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
Hi-Lili Hi-Lo
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On every tree there is a bird
singing a song of love...
On every tree there is a bird
and every one I'd ever heard
Could brake my heart without a word
singing a song of love...
The song of love is a sad song
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
The song of love is a song of woe
Don't ask me why I know
The song of love is a sad song
For I have loved and it's so
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo Hi lo
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo Hi lo
Hi Lili Hi Lili...... Hi lo
The song of love is a sad song
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
The song of love is a song of woe
Don't ask me why I know
The song of love is a sad song
For I have loved and it's so
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo Hi lo
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo Hi lo
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
The song "Hi-Lili Hi-Lo" is written and performed by Rickie Lee Jones. As the title suggests, the song seems to be about a love that is both high and low, represented by the lyrics "Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo." The lyrics "On every tree there is a bird, singing a song of love" convey the idea that love is all-encompassing and eternal, like the song sung by every bird on every tree. However, the lyrics also reveal the downside of love, with the line "Could brake my heart without a word, singing a song of love" suggesting the possibility of heartbreak and pain that comes with loving.
The song also emphasizes the theme of sadness and woe in love. The lyrics "The song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so" and "The song of love is a song of woe" convey a sense of melancholy and heartache. The repetition of the phrase "Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo" throughout the song adds to the bittersweet sentimentality of the lyrics and reinforces the idea of the highs and lows of love.
Overall, "Hi-Lili Hi-Lo" is a poignant song about the beauty and pain of love. The lyrics reveal the complexity and depth of the emotions that come with loving, a theme that is explored in many of Rickie Lee Jones's songs.
Line by Line Meaning
On every tree there is a bird
Everywhere around us there are singing birds perched on trees.
singing a song of love...
These birds sing a song of love that is full of emotions.
On every tree there is a bird
There is a bird on every tree creating a beautiful melody.
and every one I'd ever heard
I've heard every bird's song and they all have the ability to break my heart.
Could brake my heart without a word
The bird's melody is able to express a whole range of emotions, including heartbreak, without ever using words.
The song of love is a sad song
The love we experience can sometimes bring us sadness and pain.
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
The words Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi Lo symbolize the melody of the song of love being referenced.
The song of love is a song of woe
Love can often lead to experiences of sorrow and grief.
Don't ask me why I know
I have experienced this sorrow and pain myself, so don't question why I'm saying this.
For I have loved and it's so
I know the pain of love because I have experienced it first-hand.
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo Hi lo
The repetition of Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi Lo Hi Lo represents the cyclical nature of love's ups and downs.
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
The refrain Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi Lo further emphasizes the melancholic nature of the song of love.
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo Hi lo
The repetition of Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi Lo Hi Lo at the end of the song reinforces the idea of love's repetitive cycle.
Hi Lili Hi Lili Hi lo
This final repetition intensifies the mournful nature of the song of love.
Lyrics © ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Barbara Schiavina
Wonderfull
GW Vaughan
finally pop pop appears on you tube. happy days! thankyou
Vonnie Knight
You're welcome! I love Pop Pop!
Sandross Alba
Excellent. Robin Trower on guitar, who on accordion/bandoneon?
chan kwon park
@Hideki Nakane good gob man
Hideki Nakane
Robben Ford on guitar
Dino Saluzzi on bandoneon
Sandross Alba
Cheers for the information Hideki Nakane.