His second album Deliah Blue was less commercially successful (the only single Take It On Faith failed to reach a high chart position). His collection of songs were closer to sonic novels then the ballads featured in his first album; he used John Steinbeck's book "The Pearl" as inspiration for a song of the same name. The only single Take it on Faith failed to reach the Billboards Top-10 and shortly after EMI Group voided the contract with Kadison. In 1998, after a 3-year break, he published his book 17 Ways To Eat A Mango: A Discovered Journal Of Life On An Island Of Miracles and the 5-track-album Saturday Night In Storyville on his own label Storyville Records, selling it predominantly from his website. It was well received in Germany, where he continues to have a huge following.
Another three years later, he signed a new deal with EMI Germany and his album Vanishing America, produced by Leslie Mandoki, was released. The album released before 9/11, dealt with his disillusionment with the lost values of America. The album was a collection of songs that told stories about people not realising their own beauty and full potential.
In 2005, Joshua relaunched his career on his self-run website "Radio Humanity". He has since then bought back his previous website address and relaunched it. The Venice Beach Sessions was released as a download only album in 2 parts including a track called "Over the sad songs" thought to be inspired by his recently dissolved relationship.
In 2006, EMI released Essential a collection which included tracks from all three full-length studio albums and three additional tracks (formerly b sides).
In 2007 Joshua continued to update his website with regular letters and toured Germany in the Spring.
In 2008 Joshua released the download only album "Return of the dragonfly" and toured Germany again. During the tour he announced that he will no longer be performing as a pianist and will be traveling to learn new instruments and that he plans to relaunch his career in the future with a brand new sound.
Paris
Joshua Kadison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He lived by the sea.
Watchin' himself gettin' older,
With no Family.
And Cassie was a pretty one,
A bartender by trade.
She had a daughter with big green eyes,
She called her Jade.
While Jade was on a swing.
On a bench underneath a tree,
They talked about everything.
And she said, Sometimes I get so scared,
But I don't know why.
She reached for the old man's hand,
And she began to cry.
And he said,
It ain't no crime,It ain't no crime...
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
It ain't no crime, It ain't no crime...
Everybody gets a little bit loney sometimes.
Then he said...
I was gonna be a painter,
Gonna paint my masterpeice.
I spent my whole life dreamin',
Now they're my only memories.
And I was gonna live in Paris, France
Now my body's fallin' apart.
I could be Pablo Picasso if Dillusion were in art.
And she said,
"That sounds lovely...Paris, France
Just sayin' those words,
Kinda makes me wanna dance,
Do you wanna dance?"
It ain't no crime,It ain't no crime...
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
It ain't no crime, It ain't no crime...
Everybody gets a little bit loney sometimes.
They'd meet there every Sunday
In the park at noon.
Ezra would get there early
To buy Jade a red balloon.
And Cassie'd tell him all about
Her awful luck with men.
She's say, "Wish I could find a guy like you
But they'll never make you again."
And Jade would fall asleep on Ezra's lap
There in the park.
While Cassie'd still be talkin' a long time after dark.
Everybody gets a little bit loney sometimes.
One Sunday afternoon,
No Ezra, no red balloon.
Just a friend of his who said,
"Ezra Passed Away.
And he wanted me to bring this letter to you today."
Well it was 2 tickets to Paris and a note that read,
'Thank you for the dance...
My dearest Cassie,
You were my Paris, France.'
It ain't no crime, It ain't no crime...
Everybody gets a little bit loney sometimes.
The song tells the story of two unlikely companions, an old man named Ezra and a young bartender named Cassie, as they meet in a park and form a connection that transcends age and personal backgrounds. Ezra is described as an old man who has lived by the sea with no family, while Cassie has a daughter named Jade whose father is no longer in the picture. Despite their differences, the two find comfort in each other's company as they meet every Sunday in the park and talk about their dreams, fears, and regrets.
