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
Tigers
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shaped like the curtain and the floor
Like the stars they once were wild and cold
Your turn to see me
I can't believe its really you
Sharpening your teeth on my low womb
Chasing the lampshade with my toes
Playing with tigers
'Til I find out where it goes
You check your clothes
You come and lay with me a while
In the theater of dream
We are sleeping in the aisle
Wind climbs up the brick
Carrying brightly colored ghosts
They play on you with
The light from the street below
Playing with tigers
Chasing the lamp with my toes
Playing with tigers
Until I find out where it goes
Where it goes, where it goes
I tried to leave you
But you sent all the cars to bring me back
Tigers are falling like paper on our parade
Tigers, tigers.
And the mail blowing out of the mailbox
Down the street, yeah yeah
Tigers.
I can't tell you anymore than that.
I'll tell you tomorrow when the train comes.
Tomorrow when the train comes
The lyrics to Rickie Lee Jones's song "Tigers" are full of dreamy imagery and symbolism. The singer describes how the tigers come at four, shaped like the curtain and the floor, and how they used to be wild and cold like stars. The singer then addresses someone else, telling them it's their turn to see her, and she can't believe it's really them. She describes them sharpening their teeth on her "low womb," which could symbolize vulnerability or weakness. The chorus repeats that the singer is playing with tigers, and chasing lampshades and trying to find out where they go.
The second verse describes the two people lying together, sleeping in the aisle of a theater of dreams. The wind carries ghosts that play on them with the light from the street below. Again, the chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's continued pursuit of the unknown. The final verse brings in a new element - the idea of leaving. The singer says she tried to leave the other person, but they sent all the cars to bring her back. The tigers continue to fall like paper on their parade, perhaps symbolizing the idea that life is unpredictable and full of challenges. The song ends with the cryptic lines "I can't tell you anymore than that. I'll tell you tomorrow when the train comes."
Line by Line Meaning
The tigers come at four
The troubles in life often come unexpectedly and at inconvenient times.
Shaped like the curtain and the floor
Difficult situations can come in various forms and shapes.
Like the stars they once were wild and cold
Sometimes challenges may appear to be unapproachable or unattainable, like the unreachable stars.
Your turn to see me
Now it is my moment of vulnerability and weakness.
I can't believe its really you
Surprised and shocked to see you here at this time of need.
Sharpening your teeth on my low womb
Being subjected to the harsh and unrelenting nature of another person.
Playing with tigers
Living dangerously and taking risks without worrying about consequences.
Chasing the lampshade with my toes
Indulging in trivial pleasures to escape from hardships of life.
'Til I find out where it goes
Seeking a sense of direction and purpose in life.
You check your clothes
Making sure everything seems perfect on the surface.
You come and lay with me a while
Taking a moment to find solace and comfort in another's company.
In the theater of dream
Life can often seem like a dream, with unpredictable twists and turns.
We are sleeping in the aisle
Existing in a state of limbo, with no clear direction or purpose.
Wind climbs up the brick
Nature constantly reminds us of its presence, even in the midst of chaos.
Carrying brightly colored ghosts
Past memories and experiences can continue to haunt and affect us, even in the present.
Playing on you with the light from the street below
Memories can be triggered by everyday things, revealing our emotional vulnerabilities.
Where it goes, where it goes
Trying to find meaning and direction in life.
I tried to leave you
Attempting to break free from the cycle of pain and hardship.
But you sent all the cars to bring me back
Being pulled back into old habits and destructive cycles by familiar people or situations.
Tigers are falling like paper on our parade
Difficulties and challenges seem to keep piling up, taking the joy out of life.
And the mail blowing out of the mailbox, down the street, yeah yeah, tigers
Life can be unpredictable, with even the most mundane things going awry.
I can't tell you anymore than that
There are some things in life that are too difficult to explain or understand.
I'll tell you tomorrow when the train comes.
Maybe tomorrow, when a new opportunity arises, things will become clearer and easier to make sense of.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: SAL BERNARDI, RICKIE LEE JONES
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.