Women Music March #11 — Lucinda Williams

Today will be a two-fer.  Interestingly I just discovered that the first song is not written by Williams but sung by her; whereas the second song was written by her but the cover by Mary Chapin Carpenter is the one that hit the charts.

Lucinda Gayle Williams (born January 26, 1953) is an American rock, folk and country music singer, songwriter and musician.

She recorded her first albums in 1978 and 1980 in a traditional country and blues style and received very little attention from radio, the media, or the public. In 1988, she released her self-titled album, Lucinda Williams. This release featured “Passionate Kisses,” a song later recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter, which garnered Williams her first Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994.

Known for working slowly, Williams recorded and released only one other album in the next several years, Sweet Old World, in 1992. Her commercial breakthrough came in 1998 with Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, an album presenting a broader scope of songs that fused rock, blues, country and Americana into a distinctive style that remained consistent and commercial in sound. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, which includes the Grammy nominated track “Can’t Let Go“, became Williams’ greatest commercial success to date. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA and earned Williams a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, while being universally acclaimed by critics. Williams released the critically acclaimed Essence three years later, and the album also became a commercial success. One of the album’s tracks, “Get Right with God,” earned Williams the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 2002.

Williams has released a string of albums since that have earned her more critical acclaim and commercial success. She has won 3 Grammy Awards, from 15 nominations, and received 2 Americana Awards, from 12 nominations. Additionally, Williams ranked No. 97 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1998, she was named “America’s best songwriter” by Time magazine in 2002, and was chosen by Rolling Stone as the 79th greatest songwriter of all time.

 

 

Told my baby one more time
Don’t make me sit all alone and cry
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go
I’m like a fish out of water
A cat in a tree

You don’t even want to talk to me
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go
He won’t take me back when I come around

Says he’s sorry then he pulls me out
I got a big chain around my neck
And I’m broken down like a train wreck
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go

See I got a candle and it burns so bright

In my window every night
Well it’s over I know but I can’t let go
You don’t like to see me standing around

Feel like I been shot and didn’t fall down
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go
He won’t take me back when I come around

Says he’s sorry then he pulls me out
I got a big chain around my neck
And I’m broken down like a train wreck
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go

Turn off trouble like you turn off a light

Went off and left me it just ain’t right
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go
Round every corner something I see

Bring me right back how it used to be
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go
He won’t take me back when I come around

Says he’s sorry then he pulls me out
I got a big chain around my neck
And I’m broken down like a train wreck
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go

He won’t take me back when I come around

Says he’s sorry then he pulls me out
I got a big chain around my neck
And I’m broken down like a train wreck
Well it’s over I know it but I can’t let go

It’s over I know it but I can’t let go
It’s over I know it but I can’t let go
It’s over I know it but I can’t let go
Songwriters: Philip M. Symonds / Jeff Lippencott / Mark Thomas Williams

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“Passionate Kisses” is a song that was written and recorded by singer Lucinda Williams for her 1988 eponymous album. It was famously recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter for her 1992 album Come On Come On and released as the album’s third single.

 

 

 

Is it too much to ask?
I want a comfortable bed that won’t hurt my back
Food to fill me up
And warm clothes and all that stuff
Shouldn’t I have this?
Shouldn’t I have this?
Shouldn’t I have all of this, and

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa-oh-oh
Passionate kisses from you?

Is it too much to demand
I want a full house and a rock-‘n’-roll band
Pens that won’t run out of ink
And cool quiet and time to think
Shouldn’t I have this?
Shouldn’t I have this?
Shouldn’t I have all of this, and

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa-oh-oh
Passionate kisses from you?

Do I want too much?
Am I going overboard to want that touch?
I shout it out to the night
Give me what I deserve ’cause it’s my right
Shouldn’t I have this? (shouldn’t I?)
Shouldn’t I have this? (shouldn’t I?)
Shouldn’t I have all of this, and

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa-oh-oh
Passionate kisses from you?

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses, whoa-oh-oh
Passionate kisses from you?

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses from you?

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses from you?

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses from you?

Passionate kisses
Passionate kisses from you?
Songwriters: Lucinda Williams