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
Reason To Believe
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing that you lied straightfaced while I cried
Still I'd look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live
Without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
If I gave you time to change my mind
I'd find a way to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straightfaced while I cried
Still I'd look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live
Without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
And never think of myself
Rickie Lee Jones's song Reason To Believe is a melancholic reflection on how difficult it is to let go of someone we love, especially when we know that love was not honest. The first verse starts with the singer acknowledging that she could be convinced that the relationship was real if she listened to the other person long enough. Despite the other person lying to her face as she cried, she still searches for a reason to believe in the partnership. The chorus further implies that being with someone who we know is not truthful is difficult but also encourages us to easily give ourselves up without thinking of ourselves.
The second verse depicts the singer at a point where she is ready to let go of the past and move on with her life. However, she knows that if she gave her former partner a chance to change her mind, they would probably deceive her again. Even with the knowledge that the previous love was not sincere, the singer yearns for a reason to continue believing in the relationship. The song is both introspective and vulnerable, speaking to the complexity and pain of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
If I listened long enough to you
Despite your lies, if I listened to you enough, I might start to believe what you say is true.
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
After repeated exposure to your lies, I might trick myself into believing that they are the truth.
Knowing that you lied straightfaced while I cried
Acknowledging that even in the face of my emotional distress, you maintained your deceitfulness.
Still I'd look to find a reason to believe
Despite knowing that you cannot be trusted, I continue to search for hope and a reason to trust in you.
Someone like you makes it hard to live
Without somebody else
I find it difficult to exist without the support of others because of my experiences with someone like you.
Someone like you makes it easy to give
And never think of myself
Your manipulative nature makes me want to give all of myself without regard for my own well-being.
If I gave you time to change my mind
If I allowed myself to consider the possibility that you have changed, despite history suggesting otherwise.
I'd find a way to leave the past behind
If I were convinced that you have changed, I might be able to move past the hurtful experiences we've shared.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TIM HARDIN
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.