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Janis Ian — Billie's Bones
Album: Billie's Bones
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 315









Released: 2004
Length: 4:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
billie's tears fall like dust
from the air into my eyes
seeping in before they rust
spilling secrets words can't hide
i am standing on the bones
of a mound too high to climb
selling secrets to atone
for a song that is not mine

billie's bones are white and bleached
piled high and hard to reach
and the top looks cold and bleak
but i see farther when i stand
on billie's bones in billie's land

there's an orchid in her hair
there are bruises on her lips
i would worship if i dared
kneeling at her fingertips
i would tell her how i've yearned
to be worthy of the grail
all these years and all i've learned
is just how brilliantly i fail

billie's bones are white and bleached
piled high and hard to reach
and the top looks cold and bleak
but i see farther when i stand
on billie's bones in billie's land

now the flesh of earth has passed
now the joints have come undone
all that's left of her is ash
scattered on the air like crumbs

there are voices on the wind
stolen whispers, sacred moans
you can hear them through your skin
and the singing of the bones
when the wind blows from the east
i can taste her on my tongue
and the grave is lined and paved with
all the songs we never sung

billie's bones are white and bleached
piled high and hard to reach
and the top looks cold and bleak
but i see farther when i stand
on billie's bones in billie's land
Comments (55)add comment
 Andy_B wrote:

Sure sounds like Mark Knopfler but I could be wrong.

 
I think it's Dan Dugmore playing the Dobro on this tune; he's played on a lot of stuff over the years.
 JIan wrote:
Anyone know who is playing the dobro on this tune?  Love it! {#Music}

 
Sure sounds like Mark Knopfler but I could be wrong.
Very pretty..
 
Janis Ian is an American songwriter, singer, musician, columnist and science fiction author. Ian first entered the folk music scene while still a teenager in the mid-1960s. Wikipedia



There is only one Leonard 'round here .

{#Arrowd} I have no clue who Janis Ian is.  Is her music good?  So far, not really.  Leonard who?
Anyone know who is playing the dobro on this tune?  Love it! {#Music}
Janis Ian is so cool!
Good one! Please play LOTS more Janis Ian.
Psd! :)
Good to hear Janis on R.P........7..

 Carl wrote:
Songs that sound like this get an automatic 8, which I adjust based on how it ages for me. This one's up there with "Daylight" and "Crazy Faith" from New Favorite (Alison Krauss and Union Station).

 
I hear you bloke though for me New Favourite has already had the time to put down roots in my musical psyche and is a definite cut above but perhaps in time?
 Eros92450 wrote:


Still sounds great I agree.
 
She still has that Society's Child sound to her voice.
Nice song although I have never followed her.
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
An unmistakable voice, even after not hearing her for 35 years.
 



Still sounds great I agree.
She has several songs in the RP library for a decade and this is the only one I recall ever hearing. Wonder how the others are.
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
An unmistakable voice, even after not hearing her for 35 years.
 
Yeah, you got that right! Nice to hear. And, love the guitar work, too!

Got to see her perform live a few years ago. Outstanding. Don't miss her, if you ever get the chance.
I'm in a happy-peppy mood, and this definitely doesn't fit into my groove.  But I really like it anyway. I'll tuck it in and keep it for when I'm in a Shawn Colvin/Joni Mitchell/David Baerwald mood.
An unmistakable voice, even after not hearing her for 35 years.
Oooh. Thought it was Tito &Tarantula at first.
 jagdriver wrote:
Nice Dobro work.

 

Yes, that is what I meant!{#Lol}
There is some really good guitar going on in this song!{#Bananajam}{#Clap}
Songs that sound like this get an automatic 8, which I adjust based on how it ages for me. This one's up there with "Daylight" and "Crazy Faith" from New Favorite (Alison Krauss and Union Station).

Really nice song - Her "Breaking Silence" LP is really good also....
A word I seem to keep using in my posts... class. Janis' voice and the picking in this track.
Nice Dobro work.

I also love steel guitars! In my humble opinion one of the best recordings of this instrument was in "you and your friend" by Dire Straits.

 jpronline wrote:
Love that steel.  Frames her voice very nicely.
 


