Listen to Lucinda’s New "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan"

@ParkerCA wrote:

True. I have seen some white though. Could be an ambulance.

I’ve now seen many video versions of this haunting song by several cover artists and as TOverby wrote, Shel never really disclosed the meaning of the story line, at least not that I could find.
Anyway, here is a video done by the Swedish duo Wiwa from 2008.
It follows the story line rather well with the kids going off to school, re-arranging the flowers, etc.
The video ends with a white ambulance and a white police car.
The whole video reminds me of the Disco Days.
It’s a little bit racy in the visuals but not too much for the Friendly Forum.
Our Lucinda must feel deeply honored to have been chosen for this tribute to Shel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFbThKLLq9k
lwj

@LWjetta wrote:

It’s a little bit racy in the visuals but not too much for the Friendly Forum.

I don’t know, LWJ. I do believe i saw a nipple! 😮 😯 😳

😆

Tom

@ParkerCA wrote:

hmmmmm I might have to rewatch!!! 😈

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

(There’s booty, too!!! 😯 )

Tom

The only thing that makes me lean towards the mental institution angle is the lines, “And she bowed and curtsied to the man who reached and offered her his hand / And he led her down to the long white car that waited past the crowd.” That doesn’t sound like she jumped & committed suicide – unless “the man” is God…

Tom

@TOverby wrote:

The ending of the song has long been debated and Shel Silverstein, who is no longer with us, never said for sure, as far as I know.

Here are direct quotes on the question from the first 2 singers who covered this song.

Dennis Locorriere former lead singer with Dr. Hook

Thanks for the great response to our request for questions. There were
questions that were asked by more than one person and a few that we
combined so Dennis could cover more of what you seemed to want to know
in his answers.
In his usual personable, off the cuff style, we’re sure Dennis has
answered either something you, personally, asked or, at least, were
curious to know.
Start reading…there’s 30 of them!

17) Q: In the song ‘The Ballad of Lucy Jordan’, does she jump or is she
just taken away to care? My wife and I have discussed this at length.
(We saw you live in Melbourne Australia last time you were there and
still rate it as one of the best we have seen.)

A: I get asked this quite often, especially seeing as how I’m not the
guy who wrote the song.
Shel never told me what he thought happens at the end of the story. We
never discussed it. I just sang it the way I felt it and Shel must have
felt it that way too. What way was that?
Well, what do you think happens? Then, that’s what happens, I guess.

From ITV’s South Bank Show June 24, 2007-Here is a quote from Marianne Faithfull

The Ballad of Lucy Jordan was, Faithfull explained, originally a hit for Dr Hook (I had no idea of this
) and she said that she heard the song and knew that she could turn it around and present it from the
woman’s point of view; make it into a kind of anthem. The ending of the song does not mean that
Lucy Jordan commits suicide – rather she is taken away to an asylum …

The moral of the ballad maybe is that the ending can be interpreted either way.
lwj

I love the beauty of lyrics that are written where the listener can interpret them for a situation that is unique to them.

Lu’s version is beautiful, haunting. I think it’s the best I have heard, including Marianne Faithful’s version.

Thanks Lafayette. Awesome radio station.