Richards grew up in San Francisco, the daughter of Ted and Teresa Richards, stars of the underground comics revolution. Her father created The 40 Year Old Hippie; her mother was one of the founding editors and contributors of Wimmin’s Comix in the 1970’s. “Growing up, I got the message that if you do what you love to do, money will follow, just not a lot of it.” It was a very Bohemian upbringing to put it lightly.
Richards played in school bands, but never considered music as a profession until her senior year of high school, when fate offered a unique hand. Her best friend began dating Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and Hammett taught Richards a few songs on guitar. “As soon as I knew how to play, I started writing and everything just clicked. Eventually I got a piano to expand my musical repertoire.”
Richards recorded her first demo in Hammett’s basement studio. Dave Deresinski, the then manager of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, passed the recording along to singer Anton Newcombe, who asked Richards to sing with the group. Shortly thereafter, Ondi Timoner began filming the BJM for her seminal documentary DIG! (2004). In one scene, a hiker observed the all white-clad members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and friends gathered on a mountain top location. “Excuse me,” he asked, “is this a cult or a photo shoot?” Miranda ------then candidly replied, “Honestly sir, I don’t know the answer to that question.”
Richards had since moved down the coast to LA to further pursue a music career. “I played clubs and open mics while I worked odd jobs and made demos. A mutual friend introduced me to Rick Parker (producer/musician who went on to work with BRMC and The Von Bondies), and we’ve been working together ever since.” After recording a few sets of demos, she signed with Virgin, and began tracking her debut, The Herethereafter.
The Herethereafter (credits include Jon Brion and David Campbell) enjoyed critical acclaim, and over 40 film and TV licenses that allowed her to continue playing music full time. Since it’s release, Miranda has collaborated in the studio with Tricky, Tim Burgess (Charlatans), Neil Halstead (Mojave Three), Joe Firstman, and The Shore. She joined The Jesus and Mary Chain for the West Coast leg of their 2007 tour, singing duets with Jim Reid on “Sometimes Always” and “Just like Honey.” In the fall of 2007, she toured the UK in support of a vinyl single called “Life Boat” on Sonic Cathedral; in early 2008, she supported Tim Finn (Crowded House), and in late August she supported Neil Halstead, both on solo acoustic tours. The Early November EP was released digitally November 4, 2008 on Nettwerk Records; the full-length sophomore effort, Light of X, is due for worldwide release February 10, 2009.
Light of X is moody and introspective, the kind of music to play while you’re getting dressed up at night, sitting by the phone, and waiting for it to ring. The album fairly shimmers with folk, country, psychedelic, and even classical influences. Richards and Parker assembled a top-notch group of players including Eva Gardner (Mars Volta, Tim Burgess) on bass; main drummer Keith Mitchell (Mazzy Star); Ben Peeler (Wallflowers, Shelby Lynne) on pedal steel, and Josh Schwartz (Beachwood Sparks) on guitar. Rick Parker produced, engineered, mixed the record, and played guitar; Richards composed the material including string arrangements, and played acoustic guitar, piano, and organ.
As a songwriter, Richards has an uncanny knack of finding the diamonds in the dust of every day life and the relationships within. She’s able to look at an average moment and describe it in a way that transforms it into something much more powerful, a talent evident on every tack of Light of X. The album balances Richards’ beautiful, close to the heart vocals, with music that has the wide open, spacious feel of a desert sky or an empty church. Call it Ambient Americana, or Richards’ self coined term ‘Psychedelic Chamber Folk Rock’ if you like, Light of X is an album full of love and loss, desolation and salvation, both moody and comforting.
“Courtney Taylor from the Dandy Warhols calls my genre ‘Pixie Fairy Dust Chick Music,’” Miranda Lee Richards laughs, from her home in Los Angeles. “But I think another fitting description for Light of X might be ‘Psychedelic Chamber Folk Rock.’”
Dandelion
Miranda Lee Richards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play the game with every blow you bring
Dandelion don′t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion
One o'clock, two o′clock, three o'clock, four o'clock, five
Dandelion don′t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion
Tho' you′re older now its just the same
You can play the dandelion game
When you're finished with your childlike prayers
Well, you know you should wear it
Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailors lives
Rich man, poor man, beautiful, daughters wives
Dandelion don′t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion
Little girls and boys come out to play, yes
Bring your dandelions to blow away
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion
Blow away dandelion
Blow away dandelion
Blow away dandelion
Dandelion
The song "Dandelion" by Miranda Lee Richards is a nostalgic tribute to childhood and the simplicity of life. The opening lines, "Prince or pauper, beggar man or thing, play the game with every blow you bring" encourages listeners to take life as it comes and embrace the game of life, regardless of one's position. The dandelion flower is used as a symbol throughout the song, with the lyrics praising its honesty ("Dandelion don't tell no lies") and wisdom ("Dandelion will make you wise"). The flower is also used as a call to action to blow away life's troubles and worries, and to embrace the joy and freedom of youth.
The song's lyrics suggest that the dandelion represents a connection to childhood and innocence, as it invites both "little girls and boys" to play with it. By referencing the traditional nursery rhyme, "One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock, five," Richards highlights the universal experience of being a child, with the dandelion game being a simple pleasure shared by all. However, the lyrics also conveys the message that this childlike simplicity can still be enjoyed in adulthood, as the line "Tho' you're older now it's just the same, you can play the dandelion game" suggests.
Overall, "Dandelion" is a beautiful, evocative song that celebrates the joy of childhood and the freedom of youth, while also acknowledging the possibility of recapturing that magic in adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
Prince or pauper, beggar man or thing
No matter who you are, engage in life with enthusiasm and resilience.
Play the game with every blow you bring
Keep pushing forward and don't give up, no matter what obstacles you face.
Dandelion don′t tell no lies
The innocent dandelion is a symbol of honesty and purity.
Dandelion will make you wise
By contemplating the simple beauty of nature, we can gain profound insights into life.
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Pay close attention to the signs of life, such as the emotions of those around you.
Blow away dandelion
Let go of your worries and let the wind carry them away.
One o'clock, two o′clock, three o'clock, four o'clock, five
Time doesn't matter when you are living in the moment and enjoying the beauty of the world.
Tho' you′re older now its just the same
As we grow older, we should retain our sense of wonder and joy in life.
You can play the dandelion game
We can still find delight in the simple pleasures of life, no matter how old we are.
When you're finished with your childlike prayers
When we outgrow our childish desires, we should wear them with pride as a badge of innocence.
Well, you know you should wear it
Embrace your inner child and don't be afraid to show it to the world.
Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailors lives
No matter what path we choose in life, we are all bound together by our shared humanity.
Rich man, poor man, beautiful, daughters wives
Social status and appearance are unimportant, as we all face the same challenges and joys in life.
Little girls and boys come out to play, yes
We should never lose our childlike sense of playfulness and wonder.
Bring your dandelions to blow away
Share the simple pleasures of life with others and spread joy wherever you go.
Writer(s): Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.