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)
Like A Rolling Stone
Judy Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan has been covered by many artists, but Judy Collin's version is equally powerful. The song is about a woman who was once considered the epitome of success, but now finds herself in a situation where she is struggling to survive. The woman in question was once wealthy and influential, but now she is homeless and has no direction.
Dylan's lyrics are meticulously crafted in this song, and the repetition of the powerful opening lines "Once upon a time you dressed so fine, Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?" set the tone of the song. The woman used to live a luxurious life, but now she is penniless and homeless. The song is a scathing commentary on society and the way it treats people.
The lyrics also touch upon the fact that we often take our successes for granted and don't realize what we have until it is gone. The woman in the song used to be carried around by a diplomat with a Siamese cat, but now she is on her own with no direction. The song is universally relatable, as everyone has experienced a time when they were on top of the world and then fell from grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
There was a time when you were well-dressed and wealthy
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
When you were at your best, you were charitable to those less fortunate
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
Others warned you that you were on a downward trajectory
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You believed they were joking and didn't heed their warnings
You used to laugh about
In the past, you found amusement in
Everybody that was hangin' out
The people you associated with
Now you don't talk so loud
You're no longer boasting or expressing yourself loudly
Now you don't seem so proud
You're no longer proud of your current state of being
About having to be scrounging for your next meal
The fact that you now have to search for your next meal
How does it feel
What is the sensation like
To be without a home
To not have a place to call 'home'
Like a complete unknown
Like a person completely unfamiliar to anyone
Like a rolling stone?
Like someone who wanders aimlessly without direction
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
You attended a prestigious school, but you're 'Miss Lonely'
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
You only indulged in alcoholic beverages while there
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
You were never prepared to live life as a homeless person
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You're discovering that you will have to become accustomed to your new way of life
You said you'd never compromise
You made a vow that you would never settle or make concessions
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
You said you'd never 'compromise' with the mystery tramp, but now you see things differently
He's not selling any alibis
The mystery tramp isn't trying to excuse his behavior or actions
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
As you look into his empty eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
Asking if he is willing to work out an arrangement with you
To be on your own
To have no support from others
With no direction home
With no clear sense of where to go
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
You didn't pay attention to the disapproving looks on the faces of those trying to entertain you
When they all come down and did tricks for you
When they tried to impress and entertain you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You failed to realize that it's not beneficial
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You shouldn't derive pleasure or enjoyment from others' actions
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
In the past, you took rides on a fancy motorcycle with your wealthy companion
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Your companion had a Siamese cat that he held on his shoulder
Ain't it hard when you discover that
Isn't it difficult to find out that
He really wasn't where it's at
Your companion wasn't able to offer what you thought he could
After he took from you everything he could steal
After he depleted you of all your resources
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
The elite and attractive members of society
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
They're consuming alcohol and believing they have it all
Exchanging all precious gifts
Swapping valuable presents
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You should sell your diamond ring to get by
You used to be so amused
In the past, you found things entertaining
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
You once found humor in a poor, ragged man who spoke differently
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
He is calling you and you have no choice but to answer
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
When you have nothing, you're not risking anything by taking chances
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
You are ignored or unnoticed and have nothing to hide
Contributed by Chase O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
T West
much better than I expected. love JUdy, she can sing anything! this is a tough one to sing though and I wasn't sure.............
Kab1
What a great song. Great piece of poetry too. I like Judy’s version best. She did a whole album of his covers. That’s the cover pictured: Judy Sings Dylan Just Like A Woman. The whole thing is so well done.
Bill white
The instrumental arrangement is a touch strident but good and muscular, and, can this woman sing!
Mike
I am a real Judy fan but I am not sure about her version of "Like A Rolling Stone". I met Judy in the summer of 1976 backstage at the Cape Cod Melody Tent with my little sister. I was 12 then. Just the three of us. She was very, very nice to us.
auramac
Love Judy, but not even Dylan has ever captured that perfect sound again. There's much more to the song than lyrics and music.
Eddie Solomons
Amen to everything You have said. XOXO
Kab1
God, I love this song. I love Judy’s version best.
Jumbofreddy
version " talking song"! original and very interesting!
The Glamazon Club
nobody does Dylan better
The Glamazon Club
OK Ms Lonely
nobody does Dylan better
How does it feel