Jane

“Jane” is the last track on the standard edition of Street Angel, Stevie Nicks‘ fifth solo album.

About the Song

Stevie Nicks wrote “Jane” for Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned for her work in primatology and conservation biology. Stevie debuted (then-titled) “Jane’s Song” at the International Tribute Jane Goodall in Dallas, Texas, on October 25, 1991.

“I got very inspired, very wrapped up in [Goodall’s commitment to saving the animals] — I still am. [She’s] my idol, a woman who has profoundly affected my life. Because of her, a lot of people’s eyes were opened to the atrocities that go on.

“Not knowing how to write a song about chimpanzees — since I’ve never had one or known one — I basically had to go through Jane’s feelings to write it.

“When she hears it, it’s going to blow her mind that somebody in my generation, somebody in my line of work, would put her — and what she does — as a priority over what I do.

“There is a big part of me that wants to be worthwhile in other areas, also. There is certainly more to this world than rock ‘n’ roll. I know that.” (USA Today, 1991)

“I met Jane in Dallas at the end of 1991. I came back, got all her books and I was just so impressed. She was a lot like me when she was young. She definitely was going to be devoted to something and so was I. I think that some kids are like that and some aren’t. We were both diligently looking for something to devote our lives to — and we both found something.

“Her stories of what some people do to chimpanzees are so horrible. They shoot them full of AIDS, put them in a little cell all by themselves and let them die of AIDS, alone. With no human touch, with no love.  She told me she would go and visit some of these little monkeys that were dying. And when she would hold them, tears would come down their faces. Actual tears.” (Boston Globe, 1994)

On the standard edition of Street Angel, “Jane” is the last track on the album. But on the Japanese release, two additional tracks, “God’s Garden” and “Inspiration” follow “Jane.” 

Lyrics

Such a little girl
Such a hard life
She could look a challenge
Straight between the eyes
Disappointment would become her middle name
Up against the wall, Jane

So her nights became nightmares
As she fought for their souls
And her days became worse
For the ones she loved
Children of the world
The forgotten chimpanzee
In the eyes of the world
You have done so much for me

There are angels here
Angels
There are angels here on earth
Angels sent from God
Come away from the wall
Stay with us
You can, Jane

So she watched as they put them all into cages
Well, they might as well have caged her very own baby
In fact, they might as well have put us both into prison
Through a window all our sorrows
Would become our only visions
Nothing more

There are angels here
Angels
There are angels here on earth
Angels sent from God
You will never feel
That you have ever done enough
But you have, Jane

Such a little girl (such a little girl)
Such a hard life (such a hard life)
She could look a challenge
Straight between the eyes
Disappointment would become her middle name
Up against the wall, Jane
Nothing more than the shadow of a man
Come away from the wall, Jane

Well, they might as well have put us both into prison
Come away if you can, Jane
Through a window all our sorrows
Will become our only visions
Come away, Jane
Come away
Come away if you can

In the eyes of the world
You have done so much

Come away, Jane
Come away, Jane
Jane

(Stevie Nicks/Joel Derouin) © 1991 Welsh Witch Music (BMI) admin. Sony Music, Inc. (ASCAP).

Musicians

References

Morse, S. (1994) Stevie Nicks: ‘Angel’ on her own. Boston Globe.
USA TODAY (1991). A song to help chimps

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