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
Satellites
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are twinned in a fugitive mind
Friends should stay together and
Light the world with the fugitive kind
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Walking satellites
She laughs satellites
A room filled with satellites
Ah, walking satellites
We were born forever
Tunneled into the fugitive night
Friends must stay together
Code the world with the fugitive light
I just saw you walking
Ice was reading fortunes by the moonlight
Casting runes on the rooftops and alleys
You'll never read it more than you will tonight
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Don't quit, you're walking satellites
Walking satellites
She laughs satellites
A room filled with satellites
Ah, walking satellites
The lyrics of Rickie Lee Jones's song Satellites contain an exploration of the theme of friendship and the human desire for connection, as well as the idea that as humans we are all alone yet connected, individuals yet part of something larger. The first verse conveys the idea that as humans, we are connected to one another even though we are individuals, with the phrase "We were born forever / We are twinned in a fugitive mind." The fugitive mind refers to the idea that we are all seeking something or running from something, and that we are linked by our common desires and fears. The verse ends with the notion that friends must stay together and "Light the world with the fugitive kind," meaning that friendship can help us find connection and purpose even in our alienation.
The second verse builds on this idea by referencing the concept of communication, which allows us to understand and connect with one another across barriers of language and culture. The lines "So you keep talking in many languages / Telling us the way you feel" refer to the power of communication to bridge the gaps between us, and encourage us to keep reaching out and sharing our thoughts and feelings with others. The verse ends with the refrain "Don't quit, you're walking satellites," which reinforces the idea that we are all connected and moving forward together, like satellites in orbit around the earth.
Overall, the song Satellites is a heartfelt and poetic exploration of the human need for connection and the power of friendship and communication to address that need. Its imagery and themes are both evocative and universal, inviting the listener to reflect on their own experiences of loneliness, isolation, and the quest for meaningful connection.
Line by Line Meaning
We were born forever
We are eternal beings, existing without end
We are twinned in a fugitive mind
Our minds are connected and united in a state of elusiveness or escape from something
Friends should stay together and
Maintaining friendships is important and valuable
Light the world with the fugitive kind
Spread light in the world with those who are elusive or running away from something
So you keep talking in many languages
You communicate your thoughts and emotions using a variety of languages
Telling us the way you feel
You express your emotions to us
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Continue to trust your path and share your experiences with others
Don't quit, you're walking satellites
Do not stop moving forward, you are explorers and wanderers
She laughs satellites
She happily explores and wanders like a satellite
A room filled with satellites
There are many explorers and wanderers in this space
Ah, walking satellites
We are explorers and wanderers, always on the move like satellites
Tunneled into the fugitive night
We are immersed in the elusive or escaping darkness
Friends must stay together
Maintaining friendships is crucial and necessary
Code the world with the fugitive light
Spread light in the world with those who are elusive or running away from something
I just saw you walking
I recently witnessed you exploring
Ice was reading fortunes by the moonlight
The icy landscape was mysterious and magical, providing insight and intuition
Casting runes on the rooftops and alleys
Using divination techniques to predict the future
You'll never read it more than you will tonight
The insights gained tonight will be unmatched
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BRYON GLYNNE JONES, CATHERINE MAREE KELLEHER, MICHAEL DI FRANCESCO, NICHOLAS ROUTLEDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Skippyspeanutbuttercups59
We were born forever
We are twinned in a fugitive mind
Friends should stay together and
Light the world with the fugitive kind
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Don't quit, you're walking satellites
Walking satellites
She laughs satellites
A room filled with satellites
Ah, walking satellites
We were born forever
Tunneled into the fugitive night
Friends must stay together
Code the world with the fugitive light
I just saw you walking
Ice was reading fortunes by the moonlight
Casting runes on the rooftops and alleys
You'll never read it more than you will tonight
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Don't quit, you're walking satellites
Walking satellites
She laughs satellites
A room filled with satellites
Ah, walking satellites
trww2
We were born forever
We are twinned in a fugitive mind
Friends should stay together and
Light the world with the fugitive kind
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Don't quit, you're walking Satellites
I just saw you walking
Ice was reading fortunes by the moonlight
Thinks he could not tell you
You'll never read more than you will tonight
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop confiding in the road you're on
Don't quit, you're walking Satellites
Ah, Satellites!
A room filled with Satellites
Ah, Satellites!
Ah, walking Satellite
We were born forever
Tunneled into the fugitive night
Friends should stay together
Code the world with the fugitive light
Oh, I just saw you walking
Ice was reading fortunes by the moonlight
Casting runes on the rooftops and alleys
You'll never read more than you will tonight
So you keep talking in many languages
Telling us the way you feel
Don't stop, I'll know the road you're on
Don't quit, you're walking Satellites
Satellites!
A room filled with Satellites
Satellite light
She walks with Satellites
Walking Satellites
Satellites
Patrice Catanio
There is no-one like her. She is an American Treasure!
Kit Carson
Yes...We belong together.....♥️
Tanya Frizzell
Yessss😊✌🏾❤
Arnieus
You nailed it. She is a unique writer, performer and person.
Kevin Fitzmaurice-Brown
She is a treasure for all. Not just America.
Fog
Incredible how Walter Becker's contribution as a producer is tangible here. The soprano sax was his idea and mix perfectly with the song. Great, great work.
ofthedarknessthemoonlight
I didn't know he produced this! Thanks for telling us. I think he was incredibly gifted. I worship Steely Dan.
IronMan93
This song wouldn't be too out of place in his 1994 album 11 Tracks of Whack.
crazyelf62
Her harmonies with her own lead vocals are some of the most sublime ever recorded. Juke Box Fury blows me away too.
yeo it dik
Seconded