Album: Late For The Sky (1974)

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• Looking through some photographs
  I found inside a drawer
  I was taken by a photograph of you
  There were one or two I know that
  You would have liked a little more
  But they didn't show your spirit quite as true
  
  You were turning 'round to see who was behind you
  And I took your childish laughter by surprise
  And at the moment that my camera happened to find you
  There was just a trace of sorrow in your eyes
  
  Now the things that I remember
  Seem so distant and so small
  Though it hasn't really been that long a time
  What I was seeing wasn't what was happening at all
  Although for a while, our path did seem to climb
  When you see through love's illusions,
  There lies the danger
  And your perfect lover just looks like a perfect fool
  So you go running off in search of a perfect stranger
  While the loneliness seems to spring from your life
  Like a fountain from a pool
  
  Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
  You've known that hollow sound
  Of your own steps in flight
  You've had to hide sometimes
  But now you're all right
  And it's good to see your smiling face tonight
  
  Now for you and me it may not be
  That hard to reach our dreams
  But that magic feeling never seems to last
  And while the future's there for anyone to change
  Still you know it seems
  It would be easier sometimes to change the past
  I'm just one or two years
  And a couple of changes behind you
  In my lessons at love's pain and heartache school
  Where if you feel too free
  And you need something to remind you
  There's this loneliness springing up from your life
  Like a fountain from a pool
  
  Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
  You've known that hollow sound
  Of your own steps in flight
  You've had to hide sometimes
  But now you're all right
  And it's good to see your smiling face tonight
  
  Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
  You've known that hollow sound
  Of your own steps in flight
  You've had to struggle, you've had to fight
  To keep understanding and compassion in sight
  You could be laughing at me, you've got the right
  But you go on smiling so clear and so bright Writer/s: JACKSON BROWNE
  Publisher: Jackson Browne/Swallow Turn Music/Night Kitchen Music/Open Window Music
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

• Mrmeaning from Leicester, UkIn his introduction to a 2014 live performance of 'Fountain of Sorrow', Browne explained that he wrote it for an ex-lover. He’d run into her some time after they separated, was impressed by her beauty, remembered ‘all the good stuff’, and wrote the song for her. His introduction concluded: ‘But as time went on, as years went on, it turned out to be a more generous song than she deserved‘. The audience’s knowing and sympathetic laughter showed they got Browne’s dry reference to Joni Mitchell and her vengeful song, 'Not to Blame'. Pressed about that introduction in an interview, Browne said: ‘The things that come to bear in that song are the healing and acceptance of each other’s differences. That’s what I meant by it being more generous than she deserved.’ In the same interview Browne was asked about the meaning of these lines: 'When you see through love’s illusion there lies the danger, and your perfect lover just looks like a perfect fool'. He replied, gnomically: ‘It’s about the fact that when you fall in love with someone, when you’re brokenhearted, you don’t see them as a person.’ (See my blogpost, https://soothfairy.com/2015/03/29/jackson-browne-and-daryl-hannah/#bro)
• Eddie from Braselton, GeorgiaFrom his masterpiece album, "Late For The Sky". In my experience, albums you instantly like quickly become throwaways. But difficult music grows with repeated listenings. Throw in meaningful lyrics that resonate, and you've really got something. My first few times through, the songs all seemed the same to me (ha!) and now I can only say, "What was I thinking?!"
  
  When I finally grasped all of 'Fountain Of Sorrow', I was hit with a gut punch. The image of someone in a surprised photograph smiling until they notice that it was a former lover and not who they thought it was originally. They don't want to hurt your feelings, but....."just a trace of sorrow in their eyes." I've been there. It hurts. But I'll keep the photo.
• Bobbymcgee from SyracuseThis song is a reflection of the dalliance he had with Joni Mitchell. A great bridge in the song and really perfectly crafted piano.

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