The Basics: Produced by Jerry Corbett; engineer: Bob de Sousa; 2nd engineer: Muffyn; photography: Peter Cunningham; recorded in Berkley, CA, summer 1970; released February 1971 (Capitol).
Personnel: Musicians: Ed Bogus, Kelly Bryant, Peter Childs, Jerry Corbitt, Charlie Daniels, Rita Downing, Carol Hunter, Janis Ian, John McFee, Jeff Myer. Vocalists: Janis Ian.
Inside Scoop: Janis still wasn't sure if she'd earned the right to call herself a songwriter, so she began experimenting with the form. She also wasn't sure it was time to record, but felt she wouldn't move on as a writer if she didn't. So she changed coasts, lived in Marin County for a while, and began work. This album is the result; completely different from anything she'd done before, and heavily influenced by Charlie Daniels and John McFee, who played on it.
"This could accurately be described as Janis Ian's first comeback album. After four Verve albums during her teenage years, as well as the hit single "Society's Child," Ian struggled through her remaining albums for the label, battling indifferent record executives and A&R people. Although quite low in spirit and somewhat depressing, those final Verve albums were still breathtaking. Here, on her first (and only) Capitol album after breaking the Verve contract, Ian experienced a wonderfully positive musical rebirth, which resulted in an extremely buoyant record both musically and spiritually. Tracks such as "He's a Rainbow," "Here in Spain," and the title track are uplifting and exciting as well. The album is also Ian's loosest affair, and this may have to do with ex-Youngblood Jerry Corbett's role in production and musicianship." - Matthew Greenwald
The Seaside
The sunlight
reminds
you
of
where you've been
Would I be?
Could I be
true
to thee?
The seaside
in prisms
reflects
your
name
Would
I
be?
Could
I
be
true
to me?
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Present Company
Used to drive a pipeline
from here to Blind Man's Bend
Tried and ride the main line
I went there with my friends
I like to be together
I like to be alone
Yes, and what I like best
is I like it like this
and I stay with you at home
Enjoy the present company
Eat some grits and hominy
Couldn't get much better for me
I enoy your company... ooo...
Used to drive an ocean liner
Sunk in '52
off the coast of Indochina
Yes, I sunk there, too
Frost on the jewel glass windows here
is ringing in the dawn, my dear
Spring is busting out of my ears
I wish that I was home
Enjoy the present company
Eat some grits and hominy
Couldn't get much better for me
I enoy the company... ooo...
You can wave a banner
I don't mind if you do
I'm running back to Louisiana
I'm gonna drink that mountain dew
Used to be a loner
and I'd run the highway tolls
What I run now is I'm running anyhow
and I stay with you at home
So joy to the present company
Joy to the grits and hominy
and a joy to getting better for me
I enjoy the company - ooo
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
See My Grammy Ride
Come in through the window
See my butterfly
Come in through the pillow
Look at my grammy ride
Come in through the doorway
See my pretty butterfly
Come in through the night and the day
Look at my grammy ride
And I be thine
and thee be mine
Yes, we be rhyme
Look at my grammy ride
Come in, come in through the doorway
See my limousine
Try and see it your way
Look at my grammy swing
Oh, come in to my kitchen
Look at the dirty clothes
Come with me to the bedroom
You can wash them with a hose
And I be thine
and thee be mine
We be rhyme – I feel fine
See her ride
Come on, come on through the window
See my pretty butterfly
Come on to the pillow
Look at Grammy ride
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Here In Spain
Big Brother called me yesterday
on the transatlantic phone
He said you should come home
They say it's much too dangerous
to live outside alone
among the briars and the primrose
and everybody's looking to the rain
Santo Domini
All the children are in flames
here in Spain
The President is constantly
yelling on the phone
He wants you to come home
The Law Enforcement Justice League
will tell you where to go
among the briars and the primrose
and everybody's looking to the rain
Santo Domini
All the children are in estranged
here in Spain
They say the country is
a testament to the free
but Romeo and Juliet
couldn't find a place to sleep
No, no, no no no
The child of my father called me yesterday
on the transatlantic phone
Got to, got to come home, come home
And everybody's looking to the rain
Santo Domini
All the children are in flames
All the children are in vain
All the children are inflamed
here in Spain
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
On The Train
When I was on the train I said,
I said I always like
to see the sun one day
Would you please
take up the shade?
Mr. President,
his face went red
and he said -- Kid
you should have come
before I came
Would you please
remove your face
I'm on the train
and I'm trying
to make it away
On the train
They keep on trying
to make me ashamed
So many funny
people in life today
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
He's A Rainbow
He's a rainbow
He's a rainbow
He's a rainbow searching for the sun
Let him find you
Let him guide you
He's a rainbow searching for the sun
In my life
there've been many cast aside
when the evening spread her light
iupon the table
Infinity
reaches out to shelter me
He's a rainbow
He's a rainbow
He's a rainbow searching for the sun
Let him find you
Let him guide you
He's a rainbow searching for the sun
Come into my life
There've been many gone astray
You know we took the easy way
when we were able
Eternity
has lost its mystery
So bring me home
He's a rainbow
He's a rainbow
He's a rainbow searching for the sun
Let him find you
Let him guide you
He's a rainbow searching for the sun
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Weary Lady
Lo, I be weary
Traveling on
Lo, I be a weary lady
Look to the sunlight
Take me back home
Lo, I be a weary lady
Looking to the gardens in the night
Sound of fireflies upon my pillow
Looking for the sound of a ladybird
Was it you I heard by the weeping willow?
