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
Nobody Knows My Name
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've lay upon the Lake Victoria
I was winged and many colored
And nobody knew my name
For a thousand years
I fell out of the sand into Guadeloupe
And I made many songs into the air
I fell like water in sweet gasps of hydrogen
Up the sea over Bikini Islands and I
Dove into liquid concrete of sweet silver lake
The liquid concrete of down by the river
And nobody knew my name
Now, I walk among them and I sing to them
And I open up my wrists and nobody knows my name
And I translate into many hours of history
But nobody knows my name
I stood in the four winds, I stood in the four winds
I stood in the four winds but nobody knows my name
So I walk again, yeah, I walk every night
So I walk again, I look at you, sweet every face
Do you know my name
Do you, do you know my name
Do you know my name
Do you know my name
Say it, do you know my name
Say it, do you know my name
Do you know my name, do you know my
Do you know my name, do you know my, my
The lyrics to the song "Nobody Knows My Name" by Rickie Lee Jones are a complex and enigmatic exploration of identity and the human experience. Throughout the song, the singer describes various transformations and journeys they have undergone, but despite all of these experiences, nobody knows their name.
The first stanza describes the singer's existence for a thousand years, during which they were winged and many colored, yet nobody knew their name. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the countless lives that have gone unnoticed and unacknowledged throughout history, highlighting the fleeting and transient nature of human existence.
The second stanza speaks to the many songs the singer made into the air after falling into Guadeloupe, yet again, nobody knew their name. The third stanza describes the singer's journey, falling like water and diving into liquid concrete, and emphasizes the same theme of obscurity and anonymity despite their presence and existence in the world.
Finally, in the last stanza, the singer walks among people, singing to them and opening up their wrists, but still, nobody knows their name. The repeated phrase "Do you know my name" emphasizes the desire for recognition and acknowledgment, for the singer to be seen and heard, but ultimately questioning whether it even matters in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, the lyrics to "Nobody Knows My Name" are open to interpretation, but they seem to invite reflection on the value of individual identity and the impact we make on the world, even if we remain unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
For a thousand years
For an impossibly long span of time
I've lay upon the Lake Victoria
I resided on the shores of Lake Victoria
I was winged and many colored
I possessed unique qualities and was vividly diverse
And nobody knew my name
Yet I remained a mystery to everyone
I fell out of the sand into Guadeloupe
I originated from the sand and emerged in Guadeloupe
And I made many songs into the air
I expressed myself through my music
Now, I walk among them and I sing to them
Presently, I interact with society and share my musical artistry
And I open up my wrists and nobody knows my name
Despite revealing a vulnerability, I still remain unfamiliar to others
And I translate into many hours of history
My existence and influence span across generations
But nobody knows my name
Yet recognition eludes me
I stood in the four winds, I stood in the four winds
I stood steadfast in the face of change and uncertainty
So I walk again, yeah, I walk every night
I continue to persevere, despite challenges and obstacles
Do you know my name
I question if my identity is known by others
Say it, do you know my name
I am insistent on receiving recognition from those around me
Do you know my name, do you know my
I continue to inquire if my name and legacy is acknowledged
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bernard Frank Larsen, Peter Carl Atanasoff, Rickie Lee Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felice Marie Berkley
on It Must Be Love
One of my fav. songs..!
Felice Marie Berkley
on Comin' Back To Me
Very pretty song.