Colvin's formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age of 10. Her first public concert was at age 15 at the University of Illinois campus. Colvin cites Joni Mitchell as a primary influence on her music, and her initial performances closely mirrored Mitchell's inflections and guitar tunings.
Colvin began working in the music scene in earnest in the late 1970s, first in Austin, Texas and then nationally. She met music partner John Leventhal during this time; Leventhal would go on to be Colvin's producer on several albums. Colvin often lends her talent to contemporaries in the music business - she can be heard singing the backing vocals on the Suzanne Vega hit, "Luka" from 1987. Vega returned the favor, singing backup on Colvin's, "Diamond In The Rough", from her debut album, "Steady On". Colvin, again can be heard singing backing vocals on Mary Chapin Carpenter's, "The Hard Way" and "Come On Come On" and Mary Chapin returns the favor on Colvin's, "Climb On (A Back That's Strong)", from Colvin's "Fat City" album.
Colvin's first several albums were met with critical acclaim, but did not sell in substantial numbers. After several albums of original work, Colvin released "Cover Girl", a collection of cover songs, but the work was a departure for her and was not well received.
Colvin experienced breakthrough success with "A Few Small Repairs" in October of 1996. The single "Sunny Came Home" reached the US Top Ten, and won Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year. She has released several subsequent albums that were nominated for Grammys, and has also released a greatest-hits album and a collection of Christmas music.
A new album from Colvin, entitled "These Four Walls", was released on September 12, 2006.
She was the guest vocal artist on the Lisa Loeb single "Falling in Love" as well as appearing at various Lilith Fair music festivals. She also has been featured on the popular live music show Austin City Limits and played at the 2003 Austin City Limits Music Festival. She also appeared in a tribute to her idol Joni Mitchell in 2001 that was broadcast on the cable network TNT.
She has made two guest appearances on The Simpsons as Rachel Jordan, lead singer for a Christian rock band. She first appears in "Alone Again, Natura-diddly," where Rachel wins Ned Flanders' heart after the untimely death of his wife, Maude. Later, in the episode "I'm Going to Praiseland," Ned dates Rachel, only to scare her off when he tries to turn her into a version of Maude.
Colvin lives with her daughter, Caledonia, and husband, Mario Erwin in Austin, Texas, and still participates in the Austin music scene.
The Facts About Jimmy
Shawn Colvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His wife lives somewhere colder
He sees another woman in a badlands town
And she cries upon his shoulder
Jimmy thinks that he's a helpless man
He thinks about love in a vacuum
And he won't remember that talk you had
When you were walking into the bedroom
He'll say I don't know why we met
The simple truth is always the best
See 'est la vie what's done is done
And there's somebody for everyone
Jimmy has debts and Jimmy has ties
That he can't get out from under
If you look far enough into his eyes
It'll rock you just like thunder
Jimmy broke locks and Jimmy broke bolts
Just to get himself out from under
When you feel like you're lying in a prison cell
It'll kind of make you wonder
He'll say it's destiny we met
The simple truth is always the best
Don't you see what's done is done
And there's somebody for everyone
I used to get drunk to get my spark
And it used to work just fine
It made me wretched but it gave me heart
I miss Jimmy like I miss my wine
Jimmy as if you didn't know by now
Let me tell you a thing or two
Everybody might have someone
But everyone falls in love with you...
He'll say you get just what you get
The simple truth is always the best
Don't you see what's done is done?
And there's somebody for everyone
The song "The Facts About Jimmy" by Shawn Colvin tells the story of a man named Jimmy who is married, but has a lover in a badlands town. He is portrayed as a man who feels trapped by his debts and ties, and often says things like, "the simple truth is always the best" to avoid facing the reality of his actions. The singer in the song goes on to admit missing Jimmy, and compares their friendship to the addiction of alcohol. The chorus, "there's somebody for everyone" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a way to justify the actions of the characters, implying that even if what they have done is wrong, they'll still find love in the end.
