Joni has performed her songs across Europe. At aged 11, she performed solo at the Casino Barriere during the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 2005, she opened the Phil Collins 'First Final Farewell Tour' at the LTU Arena in Dusseldorf.
Joni continues to write and perform her own original songs as well as train classically. Joni lives in the North West of England.
America
Joni Fuller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too tired to cry, too proud to call
In a movie scene, played over again
Might as well just pretend
Dream of America
At least anywhere but here
Singing your freedom song
You?re leaving some day
And you?ll put on your black beret
Strangers pass you by, alone in your room
Don?t need no-one, you?re leaving soon
Turning out the light, case in the hall
Waiting for you to make the call
Just look to the west-side
With a whispered prayer, the saints don?t reply
Might as well close your eyes
Dream of America
At least anywhere but here
Singing your freedom song
When there?s no-one to hear
You?re leaving some day
And you?ll put on your black beret
Dream of America
At least anywhere but here
Singing your freedom song
When there?s no-one to hear
You?re leaving some day
And you?ll laugh at the words they say?
The lyrics to Joni Fuller's "America" convey a feeling of hopelessness and a longing for something better. The opening lines paint a picture of a woman who is struggling to keep going, both physically and emotionally. She is too proud to ask for help and too exhausted to cry. The reference to a movie scene suggests that this is something she has gone through before, and perhaps her situation feels like a never-ending cycle. The line "might as well just pretend" implies a sense of resignation, as if the woman has given up on trying to change her circumstances and is now just going through the motions.
The chorus of the song is a dream of escape, of finding a better life somewhere else. The reference to singing a freedom song when no one can hear suggests that this is a private fantasy, something the woman holds onto in her darkest moments. The repetition of the phrase "at least anywhere but here" reinforces the sense of desperation and the desire to leave everything behind. The final line, about putting on a black beret, suggests that this dream of escape is tied up with a sense of revolution or rebellion. It is a powerful image that suggests the woman is ready to fight for a better life, even if she doesn't yet know what that will look like.
The second verse continues the sense of isolation and longing for something better. The woman is alone in her room, with only her own dreams and hopes to keep her company. The reference to turning out the light and waiting for the call suggests that she is waiting for something to happen, perhaps for an opportunity to escape or for someone to come and help her. The final lines, about whispering a prayer to the saints on the west side, suggest that the woman is searching for something bigger than herself to help her escape her current situation. However, there is no reply, and she is left feeling alone and powerless.
Overall, "America" is a song about the American Dream that has turned sour for some people. It speaks to the desperation felt by those who have been left behind by society and are struggling to make a better life for themselves. The dream of America is still there, but it is tinged with bitterness and anger. The black beret represents a willingness to fight for what is right, even if the odds are stacked against you.
Line by Line Meaning
In the fading light, she stumbles and falls
As the day draws to a close, she becomes weary and falls over
Too tired to cry, too proud to call
She's exhausted and can't even muster the energy to cry, but she refuses to ask for help because of her pride
In a movie scene, played over again
The situation feels like it's replaying endlessly, like a scene from a movie on repeat
Might as well just pretend
She feels powerless, so she decides to pretend that everything is okay in order to cope
Dream of America
She longs for a better life in America
At least anywhere but here
Anywhere else would be better than her current situation
Singing your freedom song
She imagines a life of freedom and sings a song about it
When there's no-one to hear
Her dreams are just a fantasy, as there's no one around to listen
You're leaving some day
She knows she'll leave one day and make her dreams come true
And you'll put on your black beret
She's determined and will wear a symbol of her determination, a black beret
Strangers pass you by, alone in your room
She's isolated and alone, even when surrounded by strangers or inside her own room
Don't need no-one, you're leaving soon
She doesn't need anyone's help, as she knows she'll depart soon
Turning out the light, case in the hall
She turns off the light and leaves her suitcase in the hall, ready for her departure
Waiting for you to make the call
She waits for the right moment to leave, as she's planning her departure
Just look to the west-side
She's directing her gaze towards the Western side of America, where her dreams lie
With a whispered prayer, the saints don't reply
She prays for guidance, but feels like her prayers go unanswered
Might as well close your eyes
She's not sure what to do, so she just decides to close her eyes and hope for the best
And you'll laugh at the words they say
Once she leaves and is successful, she'll laugh at the people who doubted her and her dreams
Contributed by Peyton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.