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
Dat Dere
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what's that doing there?
Hey mama, up here!
Mama, hey look at that over there!
And what's that doing there?
And where're they going there?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
And what's he doing there?
Mummy, up here!
Mummy, can I go over there?
Hey mummy, what is square?
And where do we get air?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
Quit talking!
There's no more anything here!
Forever to manage to know who and why and where!
Quit that, child!
Sometimes the questions get filed!
And mummy can I have that big elehpant over there?
Don't want to comb my hair
And where's my teddy bear?
Mummy, up here!
Look at the cowboy coming there!
And can I have a pair
Of boots like that to wear?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
Time will march
Days will go
And little baby's going to grow
I gotta tell her what she needs to know
I'll help her along
And she'll be strong
And she'll know right from wrong
As life's parade goes marching by
She's gonna need to know some reasons why
I don't have all the answers
But I'll try the best as I can
I'll make him a man, that's right
'Cause you give the kid your best
And hope she passes the test
And I find it so hard I taught him well ***
Somewhere though she's going I betting I never will forget ***
Mummy, can I have that big elephant over there?
Hey why they do that there?
And how you put that there?
Hey mummy, up here! Hey mummy, what that say up there?
Hey mummy, what is fair?
How come I have to share?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there? (3x)
In “Dat Dere,” Rickie Lee Jones sings from the perspective of a child, with streams of questions and intuitions invading her consciousness. The baby’s numerous inquiries are directed towards her mother, always beginning with the words “Mama” and “Hey.” She wants to know everything, including the origins and purposes of objects in her environment. She also asks for things she wants, like a big elephant, but gets reprimanded by her mother for asking too much. Jones sings the song in a child-like, skipping melody, backed by a jazz quartet.
The lyrics to “Dat Dere” convey the insatiable curiosity and eagerness to learn of a child, while highlighting their innocence and vulnerability. The child’s yearning to grow up and understand the world around her is said to be “as life’s parade goes marching by,” indicating that as time passes, the desire to learn more and the search for answers does not diminish. However, the mother also reassures the child that she will help her along, and teach her right from wrong, so she can grow up to be a strong person with a moral compass.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey mama, what's that there?
The child is curious about what they're seeing for the first time and asks the mother to explain.
And what's that doing there?
The child asks for an explanation of what an object is doing in a specific place.
Hey mama, up here!
The child calls out to the mother for attention and to answer their questions.
Mama, hey look at that over there!
The child points out to the mother what they are looking at and asks for an explanation.
And where're they going there?
The child is curious about the destination of people in sight and asks the mother about it.
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
The child desires to have ownership of a particular object and asks the mother for permission.
Who's that in my chair?
The child is curious about the person occupying their seat and asks the mother to identify them.
And what's he doing there?
The child asks for an explanation of the reason the person is occupying their seat.
Mummy, up here!
The child continues to ask for the mother's attention and answer their questions.
Mummy, can I go over there?
The child desires to explore and is asking for permission.
Hey mummy, what is square?
The child is curious about shapes and asks the mother to explain what a square is.
And where do we get air?
The child expresses curiosity about where we get air to breathe and asks the mother to explain.
Quit talking!
The mother is growing frustrated with the child's excessive questioning and tells them to stop talking.
There's no more anything here!
The mother indicates that she has answered all of the child's questions and there is nothing left to explain.
Forever to manage to know who and why and where!
The mother acknowledges the child's curiosity and the reality that there is always more to know and learn.
Quit that, child!
The mother tells the child to stop asking so many questions and to give her a break.
Sometimes the questions get filed!
The mother acknowledges that some of the child's questions may not have answers or may not be relevant.
Don't want to comb my hair
The child expresses their dislike of having their hair combed.
And where's my teddy bear?
The child is looking for their stuffed animal and asks the mother for help locating it.
Look at the cowboy coming there!
The child points out and expresses excitement over the sight of a cowboy approaching.
And can I have a pair, Of boots like that to wear?
The child desires a specific type of footwear and asks the mother for permission to obtain them.
Time will march, Days will go
The mother reflects on the passage of time and how quickly it passes by.
And little baby's going to grow
The mother reflects on her child's growth and eventual maturation.
I gotta tell her what she needs to know, I'll help her along
The mother acknowledges her responsibility to teach her child important life lessons and guide her as she grows.
And she'll be strong, And she'll know right from wrong
The mother expresses her hope that her child will develop strength and a keen sense of morality as she matures.
