Janis Ian - Stars Lyrics






I was never one for singing
What I really feel
Except tonight, I'm bringing
Everything I know that's real

Stars, they come and go
They come fast or slow
They go like the last light
Of the sun, all in a blaze
And all you see is glory
But it gets lonely there
When there's no one here to share
We can shake it away
If you'll hear a story

People lust for fame
Like athletes in a game
We break our collarbones
And come up swinging
Some of us are downed
Some of us are crowned
And some are lost
And never found
But most have seen it all
They live their lives in
Sad cafes and music halls
They always have a story

Some make it when they're young
Before the world has
Done its dirty job
And later on, someone will say
"You've had your day
You must make way"
But they'll never know the pain
Of living with a name you never owned
Or the many years forgetting
What you know too well

The ones who gave the crown
Have been let down
You try to make amends
Without defending

Perhaps pretending
You never saw the eyes
Of grown men of twenty five
That followed as you walked
And asked for autographs
Or kissed you on the cheek
And you never could believe
They really loved you

Some make it when they're old
(Perhaps they have a soul
They're not afraid to bare
Or perhaps there's nothing there)

Some women have a body
Men will want to see
So they put it on display
Some people play a fine guitar
I could listen to them
Play all day
Some ladies really
Move across a stage
And gee, they sure can dance
I guess I could learn how
If I have it half a chance

But I always feel so funny
When my body tries to soar
And I seem to always worry
About missing the next chord

I guess there isn't anything
To put up on display
Except the tunes
And whatever else I say
Anyway, that isn't really
What I meant to say
I meant to tell a story
I live from day to day

Stars, they come and go
They come fast or slow
They go like the last light
Of the sun, all in a blaze
And all you see is glory
But those who've seen it all
They live their lives
In sad cafes and music halls
We always have a story

So if you don't lose patience
With my fumbling around
I'll come up singing for you
Even when I'm down





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Janis Ian Stars Comments
  1. S.... ....

    I was never one for singing what I really feel
    Except tonight, I'm bringing everything I know that's real

  2. S.... ....

    “I don't paint dreams or nightmares, I paint my own reality.”

  3. S.... ....

    "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
    Friedrich Nietzsche.

  4. S.... ....

    "Alas, poor ghost! To what I shall unfold. Speak; I am bound to hear. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear."
    Hamlet.

  5. S.... ....

    "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice."
    T. S. Eliot.

  6. S.... ....

    "That inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude." William Wordsworth

  7. S.... ....

    All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.

  8. S.... ....

    But those who've seen it all they live their lives
    In sad cafes and music halls

  9. S.... ....

    They always have a story
    Some make it when they're young
    Before the world has done its dirty job
    And later on, someone will say
    "You've had your day you must make way"
    But they'll never know the pain

  10. S.... ....

    “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”

    S.... ....

    Sameoldfitup Until it doesn’t

  11. b.... j....

    Listened to this song in the 90's and i never forgot about it , school days , hard times , i finally found this masterpiece ... I am 44 now , Better late than never , love it 😍!!!!

  12. p.... l....

    shes always good for the words.

  13. V.... G....

    Listening to this hurts so deeply. It makes me think of the people who have helped save my life without even knowing it. There is a pain that resides in me that made it hard for me to want to exist in my early yrs. The look on my mothers face as they brought me back from the other side, was all it took and I never tried again until a year after her death. I woke from a coma due to what they said was a near drowning. From then on something changed in me. The unbridled strength that was my mother seemed to seep into my veins and that little bitch demon who still tries to visit can barely get in the door. It was the talents of people like Ian, Mitchell, Melanie and so many others that have helped me all though my life. Thank you

  14. c.... ....

    Those 100 people who disliked this gem, cannot see the stars 🌟🌠

  15. U.... N....

    We are all stars, drinking down dark matter. (I paraphrase Carl Sagan) <3

  16. B.... N....

    I have this album on vinyl an original version 😊

  17. D.... G....

    I still love this song so much.

  18. B.... X....

    Oh to have another renaissance of masterful beauty in my lifetime.

  19. F.... F....

    An eternal song.

  20. R.... F....

    Les estrelles *.*

  21. m.... h....

    Que voz maravillosa

  22. m.... h....

    Dulce janis beatiful

  23. �.... ....

    에어드레스없어서 못한다

  24. S.... E....

    SO SWEET, SO TALENTED

  25. J.... R....

    so sadly great..

  26. M.... R....

    So many real memories from the great Ms Ian

  27. N.... ....

    STOP MAKING ME CRY JANIS!

