Jeff Buckley — Lilac Wine
Album: GraceAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 408
Length: 4:26
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I lost myself on a cool damp night
I gave myself in that misty light
Was hypnotized by a strange delight
Under a lilac tree
I made wine from the lilac tree
Put my heart in its recipe
It makes me see what I want to see
And be what I want to be
When I think more than I want to think
Do things I never should do
I drink much more that I ought to drink
Because it brings me back you
Lilac wine
Is sweet and heady
Like my love
Lilac wine
I feel unsteady
Like my love
Listen to me
I cannot see clearly
Isn't that she
Coming to me
Nearly here
Lilac wine
Is sweet and heady
Where's my love
Lilac wine
I feel unsteady,
Where's my love
Listen to me
Why is everything so hazy
Isn't that she
Or am I just going crazy, dear?
Lilac wine
I feel unready for my love
Feel unready
For my love
I gave myself in that misty light
Was hypnotized by a strange delight
Under a lilac tree
I made wine from the lilac tree
Put my heart in its recipe
It makes me see what I want to see
And be what I want to be
When I think more than I want to think
Do things I never should do
I drink much more that I ought to drink
Because it brings me back you
Lilac wine
Is sweet and heady
Like my love
Lilac wine
I feel unsteady
Like my love
Listen to me
I cannot see clearly
Isn't that she
Coming to me
Nearly here
Lilac wine
Is sweet and heady
Where's my love
Lilac wine
I feel unsteady,
Where's my love
Listen to me
Why is everything so hazy
Isn't that she
Or am I just going crazy, dear?
Lilac wine
I feel unready for my love
Feel unready
For my love
Comments (92)add comment
I have ever known have mooned over this chap like soppy does. Over rated maybe, in my mind sums him up best. He's good, but he doesn't get me frothing. Mystery White Boy - so so.
I'd rather listen to SLADE to be honest.
In fact, when was the last time any SLADE was ever played on this station? Or Lindersfarne?
Do you think he listens to Queen?
I like this one from Buckley and it is not because he is dead!!!!
Outstanding...
Live at Sin-e.... I own that one. I remember passing by that place when it was so crowded people were pouring out the door. People were talking about the person performing was being recorded... I wonder if that was it.. I so wish I went in to check him out.
Jimi_the_Saint wrote:
Also, released posthumusly (sp?) was Live at Sin-e, which is at least as good as Mystery White Boy.
Actually, it was originally released in 1993 -- the 2003 release was a "Legacy Edition".
ruthless wrote: Buckley worked on material for his follow-up effort, provisionally titled My Sweetheart, the Drunk. Originally slated to be produced by Tom Verlaine, who later dropped out of the project, Buckley finally began work on the record in Memphis during the late spring of 1997. On the night of May 29, he and a friend traveled to the local Mud Island Harbor, where Buckley spontaneously decided to go swimming in the Mississippi River and waded into the water fully clothed. A few minutes later, he disappeared under the waves; authorities were quickly contacted, but to no avail on June 4, his body was finally found floating near the city's famed Beale Street area. Buckley was 30 years old. A collection of unreleased recordings, Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk), appeared in 1998, and two live albums arrived during 2000-2001, Mystery White Boy and Live at L'Olympia.
Also, released posthumusly (sp?) was Live at Sin-e, which is at least as good as Mystery White Boy.
Love Jeff Buckley. And Jeff loved Nina. He covers a few of her songs and does them all justice (I dare say he recorded better versions of some of her songs - esp. "Be My Husband").
Great vocal performance! Reminds me a little of Freddie Mercury (my all time favorite male vocalist) -- not the vocal skill but similar nuances of expression.
Rafter101 wrote:
Ye naysayers--
Remember that Buckley died (oops--should we wear a life jacket when swimming in swift rivers?) while making this recording. His mother insisted that the CD be made without engineering, so what you hear is Buckley's raw voice--good and bad. This is one of the rare "real" recordings you will hear of a musician.
Um... no he didn't. He died while recording the songs that later made it onto "Sketches..." This was seen through to completion and saw some nice touring for a good while after its release.
Another pure, raw, artistic talent taken too soon, swallowed up by their demons. Jeff's father Tim battled drug addiction until it overtook him; Jeff subbed alcohol but the result was the same. Damn shame.
c.
Just sublime....
A voice as clear and plaintive as we will ever hear. Sheer beauty. Raw, emotionally authentic. Gawd, just one more song, Jeff.... just one more song.
I never thought someone could compare to Nina, but this is good.
Sublime - a straight 10 of course!
I didn't know Jeff Buckley is gone!
WOW, a Muse - Radiohead - Jeff Buckley falsetto block. I knew it will happen someday.
