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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 356









Released: 2004
Length: 5:01
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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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 (56)add comment
Nothing for 10 years?  Janis Ian has such a distinctive voice, I knew in a second who this was, although I've not heard this track before.
More Janis Ian would be very acceptable!
Posted 2 months ago by hellsgardener    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 10 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 10 years ago by Andy_B    [ Reply ]
Very pretty..
Posted 10 years ago by coolpeople_rule    [ Reply ]
 
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 .

Posted 11 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
{#Arrowd} I have no clue who Janis Ian is.  Is her music good?  So far, not really.  Leonard who?
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Anyone know who is playing the dobro on this tune?  Love it! {#Music}
Posted 11 years ago by JIan    [ Reply ]
Janis Ian is so cool!
Posted 11 years ago by daisymaybee    [ Reply ]
Good one! Please play LOTS more Janis Ian.
Posted 11 years ago by jgoldst    [ Reply ]
Psd! :)
Posted 12 years ago by barbaraporto    [ Reply ]
Good to hear Janis on R.P........7..
Posted 12 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]

Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 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?
Posted 12 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
 Eros92450 wrote:


Still sounds great I agree.
 
She still has that Society's Child sound to her voice.
Posted 12 years ago by jim1964    [ Reply ]
Nice song although I have never followed her.
Posted 12 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
An unmistakable voice, even after not hearing her for 35 years.
 



Still sounds great I agree.
Posted 12 years ago by Eros92450    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 12 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
 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!

Posted 12 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
Got to see her perform live a few years ago. Outstanding. Don't miss her, if you ever get the chance.
Posted 12 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 12 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
An unmistakable voice, even after not hearing her for 35 years.
Posted 13 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
Oooh. Thought it was Tito &Tarantula at first.
Posted 13 years ago by audiophelia    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:
Nice Dobro work.

 

Yes, that is what I meant!{#Lol}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
There is some really good guitar going on in this song!{#Bananajam}{#Clap}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
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).

Posted 14 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Really nice song - Her "Breaking Silence" LP is really good also....
Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
A word I seem to keep using in my posts... class. Janis' voice and the picking in this track.
Posted 15 years ago by somebloke    [ Reply ]
Nice Dobro work.

Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
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.
 


Posted 16 years ago by arthur_d    [ Reply ]
Wow, where else would you hear this?
Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Love that steel.  Frames her voice very nicely.
Posted 16 years ago by jpronline    [ Reply ]
So, this is where Shawn Colvin came from ...
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by jeffratte    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
Great track! Love the slide guitar!
Posted 19 years ago by radiomao    [ Reply ]
Thanks, RP! I didn't know Janis Ian had even recorded a new album....
Posted 19 years ago by Kagin    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
Janis... always Society's Child... never quite accepted, but true to her heart nonetheless. Janis: You are appreciated!
Posted 20 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
nice, nice...see you next month in Utrecht, Janis... :)
Posted 20 years ago by henrico    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 20 years ago by Patti    [ Reply ]
I would like to jump Billie's Bones. I tried to jump Janis Ian, but she was just too Sappho for me
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
aharamanx wrote:
Any Janis is excellent !!
I think she's a much better songwriter than singer.
Posted 20 years ago by Wild_Bill    [ Reply ]
Now I know where Shawn Colvin and Toni Childs draw their inspiration. Nice tune.
Posted 20 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by nook    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
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."
Posted 20 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by drstress    [ Reply ]
a sweet, sad song.
Posted 20 years ago by artmarcia    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 20 years ago by ladyj    [ Reply ]
Cool! Anyone else catch the TV special where Leonard Bernstein introduced this talented teenager to the American public?!
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]