  28. A.... G....

    pure beauty in every word and tone

  29. t.... ....

    Stars
    Janis Ian

    I was never one for singing what I really feel
    Except tonight I'm bringing everything I know that's real

    Stars, they come and go, they come fast or slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    Hey but it gets lonely there when there's no one here to share
    We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

    People lust for fame like athletes in a game,
    we break our collarbones and come up swinging,
    some of us are downed
    some of us are crowned, and some are lost and never found
    But most have seen it all,
    they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    They always come up singing

    Some make it when they're young,
    before the world has done its dirty job
    and later on someone will say
    "You've had your day, now you must make way"
    But they'll never know the pain of living with a name you never owned
    or the many years forgetting what you know too well
    That the ones who gave the crown have been let down
    You try to make amends without defending
    Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes of grown men of twenty-five
    that follow as you walk and ask for autographs
    Or kiss you on the cheek and you never can believe they really loved you
    Some make it when they're old
    (Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare
    or perhaps there's nothing there)

    Stars, they come and go, they come fast they come slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    But most have seen it all,
    they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    They always have a story

    Some women have a body men will want to see
    and so they put it on display
    Some people play a fine guitar, I could listen to them play all day
    Some ladies really move across the stage and gee, they sure can dance
    I guess I could learn how, if I gave it half a chance

    But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar
    And I seem to always worry about missing the next chord
    I guess there isn't anything to put up on display
    Except the tunes, and whatever else I say
    But anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say
    I meant to tell a story, I live from day to day

    Stars, they come and go, they're coming fast they come slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    But most have seen it all,
    who live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    And we always have a story

    So if you don't lose patience with my fumbling around
    I'll come up singing for you, even when I'm down

    Writer(s): Janis Ian

  30. d.... b....

    The 3 best songs about fame
    1. "Stars"
    2. Paint A Vulgar Picture -The Smiths
    3. "For The Roses" -Joni Mitchell

  31. S.... l....

    That's too much, man.

  32. L.... 5....

    First time I hear her song is when Icame to Tokyo as a Japan yuki, that was 1980 and were ever I go in Japan Iam always hearing her bgm, I was inlove to her songs and to her lovely voice, even now I love her songs❤️👍greatness 🤝❤️

  33. I.... J....

    Beaultiful!! 😍😭

  34. p.... l....

    the words. written when people took their time to write whats real in life, the 70s.

  35. M.... C....

    Ben la , s'était moi la star , je marchais dans la rue , lunettes de soleil sur la tête , dans le style Romy Schneider , je parlais toujours pas je regardais les vitrines de magasins dans une ville que je connais pas , le problème c'est que si je devais marcher dans la rue comme je le veux vraiment , j'aurais des problèmes 😋

  36. L.... P....

    Beautiful..her voice is so soft it puts me to sleep.

  37. J.... L....

    just beautiful... always echoes in my mind when it goes into the deep forest

  38. r.... m....

    beautiful truth.  timeless.

  39. J.... L....

    just beautiful! Janis Ian's songs remind my twenties in 1980's when I thought life was really cruel but no way but to carry on.

  40. R.... W....

    Love her deep emotional quiet songs

  41. C.... A....

    Oh, que tiempo que no te visitaba Janis, Como van las cosas?.

  42. E.... 2....

    Ohhh. This is so beautiful!

  43. J.... S....

    Janis, such a beautiful soul. I've admired you from afar my whole life. Your songs and words are deep into life
    Such a beautiful heart. Blessings dear heart 😊❤️🙏

  44. b.... ....

    I år er det førtifem år siden denne plata kom ut. Vi husker det godt. Vi var 19 og på besøk hos mormor i Roald Amundsens gate 1 på Notodden. Mellom tolv og ett skrudde jeg på reiseradioen min og kom rett inn i denne låta på NRKs nattsending. - Hvem i all verden er dette? tenkte vi. Heldigvis fortalte programledern dét da sangen var slutt. Vi har vært fan siden. <3

  45. T.... N....

    I want to listen it when I'm tired from watching SHOWROOM (-_-;

  46. K.... C....

    I always got chills when I listen this song her voice is so beautiful...

  47. a.... ....

    Plays every heartstring.

  48. J.... T....

    Precisosa cançó per una de les més originals i sensibles cantants...

  49. S.... M....

    Wow, both Nina Simone and Janis Ian make this song incredible.

  50. Z.... ....

    Couldn't even tell how my feeling was when I listened to this song for the first time. So beautiful, sentimental ... She also wrote a very beautiful song for Lucifer band (Margriet Eshuijs), Self Pity. You should check that one out.