Jeez, this was beautiful. I am stunned by all the haters. Buckley's intensity is daunting.
thatslongformud wrote:
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_Wine
"Buckley considered Simone's to be the definitive interpretation of the song, stating, "I've only heard Nina Simone's...And that's the only one that matters. There's one by Eartha Kitt. There's one by Elkie Brooks, which I've never, ever heard. There's another one. They've done it, but Nina does it best. That's the end all of it. That's the be all end all version. She's the king." <1>"
I was thinking of uploading the Elkie Brooks version. I like it much more than this (and I've given this one an 8!!)
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_Wine
"Buckley considered Simone's to be the definitive interpretation of the song, stating, "I've only heard Nina Simone's...And that's the only one that matters. There's one by Eartha Kitt. There's one by Elkie Brooks, which I've never, ever heard. There's another one. They've done it, but Nina does it best. That's the end all of it. That's the be all end all version. She's the king." <1>"
Ye naysayers--
Remember that Buckley died (oops--should we wear a life jacket when swimming in swift rivers?) while making this recording. His mother insisted that the CD be made without engineering, so what you hear is Buckley's raw voice--good and bad. This is one of the rare "real" recordings you will hear of a musician.
this song exudes passion 
This is pretty wretched, as is most stuff from Jeff Buckley.
Please put him and ME out of his misery...Pleeeezzz
slartibart_O wrote:
Awful. Could be worse, could be Hallelujah...
zevon wrote:
And the same segue again.
I guess from now on I can start cringing halfway through No Surprises.
Awful. Could be worse, could be Hallelujah...
And the same segue again.
I guess from now on I can start cringing halfway through No Surprises.
of course... 
for some reason I really really like this, especialy following Radiohead.
Jeff Buckley's voice and style on this number sounds just like Eric Carmen...or is it just me...
bindi wrote:
Good segue - Radiohead, then Jeff.
And again tonight! Good stuff, RP!
Good segue - Radiohead, then Jeff.
I hear that Radiohead were big fans of his and that Fake Plastic Flowers was recorded right after being at a Jeff Buckley concert.
He will always be missed - what a voice!
a 5 at the beginning and an 8 or 9 by the end. lovely.
One of the most spiritually intense songs from this amazing album. A 10 - of course!
algrif wrote:
Just suits ny mood this morning. But I prefer this song by a female singer. I would have rated it higher.
An English singer, Elkie Brooks, covered it in the 70's. Wonder if it's on the iMusic store...
Just suits ny mood this morning. But I prefer this song by a female singer. I would have rated it higher.
So beautiful it brings a tear to the eye 
this song seems to have brought out the all or nothing crowd. some us are 10+, others are hateful.
i for one, adore, admire and miss the hell out of JB, and this album is ....
well, there are no words, really.
This song makes me all blushy... tee hee
Come back to us Jeffy!!!
:-(
This song would be great sung as a torch song in a cabaret.
Not one of my favorites of Jeff's, and yet I'll take it anyday! 
From one of the greatest albums of all time, definitely a 10... 
Beanie wrote:
I can run very hot and cold on Jeff. Some of his songs are like having my teeth drilled. Then there's this track. Just heavenly.
I agree- a lot of Jeff Buckley is fairly vomitous... I'm not sure if it's the memories I associate with this track, or if it's actually that good... but every once in a while, he gets it right, and this seems like one of those times.
My first-ever sucko-barfo rating on RP after three years. Whoa.
I first heard Jeff singing "Last Goodbye", which seems to be about three derivation stages before this one, i.e., the other song rocked, and I really liked it until I understood the lyrics.
I mean, I like to think of myself as a sensitive guy, but this dude's a wimp. On the order of the one portrayed by a red-haired, piebald Brendan Fraser in Bedazzled.
warbly, fey, overwrought.
should have saved it for group therapy jeff.
OmegaConcern wrote:
I have to say, I know a number of people who swear this guy is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I have to disagree. I bought the album on recommendations and will be selling it on Ebay.
I just can't get into the sappiness of it all. His warbling and wallowing is almost unbearable. I'll be changing the station now. You can keep him.
I totally agree. I bought this album some time ago based on (1) seemingly unanimous critical praise and (2) hearing friends rave about how good it was/is. I gave it numerous listens but just never could get into it and ended up selling it myself at a used record/cd store here in town.
My teeth hurt already...make it stop...........
ohmygodthisisbad
seriously, it hurts, make it stop.
Sounds a little like Freddie Mercury, only not as good.
I can run very hot and cold on Jeff. Some of his songs are like having my teeth drilled. Then there's this track. Just heavenly. :meditate.gif:
I have to give the nod to Nina Simone on this one
Beautiful.
Tiny Tim's illegitimate son?
Yech.
This is a great song. I don't know who did it first, but I MUCH prefer the version by Katie Melua, much more tuneful and less ponderous... 
OmegaConcern wrote:
I have to say, I know a number of people who swear this guy is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I have to disagree. I bought the album on recommendations and will be selling it on Ebay.
