Daisy Jane

Album: Hearts (1975)
Charted: 20
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Songfacts®:

  • This simple love song is about a man in an uneasy romance with a girl named Daisy Jane. The song was written and sung by Gerry Beckley of America, and like "Sister Golden Hair," it was not about a specific girl, but was a composite of different women he encountered.
  • Recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito, California, "Daisy Jane" had a big-name producer: George Martin, famous for his work with The Beatles (his longtime associate Geoff Emerick was the engineer). Martin produced the America albums Holiday and Hearts.
  • The heartbeat that starts this song isn't an actual human heart. David Dickey, who played bass on the track, created the sounds by hitting muted strings on his guitar. In our interview with Gerry Beckley, he explained: "Every fourth one, we heard this little kind of pumped heartbeat, and said, 'David, how are you doing that?' And he said, 'I'm not doing anything!'

    It took a while to solo all the tracks to realize that little extra 'ca-clump' was my foot coming off the sustain pedal on the piano. You have to listen closely, but those are the funny little things that happen, so we kept it in. It made an interesting little bit for all the headphone fanatics."

Comments: 14

  • Marc from New Haven, CtI cannot believe the "heartbeat sound" is actually from his foot coming off the sustain pedal. That is so wild, because that is EXACTLY how I used to replicate it on my childhood piano when I first heard the song. And I had no idea how it was being done. It just sounded the same, so I kept doing it. Crazy!
  • Ron from AtlantaI've always felt something deeply sad about this song, like it's a suicidal man hoping to be reunited with a dead lover. Flying me back to Memphis (for Daisy's funeral). A crazy man playing a crazy game (with his life). What person says "I think I'm sane" except someone denying his insanity? Do you really love me, I hope you do (because I want to be with you in the afterlife but won't know until I'm dead.)

    Have a great day!
  • Rog from Garden City, NyGreat song. America, you guys are sorely missed these days. I still own the L.P. s but they are worn and scratchy, bummer! I know a girl named Daisy at work and she is so damn beautiful she makes me feel like I'm a teen again. She's 20 years my junior though. This band reminds of happier times in America. RIP band member Dan Peek.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 2nd 1975, America was one of the acts to appear at the Great American Music Fair* at the N.Y.S. Fair Grounds in Syracuse, NY...
    At the time the trio’s "Daisy Jane" was at #24 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; just under three weeks later on September 21st it would peak at #20 {for 1 week}…
    Other acts that appeared at the Music Fair were the Jefferson Starship, the Doobie Brothers, the Beach Boys, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage...
    * And estimated 500 people attempted to crash the Music Fair, which resulted in 60 arrests.
  • Zesty from Maryland This song is about a confused man who may possibly have depression, may be bipolar and his relationship with DJ. When he feels good, i.e. 'over the storm' and 'sky is bright' , the relationships good. Seems he's sure she still loves him probably because he's left before and she's taking him back... Otherwise, how could he be so certain? Another codependent relationship. Still I love the song :-)
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 13th 1975, "Daisy Jane" by America entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #77; and on September 21st, 1975 it peaked at #20 (for 1 week) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #4 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Was track one on the trio's seventh studio album, 'Hearts', and the album peaked at #4 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart...
    Two other tracks from the album made the Top 100 chart; "Sister Golden Hair" (#1 for 1 week) and "Woman Tonight" (#44)...
    R.I.P. member Dan Peek (1950 - 2011).
  • Staley from Dallas, TxI think of this as America's "heartbeat song," from the bass drum intro. But sometimes it's hard to hear it, especially on the radio.
  • Lenny from Edison, NjHey, Octavius ... the only album (besides greatest hits collections) that I seen Daisy Jane on was the 1975 release titled, "Hearts." Never seen it on any copy of "Homecoming"
  • Octavius from New York, NyOkay...can anyone help me with this one? I swear that Daisy Jane was released at some point on Homecoming. Is this possible? Was there ever an extra play or a special release version of Homecoming on which this number was included? This is driving me nuts. I used to play it over & over, and remember thinking it was the perfect compliment to this LP. (of course there were LOTS of mind altering substances involved in my life at the time...but still, I swear...) I've scoured the web looking for some indication that I'm not mistaken but can find nothing. Thing is: I only owned America's first LP and Homecoming.

    Anyhow, to borrow from Beckley: "...Daisy, I think I'm sane..." ( ummm...wouldn't swear to it, tho')
  • Lenny from Edison, NjTo Mary, in Pittsgurgh: I'm sorry to say that you are wrong about the word "don't" in that line.
    That "interrupting" line is actually sung by Dewey and not Gerry. It is very easy to spot this on the YouTube video of the song from the "Live In Chicago 2008" DVD. It is a great version of the song, and they even bring out a Cello player, instead of using a keyboard for the Cello sound.
    It is a MUST SEE if you like this song, Enjoy!
  • Christopher L. from Fort Worth, TxI have ALWAYS been a fan of America.I Love this song because it makes me feel really great and it doesnt matter what is going on in the world or how bad it seems.Ican play this song and forget it all for awhile.
  • Robb from Dexter, MiThe verse melody to Janet Jackson's "Let's Wait Awhile" is nearly a note for note copy of this song.
  • Kevin from Reading , PaKind of a nice Gerry Beckley tune, indicative of how America could do these sort of sweet, easy-listening tunes but not sound like saps -- at least not total saps. This isn't quite on a par with "I Need You," Beckley's classic America piano ballad, but it holds up pretty well.
  • Mary from Pittsburgh, Panot sure if anyone else has noticed this. but the one part where he sings "daisy i think i'm sane." i think the next line, which sort of interrupts the previous line, i think he actually sings "daisy i don't think i'm sane." i think it sort of shows the conflict of the situation. i truly believe he is not repeating "daisy i think im sane," but singing "daisy i DON'T think i'm sane."
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