Willow, willow
I'll be weary
Got no home to go to
Lord, I be the weary lady
Look to the lady's sunlight
Gonna take me back to home
Lord, I be a weary lady
Looking to the gardens in the night
Sound of fireflies upon my pillow
Looking for the sound of a ladybird
Was it you I heard by the weeping willow?
Willow, willow
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Nature's At Peace
Did you notice, the dawn
had the nerve to come on
to the sunrise today
Have I said that my head
had the nerve to be dead
when I wanted to break
Did you see that the sun
doesn't need anyone
to come in on time
Nature's at peace
every time you see the rain
Did you notice, the trees
are standing in peace
without orders, without me
Have I told you the leaves
can't be broken or creased
A silent symphony
Did you see the lights
when the clouds began to try
and hide the sun from the sky
Nature's at peace again
every time you see the rain
Can it be explained?
Lady Nature's back again
In a world that's gone insane
Lady Nature takes away all the yearning
Maybe I should try
to cover up the lies
but the sun in the sky
has never asked us why
we are burning
Nature's at peace
every time you see the rain
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
See The River
See the river and the sun at dawn
I've been waiting alone so long
See the river and the grass is green
Now at last there's a place for me
to be
here with you
See the river and the sunny sky
I've been living for you to be mine
See the river and the sky is blue
I've been waiting so long for you
to come through
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Let It Run Free
I've been a'wandering a long, long time
and now I've decided I'm hot and tired
Open the window, let the breeze run free
Let it run on over me
You got to let it run free
Run on over me
No, you can't stop the breeze
I've been up, I've been down
I've been 'round, 'round, 'round
and the people I see
keep on bringing me down
Through the wind and the rain
The heat and the pain
I keep waiting and praying for you
I've been a'wandering a long, long time
and now I've decided I'm hot and tired
Open the window, let the breeze run free
Let it run on over me
You got to let it run free
Run on over me
No, you can't stop the breeze
I look forward to boarding
Your train, getting on
I'll be pleased and relieved
if you'll open your door
I fall into your arms
and I thank my good God
I kept waiting and waiting for you
I wander a long, long time
and now I've decided I'm hot and tired
Open the window, let the breeze run free
Let it run on over me
You got to let it run free
Run on over me
No, you can't stop the breeze
You can't stop the breeze
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Alabama
See the light
Southern light
Show me the way to go home
See the light
Southern light
Show me the way to go home
Alabama, lady of the nation
Guardian of the South
My pretty belle
Wishing well
Mississippi, guardian of the nation
Laying your waste on all creation
Jezebel
Oh well
See the darky's laughing eyes
See the sunrise in disguise
Naturalized
Alabama, my lady of the nation
The serpent's after you
And your labor's overdue
Oh, I pity you
I'll give to you, Dick
(Dear, dear Dick)
just what you give to me, Dick
(My dear, dear Dick)
Yes, and i'll give to you, Dickie dear
(Dear, dear Dick)
just what you give to me, Dickie dear
(My dear, dear Dick)
See the light (Alabama)
Southern light (Alabama)
Won't you show me the way to go home
See the light (Mississippi)
Southern light (Alabama)
Show me the way
I'll go home
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Liberty
Liberty, you and me
had a do in the afternoon
when the sun poured down
Liberty, didn't you and me
drink our tea '
neath the shade
of a lazy tree
Liberty –
do you remember me?
Cause now I'm lost and I'm lazy
and the world's getting hazy
I can't see your face
We are lonely and bored
We have everything and more
but we just can't find our place
Liberty,
do you remember me?
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
My Land (Not My Land)
The country is a bleeding child
and a broken, withered whore
with righteous anger, time after time,
come clawing at her door
And the fatherless child, running wild,
screaming -- No no more
Please believe – my hands are clean
I've never seen the guillotine
Must you say I'm guilty, guilty all the same?
