Though born in Seattle, Washington (where she spent the first ten years of her life), she moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1949. As a child Collins studied classical piano with Antonia Brico, making her public debut at age 13 performing Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos. It was the music of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and the traditional songs of the folk revival of the early 1960s, that piqued Collins' interest and awoke in her a love of lyrics. Three years after her debut as a piano prodigy, she was playing guitar. She eventually made her way to Greenwich Village, New York City, where she busked and played in clubs until she signed with Elektra Records, a record label with which she was associated for 35 years. In 1961, Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22.
At first she sang traditional folk songs, or songs written by others, in particular the social poets of the time, such as Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Bob Dylan. She recorded her own versions of seminal songs of the period, such as Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Pete Seeger's "Turn, Turn, Turn". Collins was also instrumental in bringing then little known composers to a wider public; for example, she recorded songs by Canadian poet Leonard Cohen, and Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.
With her 1967 album Wildflowers, she began to record her own compositions, the first of which was entitled "Since You've Asked". This album also provided Collins with a major hit, and a Grammy award, with her version of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now", which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1968's Who Knows Where the Time Goes was produced by Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills & Nash), with whom Collins was romantically involved at the time (she is the "Judy" of the Stills-written CSN classic "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"). It had a mellow country sound, and included Ian Tyson's "Someday Soon" and the title track, a Sandy Denny song which has been covered by several artists.
By the 1970s, Collins had a solid reputation as an art song singer and folksinger. She had also begun to stand out with her own compositions. She was also known for her broad range of material: her songs from this period include the traditional gospel song "Amazing Grace", the Stephen Sondheim Broadway ballad "Send in the Clowns" (both of which were top 20 hits as singles), and her own compositions such as "My Father" and "Born to the Breed".
In 1979 she posed nude on the album "Hard Times For Lovers".
In more recent years, Collins has taken to writing, producing a memoir, "Trust Your Heart" in 1987, and two novels. Though her record sales are not what they once were, she still records and tours. One of her more recent albums is a collection of songs based on her novel Shameless. She performed at US President Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993, singing "Amazing Grace" and "Chelsea Morning". (The Clintons have stated that their daughter Chelsea was named after Collins' recording of the Joni Mitchell song.)
Activism
Like other folk singers of her generation, Collins was drawn to social activism. She is a representative for UNICEF and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines. Following the 1992 death of her son Clark Taylor at age 33 after a long bout with depression and substance abuse, she has also become a strong advocate of suicide prevention. Her 2003 book, Sanity & Grace, chronicles her recovery from her son's suicide and attempts to provide some comfort and guidance to other families dealing with the loss of a loved one to suicide. She describes the "Seven T's" as a means for going through this process of recovery: Truth, Therapy, Trust, Try, Treat, Treasure, and Thrive. The Truth is that there should be no guilt in suicide; Therapy helps people express their emotions and seek grief counseling; Trust is the effort to believe that one can make it through the loss and keep a belief in life and in the future; Try means to stay away from drugs and alcohol or any excess--including overeating--as a means to deal with the loss and pain; Treat means to take care of the mind, body, and spirit with exercise and meditation; Treasure means to keep the memory of the moments to be treasured, and for this Collins recommends writing and keeping a journal; and Thrive means to be positive, hopeful, open to love and others, and continuing to know that you can rebuild your life on a basis of hope.
Awards and recognition
Grammy Award, Best Folk Performance or Folk Recording, "Both Sides Now", 1968
Grammy Award, Song of the Year, "Send in the Clowns", 1975
Nominated with Jill Godmillow for an Academy Award for the documentary "Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman" (1975), about her classical piano instructor, conductor Antonia Brico.
Discography
Maid of Constant Sorrow (1961)
The Golden Apples of the Sun (1962)
Judy Collins #3 (1964)
The Judy Collins Concert (1964)
Judy Collins' Fifth Album (1965)
In My Life (1966)
Wildflowers (1967)
Who Knows Where The Time Goes? (1968)
Whales and Nightingales (1970)
Both Sides Now (1971)
Living (1971) (Live)
Colors of the Day (1972) (Greatest Hits)
True Stories, and Other Dreams (1973)
Judith (1975)
Bread and Roses (1976)
So Early in the Spring (1977) (15th anniversary collection)
Hard Times for Lovers (1979)
Running for My Life (1980)
Times of Our Lives (1982)
Home Again (1984)
Trust Your Heart (1987)
The Stars Of Christmas (Selected Especially For Avon) (1988)
Sanity and Grace (1989)
Fires of Eden (1990)
Baby's Bedtime (1990)
Baby's Morningtime (1990)
Judy Sings Dylan... Just Like a Woman (1993)
Come Rejoice! A Judy Collins Christmas (1994)
Shameless (1994)
Voices (1995)
Christmas at the Biltmore Estate (1997)
Forever: An Anthology (1997)
Both Sides Now (1998)
Classic Broadway (1999)
All on a Wintry Night (2000)
Judy Collins Live at Wolf Trap (2000)
Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy (2004)
The Essential Judy Collins (2004)
Portrait of an American Girl (2006)
Videography
Baby's Bedtime (1992)
Baby's Morningtime (1992)
Junior playing the operator of a home for unwed mothers opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger
Christmas at the Biltmore Estate (1998)
The Best of Judy Collins (1999)
Intimate Portrait: Judy Collins (2000)
Judy Collins Live at Wolf Trap (2003)