As life's parade goes marching by
The mother reflects on the passage of time and the way in which life moves forward like a parade.
She's gonna need to know some reasons why
The mother acknowledges that her child will have many questions and a deep curiosity about the world around her.
I don't have all the answers, But I'll try the best as I can
The mother admits that she doesn't have all the answers but assures her child that she will do her best to help her understand the world.
I'll make him a man, that's right
The mother expresses her hope to raise her child to become a responsible and mature adult.
'Cause you give the kid your best
The mother acknowledges the effort and love that goes into raising a child.
And hope she passes the test
The mother expresses her desire for her child to succeed in life and overcome any obstacles.
And I find it so hard I taught him well, Somewhere though she's going I betting I never will forget
The mother is proud of the job she has done raising her child, but acknowledges that there will be challenges in the future as her child grows and ventures out into the world.
Hey why they do that there?
The child continues to express their curiosity and asks for an explanation for what they're seeing.
And how you put that there?
The child again expresses curiosity about how something was put in its current location or position.
Hey mummy, what that say up there?
The child points to something they see and asks the mother to explain what it says.
Hey mummy, what is fair?
The child is curious about the concept of fairness and asks the mother to explain.
How come I have to share?
The child expresses frustration or confusion about why they have to share resources with others.
Lyrics © GOPAM ENTERPRISES INC
Written by: BOBBY TIMMONS, OSCAR, JR BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
colesseloc
Hey mama, what's that there?
And what's that doing there?
Hey mama, up here! Mama, hey look at that over there!
And what's that doing there?
And where're they going there?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
Who's that in my chair?
And what's he doing there?
Mummy, up here!
Mummy, can I go over there?
Hey mummy, what is square?
And where do we get air?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
Quizzical kid!
She doesn?t want anything here
Just forever to manage to know who what why or where!
Inquisitive child!
Sometimes the questions get wild!
Like mommy can I have that big elephant over there?
Don't wanna comb my hair
And where's my teddy bear?
And Mamma, hey
Look at the cowboy coming there!
And can I have a pair
Of boots like that to wear?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
Time will march
Days will go
And little baby's going to grow
I gotta tell her what she needs to know
I'll help her along
And she'll be strong
And she'll know right from wrong
As life's parade goes marching by
She's gonna need to know some reasons why
I don't have all the answers
But I'll try to do what I can
We?ll make a plan
you give the kid your best
And hope she?ll pass the test
And finally send her out into the world somewhere
and though she's grown up I bet I never will forget
Mummy, can I have that big elephant over there?
Hey why they do that there?
And how you put that there?
Hey mummy, up here! Hey mummy, what that say up there?
Hey mummy, what is fair?
How come I have to share?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
QualeQualeson
Unique, unpredictable and super charismatic artist. I was watching another jazz singer, and not knowing too much about what goes into it, I was marvelling at how she combined some really high level technical stuff with a playful, almost careless demeanour. So asked in the comments and someone told me that exactly this expression is among the highest ideals in jazz and jazz vocals. It's "the cool", and Rickie Lee Jones has it coming out of her ears.
Kevan Rice
I am in love
BooHissRecords
@lray1234 100%
lray1234
Well said, this song is incredible difficult to sing, just even from a lyrical perspective, but the tempo, the swing phrasing, and she just makes it sound like no big deal. ..
Lin Ross
smiling widely Thoroughly enjoyed this jazzy joint!. Oh, that Rickie! She's a unique presence in her time.
Nelly Moriarty_
Best rendition because Ricky Lee is so phenomenal and soulful Absolutely Beautiful Everyone
greg chick
Rickie is a goddess. Timeless, beautiful, original, thank you Rickie..
Lynz261
wow, that is so cool. loved it. Love her. It's like the essential mom song, I can totally relate. I lost touch with RLJ's music some time back. Just recently I stumbled across her book, reading it now for 2nd time and it is a world reopening experience, It's affected me like her music always did, I've laughed out loud, I've cried, and thought a lot, it's takes me into a world I grew up in but had long forgotten, and I gotta say I miss those times, just didn't realize how much I did and how much I missed music made by artists, and this artist in particular. I highly recommend the book to all generations not just boomers. The name is "Last Chance Texaco, the chronicles of an American troubadour" So I am searching for every song from every album I missed(making a Christmas wish list as well) and rediscovering the great Rickie Lee Jones.
jung li
Guess what, I started ballet thus year, and my teacher looks exactly like her now
jung li
I bought the audiobook, now I'm with u guys