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
Young Blood
Rickie Lee Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young Blood is hiding there somewhere
If your looking for something to do
There's always something happening there
Like I and Bragger, we borrowed a coup today
Here come Pepe and she's got a friend in a Chevrolet
But she ain't running, she just walking a little slow,
"They say this city will make you dirty, but you look alright,
you feel real pretty when he's holding you tight"
City will make you mean
But that's the make up on your face
Love will wash you clean in the nights disgrace.
Find a block where your people can find you
Keep a third eye watching behind you
You never know when your making a memory
They will wish they were here together again, someday
Kids looking for something to get into take a look
Two for the movie show
Three in the back row
Hold on tight!
Remember you might have looked like cool twelve
But your fuse felt just like dynamite
City will make you dirty, but you look alright,
you feel real pretty when he's holding you tight
City will make you mean
But that's the make up on your face
Love will wash you clean in the night... dirty dirty dirt dirt...
Take a walk around midnight in the City
Young Blood will find you there somewhere
and if your looking for something to do
There's always something happening there
Something's happening there oooh ooh ooooh
Something's happening there hey hey hey... looky here y'all
In "Young Blood," Rickie Lee Jones invites the listener to take a walk around the city at midnight, where they might encounter the wildness and wonder of young blood (i.e. youth and vitality) hiding among the urban landscape. There's always something happening in the city, and the song conjures up images of reckless joyrides in borrowed cars, wandering the streets with friends, and taking risks. The city is a place that can make you dirty and mean, but it can also bring out your beauty and resilience – your ability to love and be loved, even in the midst of chaos and heartbreak.
The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of young people trying to find their way in the world and make memories that will last a lifetime, even if they don't know it at the time. Lines like "Find a block where your people can find you / Keep a third eye watching behind you / You never know when your making a memory / They will wish they were here together again, someday" speak to the ephemeral nature of youth and the longing for connection and meaning that drives us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a walk around midnight in the City
Venture out at midnight when the city is alive
Young Blood is hiding there somewhere
There are young people out and about enjoying the city
If your looking for something to do
If you're seeking entertainment
There's always something happening there
The city is always bustling with activity
Like I and Bragger, we borrowed a coup today
Just like me and Bragger, we took a car without permission today
Here come Pepe and she's got a friend in a Chevrolet
Pepe arrived with a companion who owns a Chevrolet car
But she ain't running, she just walking a little slow, and she ain't crying, she's just singin a little low...
But Pepe is not in a hurry, moving at a slow pace and singing quietly
"They say this city will make you dirty, but you look alright, you feel real pretty when he's holding you tight"
People say the city will taint you, but you seem unscathed and happy when he embraces you
City will make you mean But that's the make-up on your face Love will wash you clean in the nights disgrace.
The city may change you, but love can help you overcome its negative effects
Find a block where your people can find you Keep a third eye watching behind you You never know when your making a memory They will wish they were here together again, someday
Find a spot to meet your friends, be vigilant, cherish the moment, because one day they will look back and long to relive it
Kids looking for something to get into take a look Two for the movie show Three in the back row Hold on tight!
Teens searching for a good time, watch a movie and cuddle close to each other
Remember you might have looked like cool twelve But your fuse felt just like dynamite
Even if you appear composed on the outside, your emotions can be explosive like dynamite
City will make you dirty, but you look alright, you feel real pretty when he's holding you tight City will make you mean But that's the make up on your face Love will wash you clean in the night... dirty dirty dirt dirt...
The city can have a negative influence, but love can cleanse your soul
Young Blood will find you there somewhere
You'll stumble across young people out and about
and if your looking for something to do
If you're seeking entertainment
There's always something happening there Something's happening there oooh ooh ooooh Something's happening there hey hey hey... looky here y'all
The city is always buzzing with activity, something exciting is always going on
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEATRICE MILLER, MATT PARAD, MICHAEL FRANCIS GONZALEZ, PHOEBE HOLIDAY RYAN
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.