Wildflower Festival (2003) (DVD with guest artists Eric Andersen, Arlo Guthrie, and Tom Rush)
Bibliography
Trust Your Heart (1987)
Amazing Grace (1991)
Sanity and Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength (2003)
Cook with Honey
Judy Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smiling faces gathered round our dinner table
Close together, hand in hand
[Chorus]
I always cook with honey
To sweeten up the night
We always cook with honey
For some sweet love
Find in favor with your neighbor
Well, it can be so fine
Its easier than pie to be kind
We've been searching for so long
Now our house has turned into a home
[Chorus]
Well, our door is always open
And there's surely room for more
Cooking where there's good love
Is never any chore
Some come to get to know us
There'll be a place set just for you
Sweet wine before dinner
That is surely bound to soothe
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Judy Collins's song Cook With Honey depicts a warm and welcoming atmosphere of a family dinner where everyone gathers around the table holding hands with each other. The first verse talks about a muffin that is warm and a basket that is brown which signifies the homely and comforting environment. The sense of community and togetherness is beautifully portrayed through "smiling faces gathered round our dinner table close together, hand in hand". The chorus "I always cook with honey to sweeten up the night, We always cook with honey, Tell me, hows your appetite for some sweet love" emphasizes the importance of love and sweetness in our lives which is comparable to the sweetness of honey.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of being kind and considerate towards others, as it can have a huge impact on people's lives. It also illustrates the joy of having a loving atmosphere in one's home. The last verse talks about the door of the house always being open to welcome anyone and the pleasure of cooking for people with love. The imagery of sweet wine before dinner further adds to the warm and inviting atmosphere of the family gathering.
Overall, the song Cook With Honey by Judy Collins talks about the significance of love and familial togetherness. It encourages us to create an environment where one can be welcoming and kind to others, and instill a sense of community which can create a nurturing and comfortable atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
Muffin warm and basket brown
Our meal is warm and inviting, like freshly baked muffins and a cozy basket.
Smiling faces gathered round our dinner table
We are surrounded by happy loved ones, who are close and present at our mealtime.
Close together, hand in hand
We are all touching each other or holding hands, showing our closeness as a family or group.
I always cook with honey
In cooking and in life, I always try to add sweetness and warmth to everything I do.
To sweeten up the night
I aim to bring a touch of comfort and happiness to our evening together.
We always cook with honey
As a family or group, we consistently prioritize kindness and warmth in all that we do.
Tell me, hows your appetite
Are you open to receiving love and goodness? Let's make sure you're ready to enjoy our company and positivity.
For some sweet love
Let's all come together to share in the love and happiness we have to offer.
Find in favor with your neighbor
Being kind and courteous to your neighbors can provide wonderful benefits and create positive experiences.
Well, it can be so fine
Having a good relationship with neighbors and people around you can bring great joy and happiness to life.
Its easier than pie to be kind
Being kind and gentle with others isn't difficult and can come naturally. It simply takes a bit of effort and empathy.
We've been searching for so long
We've been striving for happiness, kindness, and warmth for a while now.
Now our house has turned into a home
Our space has become a true home now that we've filled it with love, family, and friends.
Well, our door is always open
We're always open and welcoming to new people and friends in our lives.
And there's surely room for more
We have space and love to share with new people, and welcome them into our space.
Cooking where there's good love
When surrounded by positive energy, love, and warmth, cooking can bring immense joy and satisfaction.
Is never any chore
When the environment is happy and positive, even tasks like cooking can become joyous and fulfilling.
Some come to get to know us
We invite others to come spend time with us, and get to know us and the warmth we have to offer.
There'll be a place set just for you
We will always make space for new friends and loved ones to join us, and welcome them with open arms.
Sweet wine before dinner
We like to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere by offering sweet wine or other enjoyable things before dinner.
That is surely bound to soothe
This act of kindness and warmth can help soothe any nerves or negative emotions, and bring people together in a peaceful and enjoyable way.
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Max Noone
Everytime I hear this song I feel the image of the summer of 1970 when Judy was cooking in the tiny kitchen of the cheap apartment she could just afford in Montreal. We were four or five people crowded into that room the size of a walk-in closet, making dinner. Steam from the pot cooking vegetables filled the space and we all were into beer and cheap wine with cigarettes drifting smoke. Then on the radio Judy Collins started singing Cook With Honey and I was transfixed into love. Love for Judy and life and all people and places. We can’t live those moment over but we can see and feel them in our minds eye when we are triggered by such beautiful, loving music.
Max Noone
@occiaballa Thank YOU. The summer of ‘70 was beautiful.
occiaballa
What a beautiful comment! Thank you
O Really?
What a wonderful wonderful ❤ song..
Randall Koch
I haven't heard this song in the longest time. Just a feel good song.
deepfriedsammich
In 1973 I was 10 years old. I remember hearing this song on the AM radio. It was (still is) one of my favorites. Judy Collins has a wonderful voice.
Jane Sellman
always loved this song and just about everything else she has recorded
bill cooke
This is such a joyous song; I always want my family around , when I hear this. Is there any chance that u-tube can get Judy's version of "Spanish is the Loving Tongue?"
Gagazoot
Cook with Honey is one of my all times favorite songs from Sweet Judy Blue Eyes Collins...she has a lovely voice...
Jen
Love this song