The Forgotten Chimpanzee .... ?!

[Sahara]

I haven't heard Jane in quite a while, so I put it in the CD player and this line just jumped out at me...

"Children of the world
The forgotten chimpanzee
In the eyes of the world
You have done so much for me..."

I rewound several times to make sure I heard it right, and yes, the word really was "chimpanzee"...

Not a word I ever expected to hear in a Stevie Nicks song, if I'm being honest... so what on earth is that line about?!

[catinthedark]

the song is about jane goodall.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

the song is about jane goodall.

.....It all makes so much more sense now....!!

Thank you!!

[Beatlesfan]

That's what I always assumed - it's a neat sentiment, but it's still almost comical every time I hear that line - nowhere else will you ever hear a line like that!

[strandinthewind]

I love it and I am not ashamed to admit it .<<<<<<<< and that's a period

[Johnny Stew]

The line gets a lot of flack, and of course it's not the most poetic thing Stevie's ever written, but, really, would you write a song about John Glenn and not mention the moon or space exploration? Or a song about Steve Erwin and not mention crocodiles?

[foxyluva]

"Jane" is the worst song Stevie has ever recorded. Period.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

The line gets a lot of flack, and of course it's not the most poetic thing Stevie's ever written, but, really, would you write a song about John Glenn and not mention the moon or space exploration? Or a song about Steve Erwin and not mention crocodiles?

I blame the klonopin. The song sucks and so does that chimp lyric.

You can write a song about someone famous and not be glaringly trite. She did it with Gypsy (for Robyn) and Edge of 17 (for Lennon and her Uncle) without being ridiculous.

Many songwriters get the message to the lyric without blantantly banging it over your head. Metaphors are a good thing.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

The line gets a lot of flack, and of course it's not the most poetic thing Stevie's ever written, but, really, would you write a song about John Glenn and not mention the moon or space exploration? Or a song about Steve Erwin and not mention crocodiles?

True enough! Why did she decide to write a song about Goodall in the first place...? She's done fantastic and important work of course, but it's not something I'd associate with being particularly close to Stevie...?

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by foxyluva

"Jane" is the worst song Stevie has ever recorded. Period.

actually Docklands has that title.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Sahara

True enough! Why did she decide to write a song about Goodall in the first place...? She's done fantastic and important work of course, but it's not something I'd associate with being particularly close to Stevie...?

It was written (with Joel Derouin) for a 1991 benefit concert in honor of Jane Goodall, and then Stevie recorded it for 'Street Angel.'

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Richard B

I blame the klonopin. The song sucks and so does that chimp lyric.

You can write a song about someone famous and not be glaringly trite. She did it with Gypsy (for Robyn) and Edge of 17 (for Lennon and her Uncle) without being ridiculous.

Many songwriters get the message to the lyric without blantantly banging it over your head. Metaphors are a good thing.

I wouldn't call Robin Anderson or John Nicks "famous," but I understand what you're saying.

I do still think the "chimpanzee" reference helps make this particular song specific to Jane Goodall and not just some random woman named "Jane."

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It was written (with Joel Derouin) for a 1991 benefit concert in honor of Jane Goodall, and then Stevie recorded it for 'Street Angel.'

That's interesting...! A lot of the lyrics seem very personal, though, "you have done so much for me" in particular... like Stevie had a real personal connection with the woman for whom she wrote it, although it doesn't seem to me that she had that with Jane Goodall.... Any thoughts?

[priestofnothing]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

actually Docklands has that title.

Ah yes, I agree, Docklands.... let's go down to the LAUNDROMAT!
And throw our Frankenbocks in the spin cycle....

Stevie at her mystical worst. LOL!

But....
Me loves her still...

[Beatlesfan]

Actually, the lyrics to Docklands never really hit me I love the music to it, so I just sing along without even paying attention to what I'm singing most of the time.