  51. 2.... ....

    i'm discovering this beautiful singer... very sweet.. ... i realized the lyrics are not joyful... but the end is beautiful... i didn't hear them first... i was listening to her voice and the way she used it.. i promise.. i'll sing for you... let my mind deal with all it has to... take care of concrete things.. .no one will do it for me... and i have let everything down.. being with you alone.. . my mind trying to deal with all the uncertainties.. . the misleading of some... my mind has been abused and so shaken by some bad intended people... and believe me... it has been so destabilizing... lost in confusion.. no reference to hang on to anymore... it has been total chaos for my mind... i'm alone to deal with this.. although i know what has happened now.. it takes time for a mind to put pieces back in place... but i'll get back up on my feet... i always have... but you are the only one in my mind all the time...

  52. m.... ....

    I was never one for singing what I really feel 
    Except tonight I'm bringing everything I know that's real

    Stars, they come and go, they come fast or slow 
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze 
    And all you see is glory 
    Hey but it gets lonely there when there's no one here to share 
    We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

    People lust for fame like athletes in a game, 
    we break our collarbones and come up swinging, 
    some of us are downed 
    some of us are crowned, and some are lost and never found 
    But most have seen it all, 
    they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls 
    They always come up singing

    Some make it when they're young, 
    before the world has done its dirty job 
    and later on someone will say 
    "You've had your day, now you must make way" 
    But they'll never know the pain of living with a name you never owned 
    or the many years forgetting what you know too well 
    That the ones who gave the crown have been let down 
    You try to make amends without defending 
    Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes of grown men of twenty-five 
    that follow as you walk and ask for autographs 
    Or kiss you on the cheek and you never can believe they really loved you 
    Some make it when they're old 
    (Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare 
    or perhaps there's nothing there)

    Stars, they come and go, they come fast they come slow 
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze 
    And all you see is glory 
    But most have seen it all, 
    they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls 
    They always have a story

    Some women have a body men will want to see 
    and so they put it on display 
    Some people play a fine guitar, I could listen to them play all day 
    Some ladies really move across the stage and gee, they sure can dance 
    I guess I could learn how, if I gave it half a chance

    But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar 
    And I seem to always worry about missing the next chord 
    I guess there isn't anything to put up on display 
    Except the tunes, and whatever else I say 
    But anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say 
    I meant to tell a story, I live from day to day

    Stars, they come and go, they're coming fast they come slow 
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze 
    And all you see is glory 
    But most have seen it all, 
    who live their lives in sad cafes and music halls 
    And we always have a story

    So if you don't lose patience with my fumbling around 
    I'll come up singing for you, even when I'm down

  53. F.... R....

    GOD, I come back here once and awhile and am literally "Mystified" at this Beauty. This is so deep. Thank You !!!!

  54. D.... G....

    A triumph

  55. C.... U....

    But most have seen it all

  56. C.... ....

    Janis has a lovely voice!

  57. S.... ....

    I never really listened to the lyrics of this song. Haunting and almost scathing, the kind of words that get inside and let you know you're not alone.

  58. R.... R....

    Janis why does your songs hurt so much...😪

  59. T.... G....

    Beautiful song!

  60. A.... H....

    true song writer.

  61. r.... s....

    Some-one ate my Homework

  62. R.... M....

    Such a beautiful song. Janis is surely THE BARD of our times.

  63. M.... ....

    Brings me to tears everytime.

  64. n.... w....

    This is one of my favourite songs. Beautiful. Please listen to the song " You were my friend the writers". Thank you. https://youtu.be/Wr1UPAWdPu0

  65. E.... W....

    😭😭😭

  66. P.... H....

    Very beautiful song, but listen to Francoise Hardy's French version of "STAR". She really have a voice of an angel.

  67. A.... M....

    A great song and a great voice love from the u.k xxxxxxxxx 😃😘😘😘♥♥♥♥🎈🎃🎈🎃🎈

  68. D.... t....

    Beautiful!

  69. M.... M....

    katie melua almost sounded similar to janis ian for a second ther.

  70. C.... W....

    Boy Sand runnin’ with scissors

  71. R.... M....

    Came here from Alessandra De Rossi's version. Go check it out 😉

  72. M.... S....

    Deeply underrated singer-songwriter

  73. d.... ....

    A beautiful song from a beautiful lady.

  74. n.... ....

    Personal perfection.!

  75. D.... M....

    This takes my breathe away!!

  76. D.... W....

    This song makes me feel like I might just explode before it ends. So powerful.

