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)
Song For Sarajevo
Judy Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I reach out my hand touching death itself
just another holy day in Sarajevo
Hiding from the planes and from the bombing
Fire in the sky burning down my life
There is no more love no more longing
I dream of flowers on the hill
I dream I see my mother smiling
When I close my eyes I dream of Peace
Once my mother sang to me and held me
Then the fire came falling from the sky
There is no one left who can protect me
Feeding on the dreams of all the children
War's an evil bird flying in the dark
Every holy promise has been broken
I dream of Peace
I dream of flowers on the hill
I dream I see my mother smiling
When I close my eyes I dream of Peace
You are tall and strong and I am just a child.
Can't we live in a peace stop the flowing blood
Make a blessed world where I can be a child.
Do you dream of Peace?
Do you dream of flowers on the hill?
Do you dream you see your mother smiling?
When you close your eyes do you dream of Peace?
You have struggled here in Sarajevo
Courage you have shown to the watching world
We have prayed and wept for Sarajevo
Children dance again in Sarajevo
Now the sun can shine
Now the birds can sing
Let the peace continue, Sarajevo
Do you dream of Peace?
Do you dream of flowers on the hill?
Do you dream you see your mother smiling?
When you close your eyes do you dream of Peace?
The song "Song For Sarajevo" by Judy Collins is a poignant and heart-wrenching tribute to the innocent victims of war, particularly those in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the chaos and destruction that engulfed the city, with the singer describing the fear, pain, and hopelessness of those caught in the crossfire. The opening line of the song, "There's no where to hide, no where I can go," speaks to the feeling of helplessness and vulnerability that many must have experienced during the conflict. The singer's descriptions of the planes and bombing, the fire in the sky, and the broken promises of peace all serve to underscore the devastating impact of war on civilians.
Throughout the song, the singer also expresses a longing for peace and for the simple joys of life that have been lost amidst the violence. The references to dreaming of flowers on the hill and seeing her mother smiling when she closes her eyes convey a sense of innocence and nostalgia that has been shattered by the war. Yet even in the face of such tragedy, the singer maintains a sense of optimism and faith in humanity, as demonstrated in the final lines of the song, "Children dance again in Sarajevo/ Now the sun can shine/ Now the birds can sing/ Let the peace continue, Sarajevo."
Overall, "Song For Sarajevo" is a moving tribute to the victims of war and a call for a lasting peace that can bring hope and healing to even the most devastated communities.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no where to hide, no where I can go
With bombs falling and destruction all around, there is no safe place for me to go or hide.
I reach out my hand touching death itself
The constant threat of death and destruction is always present, and I feel it reaching out to touch me.
just another holy day in Sarajevo
The war-weary citizens of Sarajevo have grown accustomed to the constant danger and destruction, making it just another regular day for them.
Hiding from the planes and from the bombing
The citizens are forced to constantly hide in fear from the planes and bombs targeting their city.
Fire in the sky burning down my life
The destruction caused by bombs and planes fills the sky, destroying everything and everyone in its path.
There is no more love no more longing
The constant state of war has destroyed all feelings of love and longing for a peaceful life in the citizens of Sarajevo.
I dream of Peace
Despite the destruction and chaos, the singer holds onto a dream of peace.
I dream of flowers on the hill
The artist's dream of peace includes the simple beauty of nature, with flowers blooming on a peaceful hill.
I dream I see my mother smiling
The artist's dream of peace also includes the happiness and joy of seeing their mother smile again.
When I close my eyes I dream of Peace
The artist finds solace in dreaming of peace when reality is filled with destruction and violence.
Once my mother sang to me and held me
The singer remembers their mother's love and comfort from a time before war and destruction consumed their life.
Then the fire came falling from the sky
Suddenly, their peaceful life was shattered as bombs began falling from the sky.
There is no one left who can protect me
The singer has lost all sense of safety and protection, with no one left to guard them against the violence of war.
Feeding on the dreams of all the children
The ongoing war steals the innocent dreams of children, who are forced to grow up too quickly and face the horrors of war.
War's an evil bird flying in the dark
The singer poetically describes war as a dark, ominous presence that looms over their lives like a sinister bird of prey.
Every holy promise has been broken
The promises of peace and unity have been shattered by the reality of war and destruction.
You are tall and strong and I am just a child.
The artist recognizes their own vulnerability in the face of war, feeling small and helpless compared to the adults around them.
Can't we live in a peace stop the flowing blood
The singer pleads for an end to the violence and destruction in order to live in peace and stop the bloodshed.
Make a blessed world where I can be a child.
The singer longs for a peaceful world where they can live like a carefree child again, unburdened by the trauma of war.
Do you dream of Peace?
In an appeal to the listener, the artist asks if they, too, share the dream of a peaceful world.
You have struggled here in Sarajevo
The artist acknowledges the hardships and struggles faced by the citizens of Sarajevo during the war.
Courage you have shown to the watching world
Despite the adversity, the artist commends the bravery and resilience displayed by the people of Sarajevo to the world.
We have prayed and wept for Sarajevo
The singer, along with others around the world, has prayed and grieved for the suffering endured by Sarajevo during the war.
Children dance again in Sarajevo
As the war subsides, the artist highlights the return of simple joys and pleasures such as children dancing in the streets.
Now the sun can shine
With the end of the war, the singer celebrates a new beginning and the return of hope, as symbolized by the shining sun.
Now the birds can sing
As life after war resumes, the singer celebrates the return of simple pleasures and the music of the natural world.
Let the peace continue, Sarajevo
The singer encourages the continuation of peace in Sarajevo, as it emerges from the destruction and violence of war.
When you close your eyes do you dream of Peace?
As the song ends, the artist once again asks the listener to reflect on their own dream of a peaceful world, and the hope for a future without the trauma of war.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JUDY COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Unchainedverse
@Tobias.333
My entire comment was about the "Christmas" song comment, that was the ONLY reference to help educate the person.
Now to respond to your tangential offshoots:
Sorry, history and reality are not on your side. You can not pull fake facts out of your ass. You are as horrible as the holocaust deniers. Trying to sugar coat and cover up what really happened. You did not win anything in that war and you do not get to re-write history as you see fit. Too many have suffered and died for you to insult them with your fake agenda of ignorance. What you have proven so far (to me, and to those that read this) is that you fail to use proper logic when reading comments and understanding their context. Purposely misdirecting into a tangent to push your ignorant agenda. The other thing you have proven to all of us is that you refuse to accept the full truth of what happened. So, please, for the sake of ALL the kids take your ignorant insulting mindset and keep it to yourself.
Claw Finger
so beautiful... shame i didn't hear it before as I was in it in the Christmas time of 1994... chills....
hearing the song and remembering what it was like and what we dreamed of...
thank you...
Thomas Lucia
"...I dream I see my mother smiling"...a simple sentence; a sentence that renders you heartbroken and blinded by tears for the most sacred and safest of havens...
Vako Nako
Unfortunately, First Time I heard this song... and I am/was there 94, scary memories... it brought tears to my eyes from deep within... thank you for this remarkable everlasting melody and heartbreaking lyrics... even-though I don't celebrate Christmas...
Cynthia Abbott
This is my favorite Christmas song!
canewton88
What bought me here is what just happen to Haiti to its president then the earthquake then Afghanistan...and the music video I remember was a lot of kid's drawings of bombs airforce planes guns all war then flowers , smiles and rainbows as a hope for peace /antiwar ....the music video is old in my head but I always picture Syria( but now im older now and I now know at the time it was for Bosnia
Unchainedverse
@Tobias.333
My entire comment was about the "Christmas" song comment, that was the ONLY reference to help educate the person.
Now to respond to your tangential offshoots:
Sorry, history and reality are not on your side. You can not pull fake facts out of your ass. You are as horrible as the holocaust deniers. Trying to sugar coat and cover up what really happened. You did not win anything in that war and you do not get to re-write history as you see fit. Too many have suffered and died for you to insult them with your fake agenda of ignorance. What you have proven so far (to me, and to those that read this) is that you fail to use proper logic when reading comments and understanding their context. Purposely misdirecting into a tangent to push your ignorant agenda. The other thing you have proven to all of us is that you refuse to accept the full truth of what happened. So, please, for the sake of ALL the kids take your ignorant insulting mindset and keep it to yourself.
Tobias.333
@Unchainedverse I agree with what you are saying when speaking of a Christmas song. I think Judy Collins published it in her Christmas album to remind the west of the suffering in the former Yugoslavia, especially at Christmas time, when everyone starts thinking in an altruistic and naive manner. So, this song isn't about Christmas, it's about reminding those in times of happiness that not everyone is so lucky, as was the case for children in BiH, Croatia and Kosovo in the 1990s.
Also, there is NO way you can compare the holocaust to the Bosnian war in terms of atrocities executed by political party. BOSNIAKS WERE NOT THE ONLY ETHNICITY TO SUFFER ETHNIC CLEANSING! Look at what happened to Croats in Slavonia, Lika and Dalmatia, Posavina and Central Bosnia. Look at what happened to Serbs in Eastern Bosnia and Kninska Krajina. Ethnic cleansing was committed by ALL parties. Just because Serbs were the first to commit such violence, it does NOT mean that they did not suffer, especially the children. At no time in the holocaust did Jews genocide and ravage German villages. The same thing can not be said for Bosniaks against Bosnian Serbs and Bosnian Croats.
Unchainedverse
@Tobias.333 Re-read the original posters comment about it being a "Christmas" song. Based on what you said originally, it shouldn't be about a specific faith. If you use your own logic, you should be talking to OP, not me.
Calling it a "Christmas" song is an insult to those that suffered ethnic cleansing by the Serbs (who were Orthodox Christians). Like I said, use logic next time and properly asses the circumstance and context of what is being said.
That's like telling the holocaust victims that "all children suffered" and to "honor" them we'll play a nice song but we'll label it a "Nazi party" song.
Tobias.333
@Unchainedverse I'm not at ALL saying that Serbs weren't the initial aggressors of the Bosnian War. They unquestionably were. But, that doesn't change the fact that children are children, and their innocence and longing for peace surpass any ethnic or religious categorization. The atrocities were committed by matured soldiers, not children. This song was written in honour of the children of the former Yugoslavia, who could not help or control what was happening around them. Judy Collins partnered with UNICEF to help showcase the colossal Balkan tragedy. She travelled to both Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and met with children of ALL ethnicities who suffered.
Fumihiko Hatada
I want people of all over the world to hear this song.