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
Seventh Day
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are light as air
If you believe
You will fly
There is no tear that is stronger than
The faith that's in your eye
Broken there by the sin
And all my friends who drink my wine
They're all drunk again
We can make another world
Another life
We can make it out of you
Another world
Your eye is the brightest star
Your heart is the sea
Nothing in the universe
Means more than what you mean to me
And another day
We can have another life
Another world
Make it out of clay
We can make a sweeter night
A sweeter night
Listen child
We can have a softer day
Listen, listen child
Listen listen
A softer day
One where you'll be safe
Why won't you listen child
Come one listen child
We can make it outta here
We can make it out of this
Another night
And on the seventh day
To the seventh day
Listen child
The seventh day
Child
The seventh day
Child, child, child
The seventh day
Child...
The seventh day
The song "Seventh Day" by Rickie Lee Jones is an introspective and spiritual song with themes of faith, hope, and renewal. The first stanza of the song invites the listener to believe in themselves and their abilities. The repetition of the phrase "If you believe" creates emphasis and highlights the importance of believing in oneself. The second stanza touches on the vulnerability and pain that the body can experience with lines such as "Look now at my body, broken there by the sin." The next stanza gives hope and an invitation for the listener to create a new world and a better life for themselves with the lines "We can make another world, another life. We can make it out of you, another world."
The phrase "On the seventh day" is repeated throughout the song and refers to the biblical account of creation where God rested on the seventh day. The song suggests that the seventh day is a day of rest and renewal where one can reflect on their life and start anew. The final stanza of the song is an invitation for the listener to listen and create a softer and safer world for themselves.
Overall, the song Seventh Day is a call to believe in oneself and the power to create a new and better world.
Line by Line Meaning
If you believe
Having faith in yourself is key
You are light as air
Believing in yourself makes you feel weightless and free
If you believe
It's important to keep trusting yourself
You will fly
Believing in yourself will help you achieve great things
There is no tear that is stronger than
No obstacle is stronger than faith and determination
The faith that's in your eye
The confidence and certainty you have in yourself
Look now at my body
Examining herself introspectively
Broken there by the sin
Feeling damaged and flawed due to mistakes she's made
And all my friends who drink my wine
Her friends are taking advantage of her
They're all drunk again
Her friends are not helping her overcome her problems
We can make another world
We have the power to create a better life for ourselves
Another life
A new way of living and being
We can make it out of you
We can use our own selves to make this change happen
Another world
A new and improved reality
Your eye is the brightest star
Your inner light and strength shine bright
Your heart is the sea
Your emotions and feelings are vast and deep
Nothing in the universe
No external force or factor
Means more than what you mean to me
Nothing is more important than you and your worth
And another day
Another opportunity
We can have another life
We can start anew
Another world
A new and improved reality
Make it out of clay
We have the power to create and shape our own path
We can make a sweeter night
We can turn difficult times into something positive
A sweeter night
A more enjoyable experience
Listen child
Pay attention and take advice
We can have a softer day
We can create a more peaceful and easygoing day
Listen, listen child
Emphasizing the importance of paying attention to messages
A softer day
A more comfortable and relaxed day
One where you'll be safe
A day where you feel secure and protected
Why won't you listen child
Encouraging someone to take advice
Come one listen child
Urging someone to pay attention
We can make it outta here
We can escape our current situation
We can make it out of this
We can overcome our struggles
Another night
Another chance to start anew
And on the seventh day
Referencing the biblical story of creation
To the seventh day
Paying tribute to this important day
Listen child
Urging someone to pay attention
The seventh day
Continuing to focus on the significance of this day
Child
Addressing someone affectionately
The seventh day
Highlighting the importance and power of belief and faith
Child, child, child
Repeatedly emphasizing the significance of this message
The seventh day
Repeating and reiterating the importance of this day and one's beliefs
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Felice Marie Berkley
on It Must Be Love
One of my fav. songs..!
Felice Marie Berkley
on Comin' Back To Me
Very pretty song.