Willow by Joan Armatrading

Album: Show Some Emotion (1977)

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Joan Armatrading explained in the book I Got Thunder: Black Women Songwriters and Their Craft: "'Willow' I wrote in West Palm Beach. At that point, I was somewhere in my life, both literally and metaphorically - geographically and emotionally - that I didn't particularly want to be. I was in my hotel room one afternoon and outside my window there was this willow tree. At the time it seemed to be the one constant thing in my life, the willow tree. So, it's sort of a love song for the tree."
"Willow" was the first single from Armatrading's fourth album, Show Some Emotion. She was getting a lot of positive press around this time and became known for her songcraft.

Maureen Colleran Battey from Santa Barbara, CaliforniaI have been in love with Joan Armatrading since 1979. Her albums were played throughout my college years, and I was fortunate to see her several times at the Santa Barbara County bowl when I was a student at UCSB. The freedom I felt dancing on the grass in front of the stage with Joan Armatrading being only yards away from me Allowed me to find deep in myself a message. Me myself and I. To be myself and to love myself. I’ve carried that message throughout my life and have tried to teach that to the twins I raised. Only once you love yourself can you love others freely . Thank you Joan Armatrading for this important message in my formative years .

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