Rickie Lee Jones (born November 8, 1954) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning… Read Full Bio ↴Rickie Lee Jones (born November 8, 1954) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer from the United States. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards. Rickie Lee Jones is a singer songwriter whose style leans on jazz and pop/R&B timing and personification.

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

Play With Fire
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, you've got your diamonds and you've got your pretty clothes
And the chauffeur drives your car
You let everybody know
But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Your mother she's an heiress, owns a block in Saint John's Wood
And your father'd be there with her
If he only could

But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Your old man took her diamond's and tiaras by the score
Now she gets her kicks in Stepney
Not in Knightsbridge anymore
So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Now you've got some diamonds and you will have some others
But you'd better watch your step, girl
Or start living with your mother

So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Overall Meaning

Rickie Lee Jones's song Play With Fire is a warning to a woman of high society, who flaunts her wealth and status through her expensive clothes, diamonds, and cars. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the extravagances the woman has acquired and how she parades them around, making sure everyone is aware of them. But then the chorus comes in, and the singer warns her not to play with him because she is playing with fire.

The second verse introduces the woman's mother, who is an heiress and owns a block in Saint John’s Wood, while the father would be there with her if only he could. However, this verse also highlights the fact that the woman's mother lost her wealth to her old man, and now she finds pleasure in Stepney, not in Knightsbridge anymore. The chorus repeats itself as a warning to the woman not to mess with the singer since she is playing with fire.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, you've got your diamonds and you've got your pretty clothes
You have material wealth and nice things to show off to others.

And the chauffeur drives your car
You have enough money to pay for a driver to take you places.

You let everybody know
You flaunt your wealth and are not shy about sharing it with others.

But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
Don't try to mess with me or take advantage of me because you might get burned.

Your mother she's an heiress, owns a block in Saint John's Wood
Your mother comes from a wealthy family and owns a valuable property in a desirable location.

And your father'd be there with her
If he could, your father would also be enjoying the wealthy lifestyle with your mother.

If he only could
However, for some reason, he is not able to be with her.

But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
Don't mess with me because you might regret it.

Your old man took her diamond's and tiaras by the score
Your father took many of your mother's valuable possessions, such as jewels and fancy head coverings.

Now she gets her kicks in Stepney
Now your mother finds enjoyment in a less wealthy area of town.

Not in Knightsbridge anymore
She no longer spends time in the upscale location she used to frequent.

So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
Don't try to mess with me or take advantage of me because it won't end well for you.

Now you've got some diamonds and you will have some others
You have some wealth now and will likely accumulate more in the future.

But you'd better watch your step, girl
You should be careful about how you use your wealth and how you treat others.

Or start living with your mother
You could end up in a bad situation if you don't change your ways.

So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
Don't mess with me or you'll regret it.

So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
Again, don't try to mess with me because it's not worth the consequences.

Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Nanker Phelge

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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