Such things can't be in my USA
'cause no no no, it just can't be
in a land like mine, all decent and free
You must be mistaken, not my country
Such things happen across the sea
No no no, not my land
You're green and rotting corpses are reeking in the sun
Calvary horses laying in their dung
and the plague on your household's only just begun
You can see that it's come
You raise up the guns
and aim them to blot out the sun
But no no no, it just can't be
in a land like mine, decent and free
You must be mistaken, not my country
Such things happen across the sea
No no no, not my land
I'll go on giving to charity
long as I needn't look back at life
I'll go to church, be proud of my piety
I'll pray only when you say it's all right
I want to follow in your society
'cause I'm too damned scared to fight
I will close myself up in a wall
Pretend I can't see or hear at all
I will point my finger back across the sea
Ignoring all that goes on around me
Saying "Look what goes on in that other country"
'cause no no no, it just can't be
in a land like mine, decent and free
You must be mistaken, not my country
Such things happen across the sea
No no no, not my land
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Hello Jerry
Hello Jerry
I been watching you
Times are getting scary
Don't know what to do
but sing a song
for everyone
Lighten up the heavy sky
You can croon your tune
Let yourself shine through
Help the people 'round you
come alive
Hey, hey Davy
Do you understand?
The country's going crazy
Lend a helping hand
We'll sing a song
for everyone
Lighten up the heavy sky
You can croon your tune
Let yourself shine through
Help the people 'round you
come alive
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
Can You Reach Me
Can you reach me?
Would you teach me to be free?
Is it such an easy thing, to be a friend?
Can you reach me?
Would you teach me to be free?
Have you got a helping hand to lend?
It's okay - I know you're trying to wait
hoping time will hesitate
as you sit down on the phone
It's too late, when your hands begin to shake
You're trying to make it and break it all alone
And I know I can't please you
I can only try to reach out to you
Can you reach me?
Would you teach me to be free?
Is it such an easy thing, to be a friend?
Can you reach me?
Would you teach me to be free?
Have you got a helping hand to lend?
beause, my friend, seems like everything depends
on the timing of my bending papers waiting for a song
Yes, and then, seems like everybody depends
on the lifting of a hand, and...
I go 'round and 'round and 'round
I be bound - I got nothing to give
but God – I'm gonna live
I'm gonna live – I'm gonna live
Would you reach me? Would you teach me to be free?
Is it such an easy thing? Be my friend – my friend - oh, be my friend
Tell me, would you reach me? Tell me, tell me is it easy?
Could you please me? Could you release me?
Oh would you reach me? Tell me, tell me is it easy?
Would you tease me? Would you believe in me?
Tell me, could you reach me – tell me, tell me is it easy?
Would you tease me?
Release me...
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
The Sunlight
The sunlight
reminds
you
of
where you've been
Would I be?
Could I be
true
to thee?
The seaside
in prisms
reflects
your
name
Would
I
be?
Could
I
be
true
to me?
© Taosongs Two. All rights reserved; international copyright secured.
If you enjoyed listening to this music and having access to these lyrics, please consider making a donation to The Pearl Foundation. Click the button below to find out how even a small amount can make a big difference in someone's life.
click on any date for full information
click again to close that date
All tour dates updated on December 3, 2019
Wednesday February 26th
Memorial Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Memorial Hall
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Phone: (513) 977-8838
Visit the venue's website
An evening with Janis, some new songs, some old songs, some funny stories and some heart-wrenching moments! Expect a shout out to the science fiction community of Cincinnati, and of course, Janis plans to stay after the show to greet people and sign whatever they may buy or bring!!
Friday February 28
E. J. Thomas Hall, Akron, Ohio
Sunday, March 1
Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Bloomington, IN
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Bloomington, IN
Phone: 812.323.3020
Visit the venue's website
With Livingston Taylor.
Tickets will go on sale to the public at 11am on Thursday, Sept 19th.
Tickets available via OvationTix.Monday June 29 to Friday July 3
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone: N/A
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Monday July 6 to Friday July 10
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina,
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina,
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Monday July 13 to Friday July 17
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Monday July 20 to Friday July 24
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Monday July 27 to Friday July 31
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. The final week will also feature a second, more interactive class tentatively titled "War Stories". Time of classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Wednesday August 5
The Kate, Old Saybrook, CT
The Kate
Old Saybrook, CT
Phone: (860) 510-0473
Visit the venue's website
Janis returns to The Kate a scant year later, at their insistence. She's sure it's too soon, they're sure it's not. She's writing furiously so she can present some new material, and looking forward to visiting one of her all-time favorite venues again! Expect some good, relaxed fun, some tears, an after-show appearance for signing things you've brought and things you may purchase at the "merch table"!!
Thursday August 6
Living Room Concert, Private, Massachusetts, USA
Living Room Concert
Private, Massachusetts, USA
Phone: Private
Visit the venue's website
Private Living Room Concert benefitting the Pearl Foundation. We are currently considering other LRC's in the general area; if you are interested please contact us through the "Make Pearl An Offer" charity section of this website. * Please do not ask if you can attend. Invitations are solely up to the donor(s) and we will not put you in touch, regardless of your reason.
Audiobook - Society's Child: My Autobiography now available!
Remember: Live 1977 Australia & Japan CD
Best Of Janis Ian:
The Autobiography Collection CD
Society's Child: My Autobiography Paperback now available
Live From Grand Center DVD
A PBS Special
Society's Child: My Autobiography
Signed 1st ed. hardcover
Folk Is The New Black CD
