Editing Come to My Window

{{Short description|1993 single by Melissa Etheridge}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Come to My Window
| cover      = Etheridge Come.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Melissa Etheridge]]
| album      = [[Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge album)|Yes I Am]]
| released   = 1993
| recorded   =
| studio     = [[A&M Studios|A&M]] (Hollywood, California)
| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
| length     =
* 3:55 (album version)
* 3:35 (edit)
| label      = [[Island Records|Island]]
| writer     = Melissa Etheridge
| producer   =
* [[Hugh Padgham]]
* Melissa Etheridge
| prev_title = [[I'm the Only One]]
| prev_year  = 1993
| next_title = All American Girl
| next_year  = 1994
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Z4aj-t4eGrs|"Come to My Window"}}}}
}}
"'''Come to My Window'''" is a song by American singer-songwriter [[Melissa Etheridge]], released in 1993, by [[Island Records]], as the second single from her fourth studio album, ''[[Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge album)|Yes I Am]]'' (1993). The song was written and co-produced by Etheridge with [[Hugh Padgham]], and was the first song to become a hit after Etheridge publicly announced that she was a [[lesbian]]. With the driving force of [[gay rights]], the song gained substantial airplay on radio stations, mostly through call-in requests.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

"Come to My Window" reached number 25 on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot 100]] chart and stayed on the chart for 44 weeks. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number 13 on the [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'' Top Singles]] chart. It was the second song from Etheridge that earned her a [[Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance]].<ref name="Gram">{{cite web |title=Melissa Etheridge |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/melissa-etheridge/12402 |publisher=[[The Recording Academy]] |access-date=October 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824213416/https://www.grammy.com/artists/melissa-etheridge/12402 |url-status=live}}</ref> The accompanying music video was directed by [[Samuel Bayer]], featuring [[Juliette Lewis]], and received a nomination at the 1994 ''Billboard'' Music Video Awards. In 2019, ''Billboard'' magazine included "Come to My Window" in its list of the "30 Lesbian Love Songs".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/lesbian-love-best-songs-playlist-7972931/|title=30 Lesbian Love Songs: Women Singing About Women (Updated 2019)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Russell|first=Erica|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Song information==
When the song was being promoted, a portion of the song's beginning was omitted. This was to help accommodate some radio stations that wanted an instrumental beginning rather than a vocal one. The song's lyrics describes the intense love that Etheridge has for another person. It describes situations that she is willing to endure and how happy the other person makes her feel. In addition, the song implicitly alludes to the singer's sexual orientation and activism by the lyrics:

:"I don't care what they think.
:I don't care what they say.
:What do they know about this love, anyway?"{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Etheridge tells both in her autobiography and during the interview on the bonus DVD of her greatest hits album that out of all songs she has written, "Come to My Window" is the one that surprises her the most, and that she almost did not put it on the album. She states that while she wrote the song, she did not realize what she was actually writing and that it was not before meeting [[Tammy Lynn Michaels]] that she understood what this song means to other people. She also says that it has the best [[Bridge (music)|musical bridge]] part of all her songs.

The sound effect at the beginning was created by Mauricio Fritz Lewak who put coins inside of a pair of [[clash cymbals]]. This song was also about her girlfriend at the time.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Reaction==
===Critical reception===
Dave Sholin from the ''[[Gavin Report]]'' wrote "[[Singer/songwriter]] extraordinaire, Melissa Etheridge is never short on provocative imagery in any of her songs. She delivers one of her most powerful yet, which is supported by an equally riveting video."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Sholin|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/94/Gavin-1994-01-07.pdf|title=Gavin Picks — Singles|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|date=January 7, 1994|page=|accessdate=March 10, 2022}}</ref> Pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' commented, "Melissa goes mellow, but her massive voice remains a major danger for crystal glasses. In short, the same things happen when you programme [[Rod Stewart]]."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-01-15.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=3|date=January 15, 1994|page=12|access-date=April 22, 2025}}</ref> Sam Wood from ''[[Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' felt "Come to My Window" "features the same annoying strummed tag line that seems to infect too much of what is called women's music. Etheridge may have intended to pay homage to her ghettoized sisters, but flaunting the contrived, amateurish chordal figure does nothing to add to the authenticity of the song. It just sinks it."<ref>Wood, Sam (October 5, 1993). "Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop; Session with Stanley Turrentine". ''[[Philadelphia Inquirer]]''.</ref>

===Accolades===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! | Year
! | Award
! | Category
! | Result
! | Ref.
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1995
| rowspan="2"| [[37th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance|Best Female Rock Vocal Performance]]
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref name="Gram"/>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1996
| ASCAP Pop Music Award
| Most Performed Songs
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 |title=Billboard |page=102 |website=Books.google.com |date=June 1996}}</ref>
|}

