Her eponymous debut album was released to major acclaim in 1971 and was followed two years later by Heart Food. She recorded demos for a third album in 1974 and they were released in 2005 under the title Dreams Come True.
Sill was heavily influenced by Bach's metric forms and suites, while lyrically her work drew substantially on Christian themes of rapture and redemption.
Judee's father and brother both died in separate incidents when Judee was quite young. Her mother's subsequent marriage to Tom and Jerry animator Kenneth Muse was marked by heavy drinking, and this, combined with her rebellious nature, drove her away from home and into a life of crime and drug use in her teens.
Having learned her signature gospel-inflected keyboard style during her incarceration for writing bad checks, Sill kicked her heroin addiction and decided to pursue songwriting. Now a talented pianist, organist and guitarist, Sill returned to the West Coast where she encountered Graham Nash and David Crosby (touring with them for a time as their opening act) and David Geffen who offered her a contract with his nascent label. Her albums were received well by critics but found little commercial success. Judee struggled with drug addiction during phases again following a car accident and its resulting physical pain and dropped out of the music scene and died of a drug overdose in November of 1979.
It was through Geffen that she met Graham Nash, who quickly became a fan, and produced the first single for her album, "Jesus Was a Cross Maker." The rest of Judee Sill was orchestrated and produced by Bob Harris, Sill's ex-husband. Judee Sill was released in 1971 to immediate acclaim. Lushly orchestrated, the album featured Sill's voice in multiple overdubs, often in a four-part chorale or fugue. The album fit in well with the light rock/folk-rock underpinnings of what came to be known as the "Laurel Canyon sound" associated with other female singer-songwriters such as Carole King and Joni Mitchell (Mitchell, also signed to Asylum, was at work on Ladies of the Canyon at the time). A tour as the opening act for Nash and David Crosby exposed her intimate songwriting and skillful guitar playing to a larger audience, but her record failed to make much of an impact, despite the somewhat heavy airplay of "Jesus Was a Cross Maker." A self-professed perfectionist, one song could often take her a year to write, and it wasn't until late 1972 that Sill returned to record and release her second and last album, Heart Food. It too received enthusiastic reviews but did poorly commercially. Sill took over the chores of both orchestrating and arranging Heart Food, with the production relying more heavily on multilayered strings and lush expanse. Unable to draw a sizable crowd yet unwilling to play as a support act, Sill's name and moderate fame both receded, and she disappeared from view entirely. Rumors abound as to what happened next, although it is definitely known that she returned to her heroin addiction as well as becoming heavily involved with cocaine. Graham Nash has said that he learned as early as 1974 that Sill had died of an overdose, a claim that would later prove to be incorrect, but considering how closely the two had worked only a few years earlier it does illustrate just how completely Sill had dropped out by this time.
Her first success was the selling of her song "Lady-O" to The Turtles. Long after her death, she has been lauded by many musicians, including Jim O'Rourke who mixed the posthumous collection of unreleased material, Dreams Come True. Her two original albums have been reissued as a double CD with a number of live recordings and demos as bonus tracks.
The Vigilante
Judee Sill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I always find him where his heart is, he's fightin' the good fight,
He smells the scent of trouble and prepares to leave,
He's got his eyes on the horizon, reachin' higher,
He's got his eyes on the horizon, and his boots on his feet.
When I was stranded at the crossroads it was dismal and grey,
And when I asked him for directions he showed me the good way,
Because his heart is always faithful, reachin' higher
Because his heart is always faithful to the captain he serves.
So when the storm of deception is roundin' the bend
Y'know the vigilante's watchin', and he won't let it in.
Tho' I have seen him climbin' mountains with so heavy a load
He always lends a helpin' hand and he walks on the good road,
It often makes me wonder how he wins with such ease,
But then he keeps his vigil constant, and he's aimin' to please
So when illusion's approachin' and danger is nigh,
Y'know the vigilante's watchin' and he won't let it by.
I've seen him fight the fiercest foe until its forces divide,
Cuz he's the fairest of them all and he chooses the good side,
So when the tempters tease and try to make him unsure,
Y'know the fires of war are burnin', reachin' higher,
Y'know the fires of war are burnin', but his weapons are pure
So when the clouds of confusion can creep into view
Y'know the vigilante's watchin', and he won't let 'em thru.