In the chorus, Ezra reassures Cassie that feeling lonely is not a crime and that everyone experiences it at one point or another. He shares how he was once a dreamer who wanted to be a painter and live in Paris, but now his body is failing him and those dreams are just memories. Cassie, who is fascinated by the idea of Paris, shares her desire to dance in the city and asks Ezra to dance with her.
The song takes a tragic turn when Ezra passes away and leaves Cassie with two tickets to Paris and a note thanking her for being his "Paris, France." The lyrics are a reflection on the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing human connections, even if they are temporary.
Line by Line Meaning
Ezra was an old man
Ezra was an elderly man.
He lived by the sea.
He resided near the ocean.
Watchin' himself gettin' older,
With no Family.
As he aged, Ezra noticed that he had no relatives.
And Cassie was a pretty one,
A bartender by trade.
Cassie worked as a bartender and was attractive.
She had a daughter with big green eyes,
She called her Jade.
Cassie had a daughter named Jade who had large green eyes.
They met each other in the park,
While Jade was on a swing.
Cassie and Ezra encountered one another in the park while Jade played on a swing.
On a bench underneath a tree,
They talked about everything.
They sat on a bench under a tree and discussed many topics.
And she said, Sometimes I get so scared,
But I don't know why.
Cassie admitted to occasionally feeling frightened without knowing why.
She reached for the old man's hand,
And she began to cry.
Cassie held Ezra's hand and began to weep.
And he said,
It ain't no crime,It ain't no crime...
Ezra reassured Cassie that it is okay to feel lonely sometimes.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
Feeling lonely is a common experience for many people.
Then he said...
I was gonna be a painter,
Gonna paint my masterpeice.
Ezra shared that he had always dreamed of becoming a painter and creating a magnificent artwork.
I spent my whole life dreamin',
Now they're my only memories.
He spent his entire life fantasizing about his aspirations, and they are now all he has left to remember.
And I was gonna live in Paris, France
Now my body's fallin' apart.
Ezra once desired to reside in Paris, but he is now dealing with health problems.
I could be Pablo Picasso if Dillusion were in art.
Ezra imagines himself as a legendary artist like Picasso if talent could arise from delusions.
And she said,
"That sounds lovely...Paris, France
Cassie expressed admiration for Ezra's past dream of living in Paris.
Just sayin' those words,
Kinda makes me wanna dance,
Do you wanna dance?"
The mere mention of Paris fills Cassie with joy and prompts her to suggest they dance.
They'd meet there every Sunday
In the park at noon.
Cassie and Ezra would meet in the park every Sunday at midday.
Ezra would get there early
To buy Jade a red balloon.
Ezra arrived early to purchase a red balloon for Jade.
And Cassie'd tell him all about
Her awful luck with men.
Cassie would discuss her misfortune with men with Ezra.
She's say, "Wish I could find a guy like you
But they'll never make you again."
Cassie expressed her admiration for Ezra and regret that she is unlikely to find someone like him in the future.
And Jade would fall asleep on Ezra's lap
There in the park.
Jade would doze off while resting on Ezra's lap during their park visits.
While Cassie'd still be talkin' a long time after dark.
Cassie would continue to converse with Ezra long after nightfall.
Everybody gets a little bit loney sometimes.
Loneliness can affect anyone at times.
One Sunday afternoon,
No Ezra, no red balloon.
On one Sunday, Ezra was absent, and there was no red balloon in sight.
Just a friend of his who said,
"Ezra Passed Away.
Ezra had passed away, and a friend relayed this news to Cassie.
And he wanted me to bring this letter to you today."
Ezra's friend had a letter to give to Cassie.
Well it was 2 tickets to Paris and a note that read,
'Thank you for the dance...
My dearest Cassie,
You were my Paris, France.'
The letter contained two tickets to Paris and a message from Ezra thanking Cassie for the dance and declaring her his personal 'Paris, France.'
It ain't no crime, It ain't no crime...
Everybody gets a little bit loney sometimes.
The song reiterates that feeling lonely is not an unusual experience for anyone.
Contributed by Elena K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.