Jones settled in LA at the age of nineteen, doing the classic waiting tables stuff until she landed a recording contract with Warners. Her self-titled debut album in 1979 was a big success, as was the single, Chuck E.'s in Love, about her musician friend Chuck E. Weiss. At the 1980 Grammy Awards, she won a Grammy for Best New Artist, and also received four more nominations: for Record of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female; and Song of the Year (for "Chuck E.'s in Love"). While none of her subsequent recordings achieved the same level of commercial success, Jones has continued releasing critically acclaimed albums that have explored a variety of sonic terrain from jazz standards to trip hop influenced works.
Jones' pursuit of jazz standards led to the recording of "The Moon Is Made of Gold" and "Autumn Leaves" for Rob Wasserman's album Duets in 1985. The latter track earned her another Grammy nomination. And in 1990, her duet with Dr. John, a cover of "Makin' Whoopee", earned the artist her second Grammy Award, this time in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group.
At the time of recording her debut album, Jones was in a romantic relationship with Tom Waits; she is the girl draped over the car on the cover of his 1978 album Blue Valentine.
Early in her career, Jones was known for her drinking and substance abuse. She eventually tempered those demons, and came to terms with herself, and her own uncertain spirituality, and has maintained respect of her musical peers.
She's devoted to her talents, beyond music, one of which is raising her teenage daughter, and has even run her own political website and made music critiquing the Bush administration. She is involved in left-wing politics and community activism, partly through her web community, Furniture for the People (http://www.furnitureforthepeople.com/).
A greatest hits collection on Rhino called The Duchess of Coolsville was released in 2005.
In 2007 she signed to New West Records releasing The Sermon On Exposition Blvd, a record exploring lyrical territory inspired by Lee Cantelon's 1991 book The Words, which attempted to translate Christ's teachings into a more accessible contemporary format. Cantelon's friend, Guitarist Peter Atanasoff was instrumental in the creation of the eventual record.
Discography
1979: Rickie Lee Jones – Warner Bros.
1981: Pirates – Warner Bros.
1983: Girl at Her Volcano (EP) – Warner Bros.
1984: The Magazine – Warner Bros.
1989: Flying Cowboys - Geffen
1991: Pop Pop - Geffen
1993: Traffic From Paradise - Geffen
1995: Naked Songs - Reprise
1997: Ghostyhead – Warner Bros.
2000: It's Like This - Artemis
2001: Live at Red Rocks - Artemis
2003: The Evening of My Best Day – V2
2005: Duchess of Coolsville - Rhino
2007: Sermon On Exposition Boulevard - New West
2009: Balm in Gilead
Comin' Back To Me
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The winter looked the same as if it never had gone
And through an open window where no curtain hung
I saw you
I saw you
One begins to read between the pages of a book
Through the rain upon the trees that kisses on the run
I saw you
I saw you
Comin' back to me
You can't stay and live my way
Scatter my love like leaves in the wind
You always say that you won't go away
But I know what it always has been
It always has been
A transparent dream beneath an occasional sigh
Most of the time I just let it go by
Now I wish it hadn't begun
I saw you
I saw you
Comin' back to me
Strolling the hills overlooking the shore
I realize I've been here before
The shadow in the mist could have been anyone
But I saw you
I saw you
Comin' back to me
Small things like reasons are put in a jar
Whatever happened to wishes wished on a star
Was it just something that I made up for fun
I saw you
I saw you
Comin' back to me
In these lyrics, Rickie Lee Jones describes the feeling of reminiscing on a past love who unexpectedly resurfaces. The opening lines lament the passing of time, as the summer seemed to linger too long and the winter didn't feel like it ever truly left. Through an open window, she catches a glimpse of the person she thought she had left behind. Despite trying to move on, she can't help but be drawn back to them, "comin' back" to her once again.
The second verse adds detail to her thought process, as she reads a book and becomes entranced by the "sleepy music" within. She sees beauty in the rain and kisses on the trees, before again being interrupted by thoughts of the person returning to her life. She recognizes that they can't coexist if they don't share the same values and way of life, but still struggles with the idea of letting go. The final verse describes a familiar setting by the shore, where she realizes that the shadow in the mist could have been anyone, but it is the thought of this person that keeps coming back to her.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer had inhaled and held its breath too long
Summer lasted for a long time.
The winter looked the same as if it never had gone
Winter seems like it never ended.
And through an open window where no curtain hung
Through an open window with no covering.
I saw you
I saw you through the window.
One begins to read between the pages of a book
One starts to delve deeper into the book's meaning.
The shape of sleepy music and suddenly you're hooked
The soothing music captivates you.
Through the rain upon the trees that kisses on the run
Raindrops fall on the trees as they sway in the wind.
I saw you
I saw you again.
Comin' back to me
Returning to me.
You can't stay and live my way
You can't continue to live with me.
Scatter my love like leaves in the wind
You are leaving and taking my love with you.
You always say that you won't go away
You always promise you won't leave.
But I know what it always has been
I know you always leave.
A transparent dream beneath an occasional sigh
A fleeting dream that only happens sometimes.
Most of the time I just let it go by
Most of the time, I don't pay much attention to it.
Now I wish it hadn't begun
Now I wish I never had this dream.
Strolling the hills overlooking the shore
Walking through hills with a view of the ocean.
I realize I've been here before
I realize I've visited this place previously.
The shadow in the mist could have been anyone
A shadow in the fog that could be anyone.
But I saw you
But I saw you in the shadow.
Comin' back to me
Returning to me.
Small things like reasons are put in a jar
Minor things will be put to the side.
Whatever happened to wishes wished on a star
What happened to making wishes on stars?
Was it just something that I made up for fun
Was it a made-up game for entertainment?
I saw you
I saw you again.
I saw you
I saw you again.
Comin' back to me
Returning to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marty Balin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felice Marie Berkley
Very pretty song.
@SOSEnergie1966
The saddest song I know. Rickie is just amazing. I wrote my thesis in musicology about her works. But still I have no clue what makes her, her voice and music so special...
@nellymoriarty_5783
Cool she is most beautiful soulful artist & lucky to have been Tom Waites girl Beautiful Absolutely
@nellymoriarty_5783
Soul just Soul
@Leeman...
Sweet soul pain
@elizabethreed5648
She's Welsh and Irish (???) Idk, guessing, if that's something.
@elizabethreed5648
Hey, is thesis published? How can I read it? Sounds like a good read.
@jellyrollnorton
Amazing video — the photographs fit the song perfectly.
@michaelobrien8219
One of the timeless jewels from Surrealistic Pillow by the Jefferson Airplane - 1967
@ardalla535
I can't believe I did not know that Rickie Lee covered this song. All these years. I owe you my life.