==Music video==
The black-and-white music video for "Come to My Window", directed by American visual artist, cinematographer, and commercial, music video and film director [[Samuel Bayer]], cuts between a mental patient played by actress [[Juliette Lewis]] and Etheridge playing her guitar and singing. The video also features "child-like" drawings in certain scenes. According to an episode of VH1's ''[[Pop Up Video]]'', these drawings were created by a crew member's five-year-old daughter. Additionally, the video was to have included an appearance by a little girl; the mental patient's "lost childhood". While the appearance was filmed, it got lost during editing.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} "Come to My Window" was nominated for Best Clip of the Year in the category for Rock at the 1994 ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Music Video Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Deborah|last=Russell|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-10-15-P.pdf#page=12|title=Music Video Award Nominees Named|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=October 15, 1994|page=12|access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref>

==Live performances==
Etheridge performed "Come to My Window" during [[The Concert for New York City]], the benefit concert following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. 
The song was played by the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] in the background of a tribute to wrestler [[Owen Hart]] who died during a match.

Etheridge also appeared on an episode of ''[[The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills]]'', singing "Come to My Window" at a fundraiser for [[Homeless Not Toothless]] at [[Dorit Kemsley|Dorit]] and [[Paul Kemsley]]'s home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1341603/rhobh-has-melissa-etheridge-to-thank-for-stopping-another-dinner-party-from-hell|title=RHOBH Has Melissa Etheridge to Thank for Stopping Another Dinner Party from Hell |date=August 11, 2022 }}</ref>

==Track listings==
All songs were written by Melissa Etheridge.
* '''US and UK CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Come to My Window|others=[[Melissa Etheridge]]|year=1993|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Island Records]]|id=422-858-029-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Come to My Window|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=CID 604, 858 029-2}}</ref>
# "Come to My Window" – 3:55
# "Ain't It Heavy" (live) – 5:34
# "The Letting Go" (live) – 3:51
# "[[I'm the Only One]]" (live) – 5:30

* '''US and Canadian cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Come to My Window|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=US & Canadian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Island Records|id=422-858 028-4}}</ref>
# "Come to My Window" – 3:55
# "Ain't It Heavy" (live) – 5:34

* '''European and Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Come to My Window|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=74321 18241 2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Come to My Window|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=858219-2}}</ref>
# "Come to My Window" – 3:55
# "Ain't It Heavy" (live) – 5:34
# "The Letting Go" (live) – 3:51

==Credits and personnel==
* Vocals and acoustic guitar by Melissa Etheridge
* Drums and percussion by Mauricio Fritz Lewak
* Electric guitar by [[Waddy Wachtel]]
* Keyboards by [[Scott Thurston]]
* Bass by [[Pino Palladino]]
* Engineering by Hugh Padgham
* Assistant engineering by Greg Goldman, John Aguto, Mike Baumgartner
* Mixing by Hugh Padgham
* Mastered by [[Bob Ludwig]] at Gateway Mastering

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1994–1995)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Retail Singles (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-02-12-N.pdf|title=Hits of the World: Canada|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=February 12, 1994|page=82|access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref>
| 16
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|13|chartid=2407|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|25|artist=Melissa Etheridge|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Melissa Etheridge|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|27|artist=Melissa Etheridge|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|22|artist=Melissa Etheridge|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|13|artist=Melissa Etheridge|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2018}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles|''Cash Box'' Top 100]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/popmusichistory/Charts/Cash%20Box%201990s%20(By%20Artist).pdf |title=U.S. Cash Box Chart Entries – 1990 – 1996 |access-date=May 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722235226/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/popmusichistory/Charts/Cash%20Box%201990s%20(By%20Artist).pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 15
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1994)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2687&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2687.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2687|title=RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|via=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|accessdate=March 28, 2019}}</ref>
| 91
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1994|accessdate=August 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121519/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994|archivedate=March 1, 2009}}</ref>
| 43
|-
!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA42-IA8|title=The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=106|issue=52|page=YE-68|date=December 24, 1994|access-date=February 15, 2024}}</ref>
| 24
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Come to My Windo|artist=Melissa Etheridge|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1993|certyear=2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Other versions==
In 1997, [[John Tesh|the John Tesh Project]] featuring Brandon Fields on saxophone, covered the song from their album "Sax All Night."<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p2809|pure_url=yes}}|title=Sax All Night overview|work=[[Allmusic|Allmusic.com]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
* [[Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled]] (Bonus DVD)
* Melissa Etheridge and Laura Morton: ''The Truth Is...'', Random House 2002
* [https://www.amazon.de/Come-My-Window-Melissa-Etheridge/dp/B000001G3K The single on amazon.de]
{{Refend}}

{{Melissa Etheridge}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1993 songs]]
[[Category:1994 singles]]
[[Category:Black-and-white music videos]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance]]
[[Category:Island Records singles]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related songs]]
[[Category:Melissa Etheridge songs]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Samuel Bayer]]
[[Category:Songs written by Melissa Etheridge]]