce my heart with the dart of emotion.
I was game and you took aim and struck me to the heart
I was willing to fall in love with you, and you purposely aimed to win my heart, which you accomplished.
Trapped in a web of love
I am stuck in a complex combination of emotions that keep me tied to you.
I'm trapped in a web of love
I feel powerless and unable to leave this dangerous love affair that has entrapped me.
Love's a big witch doctor who stirred a brew for me
Love is like a powerful potion, brewed by a sorcerer who has cast a spell over me.
I took sips from your sweet lips and now I can't get free
I have been enchanted by your kisses, and now I cannot escape your spell.
Like a bird in a cage flapping it's wings in rage
I feel trapped and confined, struggling to break free of your hold on me.
I can't fly away
I am unable to leave this love affair, no matter how much I try to escape.
You've clipped my wings I've got to stay
You have taken away my freedom and ability to decide, and now I am forced to stay with you.
Love's a great big cobra that reared its ugly head
Love is a dangerous serpent that has revealed its true and frightening nature to me.
I got hung with honey tounge
I fell for your sweet words and now I am caught in your trap.
Wish that I was dead
I wish for an end to this pain and heartache caused by my entanglement with you.
I'm trapped, baby!
I am completely stuck and unable to leave this love affair that has ensnared me.
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tonycampagna7936
It’s so entirely bad....and I love every second. Joi was amazing.
@anew742
My favorite part about this is how apathetic she sounds and acts throughout the whole song
@LanceSom
I absolutely love everything about this.
@raycathode
My god I've only just discovered this wonderful madness. I'm hooked!
@chrisn7259
This sort of defines weirdness. Joi is singing with a Broadway/nightclub style which is incongruous against that funky arrangement. And what can you say about the visuals?
@RonJohn63
That was the 1960s for you.
@mikemccarthy1352
Someone should make a "MAKING OF" feature length film about Joi and the day this was made.
@yesbruv7141
Starring a drag queen.. I'm on it
@desertjinn3311
Phenomenal!
@musicgroovin
Doesn't get better than this.