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
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And on your own
How did it feel
To be alone?
I was always thinking
Of games that I was playing.
Trying to make
The best of my time.
But only love
Can break your heart
Try to be sure
Right from the start
Yes only love
Can break your heart
What if your world
Should fall apart?
I have a friend
I've never seen
He hides his head
Inside a dream
Someone should call him
And see if he can come out.
Try to lose
The down that he's found.
But only love
Can break your heart
Try to be sure
Right from the start
Yes only love
Can break your heart
What if your world
Should fall apart?
I have a friend
I've never seen
He hides his head
Inside a dream
Yes, only love
Can break your heart
Yes, only love
Can break your heart
The lyrics to Rickie Lee Jones’s song Only Love Can Break Your Heart are a reflection on the vulnerability that is inherent in love. The first verse addresses the feelings of being alone, which many experience when they are young and first exploring their independence. The singer describes how she was always thinking of the games she was playing, trying to make the best use of her time. However, the chorus of the song suggests that only love can truly break one’s heart, and urges listeners to be sure of their feelings from the start or risk falling apart should their world collapse.
The second verse describes the singer’s friend, who has retreated into his own dream world, and suggests that someone should try to encourage him to come out of his shell and try to lose the sadness that has enveloped him. The final chorus reiterates the message that only love can break your heart, implying that it is love that can lead to the greatest pain and heartbreak.
Overall, the song is a poignant meditation on the risks and rewards of falling in love, and a warning to be cautious and thoughtful when giving one’s heart away.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were young
Back when you were younger
And on your own
And without any support or help from anyone else
How did it feel
What was the experience like for you
To be alone?
Being by yourself without anyone else around
I was always thinking
My mind was always occupied
Of games that I was playing.
With various activities that I was participating in
Trying to make
Attempting to create or achieve
The best of my time.
The most of the time I had available
But only love
However, it is only love
Can break your heart
That can cause you great emotional pain
Try to be sure
Be certain
Right from the start
From the beginning of anything
What if your world
If your life
Should fall apart?
Were to fall apart or fail completely?
I have a friend
I know someone
I've never seen
That I have never met
He hides his head
He keeps to himself
Inside a dream
Within his own thoughts or imagination
Someone should call him
Somebody ought to reach out to him
And see if he can come out.
And check if he is willing to socialize or interact with people
Try to lose
Attempt to overcome
The down that he's found.
The negative emotion or situation that he has encountered
Yes, only love
Indeed, it is only through love
Can break your heart
Wherein our heart can feel injured or damaged
Yes, only love
It is only love that
Can break your heart
Can cause a person to feel emotional pain in the heart
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ManagerGuy1
Great song by a great stylist who knows how to deliver this touching lyric. Loved it!
Art Sanchez
Listening to RLJ is like sitting at the oceanside just watching the waves come and go, in perfect harmony and timing...for me.
Brad Bland
Lost my wife 5 months ago. I listen to here all day. She would be the only one that feels and sings right now the way I'm stubbling through life. I go somewhere safe but vulnerable whenever listening to her own wrightings and interpretations, her feelings remind me how I feel through this grief. I never feel alone when listening to her music. She's the best and has lived obviously through many heartbreaks. She's my comfort at this fork in the road.
mudhens4ever
Beautiful rendition of a wonderful, sorrowful tune!
Charlie Shumar
Beautiful. I might like this better than the original.
Blues 345
Fantastic version!!
Recipe Hacker
Great cover of my fav Neil Young tune, that kills me to, 1973 live version with CSNY
L. Man
This rendition is fantastic she made it her own again .I wish someone would repost walk away Renee again.
Dan Stevens
RLJ is the voice of wounded vulnerability. Singular, hypnotic, unnerving.
Ron McCarthy
Oh OK. Through a song she can take you places that you didn't know existed within or without yourself. She will always own a piece of me