She started in the '80s with fellow singer/songwriter Jennifer Kimball, but moved on after two albums to a solo career, releasing an album in 1995 that offered a glimpse of her true potential.
Plumb was soon followed by Ten Cent Wings which expanded her folk roots into a style that is really hard to pigeonhole. Perhaps for this reason she does not enjoy as wide an audience as she deserves.
Tired of the constraints that major record labels often force on their artists, Jonatha formed her own independent label. Fully able to express her muse, she has released several albums (and done her best to tour them) that each improve on the previous works.
Her latest effort, The Works surprisingly not penned on her own, but sort of a collaborative effort with Woody Guthrie, finds her returning to her folk roots, but imbuing Guthrie's words with her own musical style, resulting in a whole that is infinitely greater than the sum of its parts.
Paris
Jonatha Brooke & The Story Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember the men, I remember the houses in Paris
His station nearby, I was his afternoons
We didn't mind, we shared everything, everything, Paris
He'd come in looking for comfort, leave again looking to the left and the right
Did we see too much, say too little
Stepping over every dark thing
But he loves me
Framing his face with my hands in the doorway
I try to decipher the friend from the foe in his eyes
A man's skin will be blown back with time and confusion
'Til it gathers by his ears in the same human shallows like sand at the sea
Did he hear too much, say too little
Could any year recover what we lost in these?
With the hum of the war in the run of the day, but
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself,
Again
I am the unchanging narrative, I don't resolve neatly
And I am the unchained melody, the current of the need to survive
And I go on looking for comfort, I can no longer see to the left or the right, but
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself,
Again.
The lyrics of Jonatha Brooke & The Story's song, "Paris," revolve around a woman's affair with a German man, set against the backdrop of post-World War II Paris. She reminisces about the times when her German lover used to visit her in Paris, while reflecting on their relationship and the state of her own life. The song touches on themes of love, loss, survival, and resilience in the face of adversity.
The song's opening lines, "L'allemand used to visit me in Paris," refer to the German man's visits to the woman in Paris. She remembers the places they used to go, the people they used to see, and the experiences they shared together. The line "His station nearby, I was his afternoons" suggests that their relationship was casual and fleeting, without any long-term commitments. Despite this, they shared everything and enjoyed each other's company in the romantic city of Paris.
However, the woman's reflections are not entirely positive or nostalgic. She wonders if they said too little and saw too much, suggesting that their relationship was not always a healthy or honest one. She also questions whether their experiences and memories will remain true in the future. The lines "Would it all be true tomorrow? But he loves me" showcase the woman's conflicting emotions, as she questions the reality of their love while still holding onto the hope and comfort it provides.
The song's chorus, "I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun, claiming these streets for myself, again" reiterates the woman's resilience and determination to survive despite the odds. She refuses to be a victim of her circumstances, instead claiming ownership of her life and her surroundings. The lyrics, "I am the unchanging narrative, I don't resolve neatly, and I am the unchained melody, the current of the need to survive" highlight her unyielding and chaotic nature, as she navigates the complexities of life and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
L'allemand used to visit me in Paris, in Paris
A person named L'allemand used to visit me in Paris, France, multiple times.
I remember the men, I remember the houses in Paris
I have memories of the men and houses in Paris that I recall vividly.
His station nearby, I was his afternoons
When L'allemand would come to Paris, he would spend his afternoons with me because his station was located close to where I was at that time.
We didn't mind, we shared everything, everything, Paris
We didn't have any objections to sharing everything when we were together in Paris; we were open and honest with each other.
He'd come in looking for comfort, leave again looking to the left and the right
Whenever L'allemand came to me for companionship, he appeared to be looking for some form of emotional relief, only to then leave in a suspicious and cautious manner.
Did we see too much, say too little
We may have seen too much or discussed too little when we were together in Paris, which caused us to question our interactions.
Stepping over every dark thing
We ignored or glossed over the darker aspects of our relationship and instead chose to focus on the positive aspects.
Would it all be true tomorrow?
We were uncertain if our experiences would still be authentic in the future.
But he loves me
Despite our misgivings, L'allemand still had feelings for me.
Framing his face with my hands in the doorway
One day when L'allemand was about to leave, I held his head in my hands to say goodbye.
I try to decipher the friend from the foe in his eyes
I was unsure if L'allemand was my friend or adversary and tried to read his emotions to understand where I stood with him.
A man's skin will be blown back with time and confusion
Men will age and lose their youthful appearance as time goes on, becoming more confused and uncertain about their lives.
'Til it gathers by his ears in the same human shallows like sand at the sea
The skin around a man's ears will eventually collect wrinkles, much like sand that gathers near the shore of the sea, as a sign of aging.
Did he hear too much, say too little
I wondered if L'allemand heard more than he let on, but didn't speak his mind often.
Could any year recover what we lost in these?
I wondered if we could ever recover what we lost when we were together in Paris.
With the hum of the war in the run of the day, but
Despite the background noise of war during that time period, we still interacted in Paris.
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
I'm confident and bold while walking in the sun, fully exposed and without fear.
Claiming these streets for myself
I am staking my claim in these streets, taking ownership of my experiences and memories in Paris.
I am the unchanging narrative, I don't resolve neatly
I am telling a story that remains unchanged and does not have a clear resolution or happy ending.
And I am the unchained melody, the current of the need to survive
I represent an unrestrained melody, the flow of the desire to stay alive and endure through hardships.
And I go on looking for comfort, I can no longer see to the left or the right, but
Despite my struggles, I continue searching for comfort, clarity, and direction in life.
Claiming these streets for myself, Again
I continue to take possession of my memories and experiences in Paris, reclaiming them for myself as I move forward in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHA BROOKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind