Lee grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA. He has been quoted as saying that he is fortunate to have seen different sides of life in America. Lee enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1995. He began to play guitar and write songs seriously while he studied English. After graduating with an English degree, Lee moved back to Philadelphia to teach elementary school. He later made the tough decision to stop teaching in order to pursue a career in music. Shortly thereafter, he released a self-produced EP that featured five of his original songs, which did extremely well in Philadelphia and created a buzz. Norah Jones was the person who finally gave Lee his big breakthrough when she asked him to open for her 2004 tour. Lee then went on to produce his self-titled debut album. In March and April of 2005 Lee opened for the tour that Merle Haggard and Bob Dylan were both embarking on, all 3 performers were extremely well received by critics as the tour went by, with Dylan receiving some of his strongest reviews in years. On October 3, 2006, Lee released his second album, "Supply & Demand" to critical and commercial acclaim.
At the age of only 27, Amos Lee has enjoyed notable success with his debut album and looks to have a promising future in the music business. His favorite artists and sources of inspiration include Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, John Prine, Bill Withers, and James Taylor.
Colors
Amos Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Felling like such a mess
Now I'm down I'm just hanging on the corner
I can't help but reminisce
When you're gone all the colors fade
When you're gone no New Year's Day parade
You're gone
Colors seem to fade
Your mama called she said that you're down stairs crying
Feeling like such a mess
Yeah I hear you you're in the background bawling
What happened to your sweet summertime dress
I know we all, we all got our faults
We get locked in our vaults and we stay
But when you're gone all the colors fade
When you're gone no New Year's Day parade
You're gone
Colors seem to fade
Colors seem to fade
Yeah
In Amos Lee's song "Colors", the singer reflects on feeling lost and broken, and how the absence of a loved one can impact one's perceptions of the world. The opening lines describe the singer feeling lost in a "circus," overwhelmed and uncertain. However, the singer finds themselves "just hanging on the corner," reminiscing about a time before their loved one was gone. As the chorus repeats, the singer recognizes that without the person they're missing, all of the colors in their world fade away. Every day feels mundane, without the vibrancy and excitement that their loved one brought into their life.
The second verse seems to describe a conversation between the singer and their loved one's mother, who reports that the loved one is crying and feeling like a mess. The singer empathizes, acknowledging that everyone has their faults and struggles, but in the same breath returns to the central message of the song: that life is a little less bright and joyful when the person you love is gone.
In many ways, "Colors" is a song about the power of love to bring vibrancy and excitement to life. Without the person you care about most, even the most exciting days can seem dull and lifeless. It's also a song about empathy, recognizing the pain and struggles of others even when you yourself are hurting. Finally, the song offers a bittersweet reminder that life goes on even when we lose someone we love deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday I got lost in the circus
I felt overwhelmed and disoriented by the chaos and spectacle of life
Feeling like such a mess
I felt like my life was disorganized and out of control
Now I'm down I'm just hanging on the corner
I feel lost and aimless, just waiting for something to happen
I can't help but reminisce
I can't stop thinking about the past and what once was
When you're gone all the colors fade
When you're not here, everything seems dull and lifeless
When you're gone no New Year's Day parade
Without you, there's no sense of celebration, no joyous occasions
Your mama called she said that you're down stairs crying
Your mother called and told me that you were upset and emotional
Yeah I hear you you're in the background bawling
I can hear you crying in the distance, and it saddens me
What happened to your sweet summertime dress
What caused you to lose your innocence and happiness?
I know we all, we all got our faults
We're all imperfect and flawed in our own ways
We get locked in our vaults and we stay
We often hide our true selves away and remain trapped in our own minds
Colors seem to fade
Life loses its vibrancy and beauty when you're not around
Colors seem to fade
Everything becomes dull and monotonous, lacking the spark of your presence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RYAN MASSARO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind