Williams has garnered considerable critical acclaim but her commercial success has been moderate. She has a reputation as a perfectionist and as a slow worker when it comes to recording; six years passed between the release of her second and third albums. However, she frequently makes guest appearances on other artists' albums and contributes to compilations and soundtracks. She has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Leftover Salmon, and Steve Earle, among others. She has also opened concerts for artists such as Neil Young.
Early life
Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the daughter of poet and literature professor Miller Williams. Her father worked as a visiting professor in Mexico and Chile as well as different parts of the American South, before settling at the University of Arkansas. His daughter showed an affinity for music at an early age, and was playing guitar at 12.
Career
By her early 20s, Williams was playing publicly in Austin, Texas and Houston, Texas, concentrating on a folk-rock-country blend. She moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1978 to record her first album, for Smithsonian/Folkways Records. Titled Ramblin', it was a collection of country and blues covers. She followed it up in 1980 with Happy Woman Blues, which consisted of her own material. Neither album received much attention.
In the 1980s Williams moved to Los Angeles, California (before finally settling in Nashville, TN), where -- performing both backed by a rock band and in acoustic settings -- she developed a following and a critical reputation. Nevertheless, it was not until 1988 that Rough Trade Records released the self-titled Lucinda Williams. The single "Changed the Locks", about a broken relationship, received radio play around the country and gained fans among music insiders, including Tom Petty, who would later cover the song.
Its follow-up, Sweet Old World (Chameleon, 1992), was a melancholy album dealing with themes of suicide and death. Williams's biggest success during the early '90s was as a songwriter. Mary Chapin Carpenter recorded a cover of "Passionate Kisses" (from Lucinda Williams) in 1992, and the song became a smash country hit for which Williams received the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994.
Williams had garnered considerable critical acclaim, but her commercial success was moderate. Emmylou Harris said of Williams, "She is an example of the best of what country at least says it is. But, for some reason, she's completely out of the loop. And I feel strongly that that's country music's loss."
Williams also gained a reputation as a perfectionist and slow worker when it came to recording; six years would pass before her next album release, though she appeared as a guest on other artists' albums and contributed to several tribute compilations during this period.
The long-awaited release, 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was Williams' breakthrough to the mainstream. Containing the single "Still I Long for Your Kiss" from the Robert Redford film The Horse Whisperer, the album received wide critical notice and soon went gold. It received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. She toured with Bob Dylan and on her own in support of the album.
Williams followed up the success of Car Wheels with Essence (2001). This release featured a less produced, more stripped-down approach both musically and lyrically, and moved Williams further from the country music establishment while winning fans in the alternative music world. She won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Rock performance for the single "Get Right With God", an atypically uptempo gospel-rock tune from the otherwise rather low-key release. The title track was co-written and co-recorded with alternative country musician Ryan Adams.
Her seventh album, World Without Tears, was released in 2003. A musically adventurous though lyrically downbeat album, this release found Williams experimenting with talking blues stylings and electric blues.
In 2006, Lucinda recorded a version of the John Hartford classic "Gentle On My Mind," which played over the closing credits of the Will Ferrell filmTalladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Williams was a guest vocalist on the song "Factory Girls" from Irish punk-folk band Flogging Molly's 2004 album, "Within a Mile of Home", and appeared on Elvis Costello's The Delivery Man. She duetted with Steve Earle on the song "You're Still Standin' There" from his album I Feel Alright from 1996.
Williams released the album "West" on February 13, 2007, to mostly good reviews. The material is highly personal, chronicling the death of her mother and the breakup of a turbulent relationship.
Lucinda released her ninth studio album, "Little Honey", on October 14th.
One More Day
Lucinda Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To turn things around
Give me one more day
To get my feet on the ground
To dig in my heels
And settle down
Give one more day
To turn things around
Give me one more day
To come up with a plan
Give me one more day
To see if I can
Find my way
To come back again
Give me one more day
To come up with a plan
Give me one more day
To do the right thing
Give me one more day
To see what it'll bring
To have one more day
I would give anything
Give me one more day
To do the right thing
Give me one more day
To try my love
Give me one more day
It's been a couple of months
To place my bet
And win back your love
Give me one more day
To try my love
Give me one more day
To put up a fight
Give me one more day
To take back the night
I always danced
With all of my might
Give me one more day
To put up a fight
Give me one more day
To look in your eyes
Give me one more day
To make you realize
That I don't know what to say
When my soul flies
Give me one more day
To look in your eyes
Give me one more day
Just one more day
Give me one more day
The lyrics of "One More Day" by Lucinda Williams tell the story of someone asking for just one more day to make things right. The song is filled with a sense of longing and the desire to turn things around. The repeated phrase "give me one more day" is a plea for forgiveness and a chance to do better.
The first verse asks for one more day to get on solid ground and dig in their heels. The second verse expresses a desire to come up with a plan and find their way back. The third verse asks for one more day to do the right thing, and the fourth verse asks for one more day to try their love and win back someone's affection. The song crescendos with the final verse, asking for just one more day to put up a fight and make things right, to look in someone's eyes and let their soul fly.
Overall, the song is about the desire for redemption and the belief that one more day is all it takes to turn things around. It's a poignant reminder that life is short and every day counts, and sometimes all we need is just one more day to make things right.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me one more day
The singer is requesting more time to fix or resolve something.
To turn things around
The singer wants to use the extra day to change the current situation for the better.
To get my feet on the ground
The singer wants to use the extra day to find stability and balance.
To dig in my heels
The singer wants to use the extra day to become more determined and resolute.
And settle down
The singer wants to use the extra day to find peace and calmness.
To come up with a plan
The singer wants to use the extra day to strategize and figure out a way forward.
To see if I can
The singer wants to use the extra day to test their abilities and potential.
Find my way
The singer wants to use the extra day to discover a path or direction to follow.
To come back again
The singer wants to use the extra day to return to a previous state or relationship.
To do the right thing
The singer wants to use the extra day to make the correct decision or take the right action.
To see what it'll bring
The singer wants to use the extra day to find out the outcome of a situation or event.
I would give anything
The singer is willing to sacrifice or offer anything for one more day to make things right.
To try my love
The singer wants to use the extra day to prove their love and devotion.
It's been a couple of months
The singer is referring to a significant period of time that has passed.
To place my bet
The singer wants to use the extra day to take a risk or try their luck.
And win back your love
The singer wants to use the extra day to regain the love of someone.
To put up a fight
The singer wants to use the extra day to resist or oppose something that is against them.
To take back the night
The singer wants to use the extra day to reclaim control or power in a situation.
I always danced
The singer is referring to a past behavior or habit of theirs.
With all of my might
The singer is emphasizing that they put a lot of effort and energy into dancing.
To look in your eyes
The singer wants to use the extra day to gaze into someone's eyes, possibly for emotional connection.
To make you realize
The singer wants to use the extra day to help someone understand something important.
That I don't know what to say
The singer is admitting they are at a loss for words or unsure of how to express themselves.
When my soul flies
The singer is referring to a moment of intense emotion or feeling that is difficult to articulate.
Just one more day
The singer is reinforcing their plea for additional time to accomplish their goal.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LUCINDA GAYL WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@svenlandskron8356
Einer meiner absolutesten LIEBLINGSSONGS.
@donnamac8536
oh my...heart wrenching....one of my new favorites....I play this one over and over.....dear sweet Lu, you've done it again ! Your voice is so convincing...pure gold
@126ibew9
donna mac it really is a beautiful song
@dinagarcia2384
My cousin Valerie's song when she lost her son Gabriel. RIP Valerie & Gabriel, I love you & miss you!!! Till I see you again!! RIP my precious son Isaac Jacob Rodriguez mama loves you! ❤💋❤💋 💔💔💔😔
@juliansampson5275
My God !! This Beautiful lady is nothing short of a goddess!! God's gift to the Angel's in heaven !! I can well imagine that they stand I awe and respect of her when they hear her voice!! And I have no doubt that it could just be her a mic guitar and stool on a stage and she's captivating!! But those gentlemen in the band !! That's not talent! That's that's hell for lack of a better word! Worship! It's beyond skill!! And I don't know she might beat them and lock them in cages lol when noone is looking ! But I see love admiration graditude and respect in her eyes when she speaks of them or looks at them ! And they repay her tenfold every time they touch a string strike a chord hit a beat shake a rattle or caress a cymble!! Thanks to all of you and to everyone behind the scenes and the gentleman commenting! I have spent a great few hours working last night reflection of the past remembering my Momma's smile my Daddy cussing!! Lol
@JuneOHenley
Love this ♥️
@Stephen-zq2wf
YesterDay ... Today .. Tomorrow .. ForEver Lucinda !
@peterwaddington2224
This song will rip out your heart
@erinreed9023
Great song. Great players. I think I would like one more day too please. Thank you.
@karenbarrow4033
......as fine a song as one could hope to hear