  77. t.... ....

    Stars
    Janis Ian

    I was never one for singing what I really feel
    Except tonight I'm bringing everything I know that's real

    Stars, they come and go, they come fast or slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    Hey but it gets lonely there when there's no one here to share
    We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

    People lust for fame like athletes in a game,
    we break our collarbones and come up swinging,
    some of us are downed
    some of us are crowned, and some are lost and never found
    But most have seen it all,
    they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    They always come up singing

    Some make it when they're young,
    before the world has done its dirty job
    and later on someone will say
    "You've had your day, now you must make way"
    But they'll never know the pain of living with a name you never owned
    or the many years forgetting what you know too well
    That the ones who gave the crown have been let down
    You try to make amends without defending
    Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes of grown men of twenty-five
    that follow as you walk and ask for autographs
    Or kiss you on the cheek and you never can believe they really loved you
    Some make it when they're old
    (Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare
    or perhaps there's nothing there)

    Stars, they come and go, they come fast they come slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    But most have seen it all,
    they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    They always have a story

    Some women have a body men will want to see
    and so they put it on display
    Some people play a fine guitar, I could listen to them play all day
    Some ladies really move across the stage and gee, they sure can dance
    I guess I could learn how, if I gave it half a chance

    But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar
    And I seem to always worry about missing the next chord
    I guess there isn't anything to put up on display
    Except the tunes, and whatever else I say
    But anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say
    I meant to tell a story, I live from day to day

    Stars, they come and go, they're coming fast they come slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    But most have seen it all,
    who live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    And we always have a story

    So if you don't lose patience with my fumbling around
    I'll come up singing for you, even when I'm down

    Writer(s): Janis Ian

  78. A.... B....

    I fell in love with my first girlfried to this song the album belonged to her older sister. It was 1983 we were 17 and knew nothing of love or life i wonder KH do you think of me when you hear it now i hope so xxx

  79. W.... G....

    I can't reconcile tracks like At Seventeen with her pictures. I fell a little in love with her the first album cover I saw. I was so taken I bought it and now I have many others to keep it company. Talent and beauty.

  80. D.... L....

    nina simone's version is much better

  81. i.... ....

    Nina's cover of this was insanely good as well.

  82. i.... ....

    So beautiful.

  83. N.... G....

    There's something about this song that reminds me of Jacques Brel. Does anyone else hear it?

  84. B.... ....

    I was never one for singing what I really feel
    Except tonight, I'm bringing everything I know that's real
    Stars, they come and go
    They come fast or slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    But it gets lonely there
    When there's no one here to share
    We can shake it away if you'll hear a story
    People lust for fame
    Like athletes in a game we break our collarbones
    And come up swinging
    Some of us are downed
    Some of us are crowned
    And some are lost and never found
    But most have seen it all
    They live their lives in sad cafes and music halls
    They always have a story
    Some make it when they're young
    Before the world has done its dirty job
    And later on, someone will say
    "You've had your day you must make way"
    But they'll never know the pain
    Of living with a name you never owned
    Or the many years forgetting what you know too well
    The ones who gave the crown have been let down
    You try to make amends without defending
    Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes
    Of grown men of twenty five that followed as you walked
    And asked for autographs
    Or kissed you on the cheek
    And you never could believe they really loved you
    Some make it when they're old
    (Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare
    Or perhaps there's nothing there)
    Some women have a body
    Men will want to see,
    So they put it on display
    Some people play a fine guitar
    I could listen to them play all day
    Some ladies really move across a stage
    And gee, they sure can dance
    I guess I could learn how if I have it half a chance
    But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar
    And I seem to always worry about missing the next chord
    I guess there isn't anything to put up on display
    Except the tunes and whatever else I say
    Anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say
    I meant to tell a story
    I live from day to day
    Stars, they come and go they come fast or slow
    They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze
    And all you see is glory
    But those who've seen it all they live their lives
    In sad cafes and music halls
    We always have a story
    So if you don't lose patience with my fumbling around,
    I'll come up singing for you even when I'm

  85. O.... C....

    Nina Simone cover is better, IMO.

  86. N.... E....

    Loved this song since I was a child. Summer of '78.

    N.... E....

    Nancy Eisener
    1979 for me

  87. �.... �....

    i do love this song ..Ahh ..

  88. R.... B....

    Janis Ian told it very well...

  89. D.... S....

    Janis Ian and laura nyro really bared their souls in poetry and song. Laura was so private and the only way to know her, she said, was to listen to her songs.

  90. r.... r....

    優しさそして温もりを感じられる名曲です。