I just can't get into the sappiness of it all. His warbling and wallowing is almost unbearable. I'll be changing the station now. You can keep him.
Well said. I don't think I have heard this before. However, to me this IS the definition of trying to hard.
OmegaConcern wrote:
I have to say, I know a number of people who swear this guy is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I have to disagree. I bought the album on recommendations and will be selling it on Ebay.
I just can't get into the sappiness of it all. His warbling and wallowing is almost unbearable. I'll be changing the station now. You can keep him.
Fair enough ... there's stuff out there that everyone gushes over that I don't get at all. To me, this is a brilliant record, and Lilac Wine is one of the best on it.
They say that, had he lived, he couldn't have kept up this type of singing ....
Anyone out there still not getting Jeff Buckley, maybe you were not meant to like music, period.
I have to say, I know a number of people who swear this guy is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I have to disagree. I bought the album on recommendations and will be selling it on Ebay.
I just can't get into the sappiness of it all. His warbling and wallowing is almost unbearable. I'll be changing the station now. You can keep him.
The pills are starting to kick in. I've got to go home before I can't drive anymore.
Did I just type that?
My Favourite JB Song ever!!! a 10 is an understatement of the genius of this man!!!
this is bad
shutter wrote:
Sorry, I just think this guy's voice sounds like whiny howling. Simply annoying to me. Mebbe it is the aforementioned Freddy Mercury similarity but I just can't enjoy any of his songs. They seem to never end.
Of course, when something is great, you don't WANT it to end. As for the Mercury comparison, it's apples and oranges, like saying that Lennon songs sound like McCartney songs because they both use a backbeat. Can't any male rock singer use a high pitch and NOT be compared to Mercury?
BTW - Buckley is fab. More, please.
TRANSCENDANT.
A 9.
shutter wrote:
Sorry, I just think this guy's voice sounds like whiny howling. Simply annoying to me. Mebbe it is the aforementioned Freddy Mercury similarity but I just can't enjoy any of his songs. They seem to never end.
I'm with you on this one. Yikes.
Incredible how much he knew about all sorts of music and was able to incorparate all those different influences into his own music so obviously.
Sorry, I just think this guy's voice sounds like whiny howling. Simply annoying to me. Mebbe it is the aforementioned Freddy Mercury similarity but I just can't enjoy any of his songs. They seem to never end.
His voice sounds a bit like Freddie Mercury on this track. This is the only Buckley tune I've heard that doesn't grate on my nerves. I think it's because he avoids his usual vocal calisthenics.
I like this more and more every time I hear it. 7...8....9
masterhead wrote:
No this dude Buckley..aarrrgghh.. Did he die?
from Spin
"Jeff Buckley's death was so rife with rock-star symbolism--he drowned after playfully jumping into a Memphis marina only to get swept away by a Mississippi undertow--that it's easy to forget that he never quite became one."
masterhead wrote:
Ok, I have been listening to the song and I got to feel and perceive a lot of his emotions. I guess I just needed to be at home and not at the office.
Yeah, maybe that's it. After I heard "Grace" for the first time, I was blown away. I tried to play it at work for a friend, and he was non-plussed by it (of course, he loves the Dave Matthews Bland, who I find boring).
This particular song took a little while before I truly appreciated it, but it's hauntingly beautiful. Jeff Buckley was a musical paradox, a diva trapped in a rocker's body.
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
it's kind of an acquired taste. it's all that emotion...can be a bit much at first.
am crazy about his work myself...but i have to be in the right mindset.
i read somewhere that buckley had the widest vocal range of any non-operatic singer except freddie mercury.
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
it's kind of an acquired taste. it's all that emotion...can be a bit much at first.
am crazy about his work myself...but i have to be in the right mindset.
Ok, I have been listening to the song and I got to feel and perceive a lot of his emotions. I guess I just needed to be at home and not at the office.
drH wrote:Funny: Of all the songs on Grace, I'd have thunk this one the least likely to be played here. :-k
Corpus Christi Carol is more unlikely ;)
Funny: Of all the songs on Grace, I'd have thunk this one the least likely to be played here. :-k
Lovely...gripping...like a male Nina Simone!
I can't believe people could be negative about this song.... the entire album of Grace is other-worldly... ah well, maybe some just don't get it...
Rhodin wrote:
Your voice, Masturbate?
No this dude Buckley..aarrrgghh.. Did he die?
A rare talent...vanished in the wind
This album really hits a chord with most RP listeners but for me, sounds like Hell's sound track. Let's agree to disagree.
Your voice, Masturbate?
Talking about an extremely annoying voice...undoubtely sucko barfo...
Ooooooooooh........ sigh... melt.....
Damn it Jeff...why?
yessss.....
wonderful
Buckley rules.
Do you think he listens to Queen?
not anymore...
anyway - i remember hearing this for the first time (love everything on Grace) and i had no idea it was a cover. but it totally made sense when i found out about the original.