Shelter in a storm, your willow when the sun is out

You can listen to a YouTube of the recorded version of Joan Armatrading singing “Willow” here, but it does not permit embedding. However, it does include the link to Ms. Armatrading’s Web site and a link to buy the song on iTunes.

Willow by Joan Armatrading

I may not be your best

But you know good ones

Don’t come by the score

If you’ve got something missing

I’ll help you look

You can be sure

And if you want to be alone

Or someone to share a laugh

Whatever you want to do

All you got to do is ask

Thunder

Don’t go under the sheets

Lightning

Under a tree

In the rain and snow

I’ll be your fireside

Come running to me

When things get out of hand

Running to me

When it’s more than you can stand

I said I’m strong

Straight

Willing

To be a shelter

In a storm

Your willow

Oh willow

When the sun is out

A fight with your best girl

Prettiest thing you ever saw

You know I’ll listen

Try to get a message to her

And if it’s money you want

Or trouble halved

Whatever you want me to do

All you got to do is ask

I said I’m strong

Straight

Willing

To be a shelter

In a storm

Your willow

Oh willow

When the sun is out

In the 1980’s and 90’s I  think Margaret and I were able to see Joan Armatrading in concert almost every time she came to the Washington, D.C., area. I think the first concert we ever attended together was Joan Armatrading at the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Constitution Hall in D.C. in the fall of 1984 and I recall standing up with the audience and dancing — Margaret could still walk a bit then, so I think she stood up and danced, too.

I think the last time we saw Joan Armatrading she performed at Wolf Trap in Virginia. Her concert included her playing a tedious jazz guitar solo, like she wanted people to be impressed and take her more seriously because she could play the guitar as well as thousands of snobby studio musicians, neglecting the fact that NOT ONE other person in the world has a luminous voice like hers. I suspect envious narcissistic studio musicians did the same thing to end Joni Mitchell’s career as a singer by undermining her faith in the music that made her famous and convincing her that she could only be a serious musician if she turned to jazz.