I see the vigilante watchin' in the deep o' the night,
I always find him where his heart is, he's fightin' the good fight,
He smells the scent of trouble and prepares to leave,
He's got his eyes on the horizon, reachin' higher,
He's got his eyes on the horizon, and his boots on his feet.
He's watchin' 24 hours a day.
The song "The Vigilante" by Judee Sill tells the story of a vigilant person who is always on the lookout for danger, ready to fight the good fight, and protect those in need. The vigilante's dedication and faithfulness are highlighted in the lyrics as they are always prepared to face any obstacle that comes their way. The vigilant person's heart is always faithful to the captain they serve, and they will not let any storm of deception or cloud of confusion come their way. The vigilante is represented as being on the move constantly; with their boots on their feet and their eyes on the horizon, always reaching higher.
The imagery used in the song creates a sense of strength and protection. When the singer is lost, it is the vigilant person who shows them the way. When the singer is stranded, it is the vigilant person who lends a helping hand. The vigilant person in this song is a symbol of someone who is always there to guide the lost, help the weak, and fight the good fight. The song highlights the importance of being vigilant in our everyday lives, standing up for what is right, and fighting for justice.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the vigilante watchin' in the deep o' the night,
The vigilante is always on guard, even at nighttime.
I always find him where his heart is, he's fightin' the good fight,
The vigilante fights for what he believes in and where his heart is.
He smells the scent of trouble and prepares to leave,
The vigilante is able to sense danger and knows when to act to prevent it.
He's got his eyes on the horizon, reachin' higher,
The vigilante is always looking ahead and striving for better.
He's got his eyes on the horizon, and his boots on his feet.
The vigilante is always ready for action and willing to go the distance.
When I was stranded at the crossroads it was dismal and grey,
The singer was lost and without direction when they encountered the vigilante.
And when I asked him for directions he showed me the good way,
The vigilante is able to offer guidance and support to those in need.
And if the sky is swirlin' still his pace never swerves
The vigilante remains steadfast in the face of adversity and chaos.
Because his heart is always faithful, reachin' higher
The vigilante's actions are motivated by a strong moral compass and desire to do good.
Because his heart is always faithful to the captain he serves.
The vigilante is dedicated to a higher purpose and follows their moral code.
So when the storm of deception is roundin' the bend
When the threat of falsehood approaches, the vigilante is ready to act.
Y'know the vigilante's watchin', and he won't let it in.
The vigilante is vigilant and will not let lies and deceit take hold.
Tho' I have seen him climbin' mountains with so heavy a load
The vigilante is able to overcome great obstacles to achieve their goals.
He always lends a helpin' hand and he walks on the good road,
The vigilante is committed to being a force for good and helping others along the way.
It often makes me wonder how he wins with such ease,
The singer is impressed with how the vigilante consistently achieves their goals.
But then he keeps his vigil constant, and he's aimin' to please
The vigilante is always alert and working to make the world a better place.
So when illusion's approachin' and danger is nigh,
When there is a threat of danger or deception, the vigilante springs into action.
Y'know the vigilante's watchin' and he won't let it by.
The vigilante is always on guard and will not let harmful forces pass unnoticed.
I've seen him fight the fiercest foe until its forces divide,
The vigilante is able to take on even the most difficult of challenges and emerge victorious.
Cuz he's the fairest of them all and he chooses the good side,
The vigilante always works for the greater good and what is right.
So when the tempters tease and try to make him unsure,
The vigilante is vulnerable to temptation, but always makes the right choices.
Y'know the fires of war are burnin', reachin' higher,
Even in times of conflict, the vigilante remains committed to doing what is right.
Y'know the fires of war are burnin', but his weapons are pure
The vigilante always fights with moral certainty and a good heart, even in the face of danger.
So when the clouds of confusion can creep into view
When confusion and chaos arise, the vigilante is ready to take action.
Y'know the vigilante's watchin', and he won't let 'em thru.
The vigilante is vigilant and will not let dangerous forces take hold.
He's watchin' 24 hours a day.
The vigilante is always on guard, even when others are not.
Writer(s): JUDEE SILL
Contributed by Nathan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.