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.
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
Love's a big witch doctor who stirred a brew for me
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
Love's a great big cobra that reared its ugly head
I got hung with honey tongue
Wish that I was dead
I'm trapped, baby!
In Joi Lansing's song "Web of Love," the lyrics paint a picture of a person who is feeling trapped in the clutches of love. The lyrics describe love as a big game hunter who held the poison dart, suggesting that love can be deadly and dangerous. The person who is under the spell of love is compared to prey, as they were game and the love interest took aim and struck them straight through the heart. This highlights the idea that love can feel like a trap for some, as once you fall for someone, it can be hard to escape their grasp.
Love is also described as a witch doctor who brewed a potion that the person drank from their sweet lips, and now they can't get free. The person is like a bird in a cage, flapping their wings in rage, trying to escape, but they are clipped, and they have to stay. The use of animal imagery in these lyrics further emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and powerless. The image of a cobra rearing its ugly head highlights the idea that love can be venomous and bring pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Love's the big game hunter who held the poison dart
Love is a dangerous predator who had the power to hurt me deeply.
I was game and you took aim and struck me to the heart
I was vulnerable and you aimed for my heart, causing me pain.
Trapped in a web of love
I am caught in a complicated and difficult situation because of my love for you.
I'm trapped in a web of love
I cannot escape from this situation, and I feel powerless and helpless.
Love's a big witch doctor who stirred a brew for me
Love is like an experienced shaman who created a spell to capture me.
I took sips from your sweet lips and now I can't get free
I gave in to my desires for you and now I cannot break free from the hold you have on me.
Like a bird in a cage flapping it's wings in rage
I feel frustrated and angry, like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to fly away.
I can't fly away
I am unable to escape from the situation that I am in.
You've clipped my wings I've got to stay
You have taken away my freedom and I am now forced to stay and face the consequences.
Love's a great big cobra that reared its ugly head
Love is like a deadly snake that appeared suddenly and took hold of me.
I got hung with honey tongue
I was lured in by your sweet words and promises, only to be trapped.
Wish that I was dead
I am in so much emotional pain that I cannot imagine living with it any longer.
I'm trapped, baby!
I am caught in this situation and I need your help to get out of it.
Contributed by Hudson G. 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.