Wow, where else would you hear this?
Love that steel.  Frames her voice very nicely.
So, this is where Shawn Colvin came from ...
Ah, Society's Child, glad people out there remember her from the brilliant debut album(self titled). I was fortunate to hear her concert where she performed most if not all of that album at Carnegie Hall at a very young age (16?) - solo just her & piano - wow. Also heard her perform at Seattle's outdoor concerts at the zoo about 5? years ago, it was great to meet her & thank her for both concerts after decades had passed.
Patti wrote:
My best friend and I were about the only ones that liked Janis way back in Jr High School. Now of course, just about every one likes her...if they want to be cool. pbm
Really? I used to really like her, but that was like, 30 years ago. I didn't even realize she was still around. And she STILL sounds good.
Great track! Love the slide guitar!
Thanks, RP! I didn't know Janis Ian had even recorded a new album....
Pyro wrote:
It sounds really familiar to me, too, but not Dire Straits or Police. Just not sure who.
of course, she sounds like shaw colvin, but really shaw colvin sounds like janis ian. as do a lot of others.
Janis... always Society's Child... never quite accepted, but true to her heart nonetheless. Janis: You are appreciated!
henrico wrote:
nice, nice...see you next month in Utrecht, Janis... :)
Saw Janis last week here in London. A consumate performer and very funny. Only bummer....she didin't play this song - a main reason I wanted to see her!
nice, nice...see you next month in Utrecht, Janis... :)
nook wrote:
don't stand, don't stand so close to meeee. or i want my mtv real familiar melody. like it, but it sure is familiar, and i keep hearing sting instead of janis.
It sounds really familiar to me, too, but not Dire Straits or Police. Just not sure who.
My best friend and I were about the only ones that liked Janis way back in Jr High School. Now of course, just about every one likes her...if they want to be cool. pbm
I would like to jump Billie's Bones. I tried to jump Janis Ian, but she was just too Sappho for me
aharamanx wrote:
Any Janis is excellent !!
I think she's a much better songwriter than singer.
Now I know where Shawn Colvin and Toni Childs draw their inspiration. Nice tune.
don't stand, don't stand so close to meeee. or i want my mtv real familiar melody. like it, but it sure is familiar, and i keep hearing sting instead of janis.
bluedot wrote:
Actually, it was called "Society's Child."
Thanks, BD and s'am. That was, indeed, the title. As they say, if you can remember the '60s....... I've already gotten tickets to see her in London in Sept. Just ordered the CD. Thanks for the turn-on, Bill.
rulebritannia wrote:
Circa 1968 - her first hit was "I Don't Want to See You Anymore," a teenage mixed-dating protest song.
Actually, it was called "Society's Child."
rulebritannia wrote:
Circa 1968 - her first hit was "I Don't Want to See You Anymore," a teenage mixed-dating protest song.
Actually her first big hit was "Society's Child" which was written while she was sitting on the bench in the Principal's Office of her High School waiting to be expelled. Janis is one kewl lady. Saw her live a twice. Love her.
ladyj wrote:
looks like she's done so much work and all I remember is the 1975's "At Seventeen" hit
Circa 1968 - her first hit was "I Don't Want to See You Anymore," a teenage mixed-dating protest song.
drstress wrote:
I've read so much about Janis Ian (I really admire the stand she's taken against the recording industry), but honestly had not heard many of her songs...or at least haven't realized it. This song makes me want to go check out some of her other stuff.
Janis Ian is the Bomb!! She hasn't put out a bad album in 10 years.
I've read so much about Janis Ian (I really admire the stand she's taken against the recording industry), but honestly had not heard many of her songs...or at least haven't realized it. This song makes me want to go check out some of her other stuff.
a sweet, sad song.
rulebritannia wrote:
Cool! Anyone else catch the TV special where Leonard Bernstein introduced this talented teenager to the American public?!
looks like she's done so much work and all I remember is the 1975's "At Seventeen" hit
Cool! Anyone else catch the TV special where Leonard Bernstein introduced this talented teenager to the American public?!