The song's lyrics deal with themes of love, infidelity, and the consequences of our actions. Through the story of Jimmy and his lover, we see how love can often be messy and complicated, leading us to make poor decisions that can have lasting effects. The simple truth repeated in the chorus encourages looking forward and finding the positive, as even those who make mistakes can find love and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy is married and he lives down south
Jimmy is living in the southern part of the country and he is married.
His wife lives somewhere colder
His wife is living in a place which is colder than where Jimmy is living.
He sees another woman in a badlands town
Jimmy is having an affair with another woman who lives in a place where the land is not fertile.
And she cries upon his shoulder
The woman with whom Jimmy is having an affair is sad and Jimmy comforts her.
Jimmy thinks that he's a helpless man
Jimmy believes that he is powerless.
He thinks about love in a vacuum
Jimmy is thinking about love in isolation from the world and has no connection to reality.
And he won't remember that talk you had
Jimmy will not remember having a conversation, maybe because he has other more pressing issues on his mind.
When you were walking into the bedroom
The conversation that Jimmy doesn't remember took place while walking into the bedroom.
He'll say I don't know why we met
Jimmy will say that he doesn't know how or why he met the person he is talking to.
The simple truth is always the best
Jimmy thinks that speaking the truth is the best approach.
See 'est la vie what's done is done
Jimmy accepts that things happen and cannot be undone.
And there's somebody for everyone
Jimmy believes that there is someone for everyone, even if they have not yet found that person.
Jimmy has debts and Jimmy has ties
Jimmy has financial obligations and personal connections that are hard to break.
That he can't get out from under
Jimmy is not able to free himself from his debts and ties easily.
If you look far enough into his eyes
Jimmy's eyes betray the fact that he is troubled and conflicted.
It'll rock you just like thunder
The realization of how much Jimmy is struggling can be shocking.
Jimmy broke locks and Jimmy broke bolts
Jimmy has resorted to drastic measures to solve his problems.
Just to get himself out from under
Jimmy took those measures to get himself out from under his debts and ties.
When you feel like you're lying in a prison cell
Feeling trapped by circumstances can feel like being in a prison cell.
It'll kind of make you wonder
Being in that situation can make a person reflect and question their choices.
He'll say it's destiny we met
Jimmy will say that the meeting was fated or inevitable.
Don't you see what's done is done
Jimmy thinks that it is pointless to dwell on what is already in the past.
I used to get drunk to get my spark
The singer used to drink to feel alive or inspired.
And it used to work just fine
Drinking used to have the intended effect.
It made me wretched but it gave me heart
The singer acknowledges that drinking made her feel terrible, but it also made her feel more alive or passionate.
I miss Jimmy like I miss my wine
The singer misses Jimmy as much as she misses the habit of drinking.
Let me tell you a thing or two
The singer is about to give some advice or insight.
Everybody might have someone
Everyone has the potential to find love or companionship.
But everyone falls in love with you...
The artist is implying that Jimmy is attractive and desirable to others despite his flaws.
He'll say you get just what you get
Jimmy believes that people get what they deserve or what they have coming to them.
And there's somebody for everyone
Jimmy thinks that everyone has someone out there who is right for them, even if it takes time to find that person.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LEVENTHAL, SHAWN COLVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bnbwhitezombie
One of Shawn Colvin's best pieces imho.
@johnwwhite2
Shawn is so hauntingly good...so fortunate to have seen her in concert with Mary Chapin Carpenter
@sueanntippett1583
I'll bet that was a great concert......wow
@johnwwhite2
@@sueanntippett1583 "That's The Way Love Is" on YouTube (MCC and Shawn)
@sueanntippett1583
@@johnwwhite2 thank you, John
@blazeginsberg7278
This Thanksgiving. I am thankful that Shawn Colvin and Lyle Lovett made this song
@kevincooper4912
Well it made me wretch but it gave me heart
I miss Jimmy like I miss my wine
This part gets me every time
@CyeOutsider
Lyle Lovett's backing vocals really makes this song for me.
@WroughtIronEffects
I feel the exact same way.
@johnwwhite2
Goosebumps