"Broken Bones"

[lilybee]

After listening to the words "broken bones" on a few of his later songs, I thought I'd look it up.

So far I got:

Blues for Janice
Speak of God act like the devil
Meet me on the mountain
Let's Get Away
Don't tell me about the blues
Call on me
Don't Cry

As a matter of fact, Baby Don't Cry and Call On Me, have almost the same lyrics:

"Baby Don't Cry"
Hey little angel, oh hear what I say
The pain that you're feeling
I swear it won't stay
'Cos I got the wisdom
Of a thousand broken bones
And I'll be here with you
So you never be alone

"Call On Me"
I know what you’re thinking
I hear what you say
The pain that you’re feeling
You say won’t go away
But I got the wisdom
Of a thousand broken bones
And I would break every one of them one more time
If that’s what it takes to get you home

Any other broken bones lyrics before he went totally blues?

Lily B.

[Chris]

Hi Lily,
"The broken bones" as well as "the wisdom of a thousand broken bones" I take both for metaphors Chris needed to take his point across; to make a point, if you will.
He's got life's experience and he knows better, therefore he wants to prevent things from happening. "The wisdom" theme comes about in a strophe "a wise old man, he told me this, where the pain you feel and the music kiss..." etc.
Anyway, the "bones" are his favorite subject though, just like in "The Bones of Angels" ("King of the Beach" album), in which he refers to the big Koeln cathedral (the Koeln dom), after visitin it one day.

"The Bones of Angels"

Long shadows
Bright light
That falls to the front
From a darkness behind
There is no end
To this mountain top
Inside these stones
Only peace will we find

Inside out
We're all part of the stone
That makes up the mountain
And harbours the bones
The bones of angels
That showed us the way
You can feel them at night
While they sleep through the day

The bones of angels
The bones of angels

Together we will be
Forever we will see
I see you
And I see me
And the bones of angels

from "King Of The Beach"

Take care,
Chris

[lilybee]

Thanks for sharing that Chris I love that song too!

Now that I know where it's coming from, the words make more sense to me, it's perfect.

Lily B.

[mark hughes]

"broke bones" is a phrase also used in 'Blues For Janice' and 'Meet Me On A Mountain' from the Hofner Blue notes album.