Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson (August 8, 1944 – July 25, 2017), was an American pop, coun… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Johnson (August 8, 1944 – July 25, 2017), was an American pop, country and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1978 hit song "Bluer Than Blue". He charted four hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and nine more on the Hot Country Songs charts, including two Number One country hits in 1986's "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder". He also co-wrote "Cain's Blood", the debut single of 1990s country group 4 Runner.

Johnson was born in the small town of Alamosa, Colorado, in the south-central part of the state; he grew up in Denver. He started playing the guitar at 13. In 1963, he began attending Colorado State University to study music but his college career was truncated when he won an international talent contest two years later. First prize included a deal with Epic Records. Epic released the song "Hills", written and sung by Johnson, as a single. Johnson began extensive touring of clubs and colleges, finding a receptive audience everywhere he went.

Wishing to hone his instrumental skills, in 1966 he set off for Barcelona, Spain, to the Liceu Conservatory, studying with the eminent classical guitarists, Graciano Tarragó and Renata Tarragó. Upon his return to the States, he joined Randy Sparks in a group called the New Society and did a tour of the Orient. When the band dissolved in 1967, he signed on with the Chad Mitchell Trio for a year, spending some of that time co-writing with another member, John Denver. The group was renamed Denver, Boise & Johnson. When the trio came to an end, Johnson made a radical departure from everything he had done previously by taking on a major supporting role in the off-Broadway production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." The show visited New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago over the next year; by then, Johnson was ready to return to creating and performing his own music.

In 1971, Johnson signed with Atco Records to release his first album, There Is A Breeze, which was released in 1973 and produced by Johnson, Chris Dedrick, Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone in New York and Toronto, Canada. Feeling this first effort wasn't a true reflection of his music (despite being a huge best seller in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area), Johnson self-produced his next LP in 1975, For All You Mad Musicians, relying more on his voice and guitar for a folk feel. He followed this up with Ain't Dis Da Life, where he added a rhythm section. With each new recording and his continued touring, his popularity was increasing. It was time to make a move on the national market.

Teaming up with Brent Maher and Steve Gibson in Nashville, Tennessee, Johnson created a two-song demo consisting of "Bluer Than Blue" and "Almost Like Being in Love" (the latter song from the Broadway musical Brigadoon). EMI America took one listen and wasted no time in signing him, quickly getting The Michael Johnson Album out in 1978. The first single, "Bluer Than Blue", became Johnson's first Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1978; the song became a chart-topping single on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Almost Like Being in Love" went to No. 91 on the R&B chart while hitting the Top 5 on the AC chart and the Top 40 on the pop chart. His next EMI album, Dialogue, provided his third big hit, "This Night Won't Last Forever" and a Gold Record for European sales of "I'll Always Love You."

Johnson recorded five albums in all for EMI and in 1985 moved over to RCA Records, where he adopted a contemporary country style that stayed compatible with his soft, mellow leanings; this shift was evident in his choice of duet partners country-pop singers Juice Newton and Sylvia. Johnson's change proved successful, as he scored five Top Ten country hits from 1986 to 1989, including the chart-toppers "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder." After two country albums on RCA (plus two greatest hits collections), Johnson moved over to Atlantic Records in 1991, which effectively halted his commercial momentum. He recorded sporadically in the 1990s for smaller labels. In 1995, the country music group 4 Runner scored a minor hit with the single "Cain's Blood", for which Johnson co-wrote an updated version with Jack Sundrud of Poco. Johnson also proved to be a successful writer of print when he wrote "The Solo Performer" columns for the magazine Performing Songwriter from 1993 through 1998.

In August 2007, Johnson underwent successful quadruple bypass heart surgery. A charitable organization, "Friends of Michael Johnson," was temporarily set up to help defray medical expenses.

Johnson died July 2017, at his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 72.
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Michael Johnson Lyrics


25 Words Or Less I like springtime flowers that grow along the lane I like…
After You I still dream of yesterday, when it almost all came…
Ain Ain't dis da life, ain't dis da life Ain't dis da…
Ain't Dis Da Life Ain't dis da life, ain't dis da life Ain't dis da…
Almost Free Last night you pushed me a little too far I was…
Almost Like Being In Love What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
April Fool I'm just a fool for April There's nothing more to say Long…
Blackmail Came here to see you yesterday But the maid said you…
Blame It On The Rain Call it a day, throw your memories away You got your…
Bluer Than Blue After you go I can catch up on my reading After you…
Bristlecone Pine Way up in the mountains on the high timber line There's…
Cain Half of my blood is Cain's blood, half of my…
Cheatin' On The Blues He left you, she left me, drowning in this misery We…



Chicken Road Once I got a splinter in the joint of my…
Circle Of Fifths My life goes on in a circle of fifths Around from…
City Of The Angels City of the angels, spread your wings for me I've been…
Company Man She's got my picture inside of her locket She's got a…
Cool Me in the River of Love Cool me in the river of love, cool me in…
Cryin Baby said she's leaving and you know She didn't even…
Crying Shame Baby said she's leaving and you know She didn't even…
Dancin Don't waste time, it's now or never The girl won't stay…
Departure Hey let's go up on the mountain tonight And be lovers…
Dialogue Stranded in a waiting room, he turns to her, How…
Diamond Dreams Two men on, two men down Not a friendly face in…
Dirty Hands Dirty hands, dirty faces What am I gonna do about you You've…
Dirty Hands And Dirty Faces Dirty hands, dirty faces, what am I gonna do about…
Distant Fire I just had to hear your voice tonight My heart left…
Don Ask me any kind of question, Anything you want to…
Don't Ask Why Ask me any kind of question, Anything you want to…
Doors Doors Why do there have to be doors 'Cause when you walked…
Drops Of Water There's a bird in my tree Singin' sad autumn melodies Ther…
Emilio Emilio lives in an attic Plays a flamenco guitar Our prayers…
Empty Hearts Are you leaving, are you going Did you think you could…
Foolish If I've treated you bad And I've acted unkind It must…
Give Me Wings He asked her, what gifts can I bring you To prove…
Goodbye Goodbye Sad songs for a little while But I can smile And …
Gotta Learn to Love Without You Gotta hold my pillow real tight till the midnight hour…
Gypsy Woman Drifting through a caravan around the campfire light Lovely …
Half The Moon Half the moon is shining tonight, half the moon is…
Han går aldrig förbi dig Jag ser hur du ensam och modlös satt dig ner I…
Hangin Every body's got problems, everybody gets low Everybody's g…
Hangin' On Every body's got problems, everybody gets low Everybody's go…
Happier Days Well I could sing you a song about the happier…
Hello Hello I thought you might like to know I loved her She lo…
Here Comes The Sun Little darlin' It's been a long cold lonely winter Little …
High On The Border Take me under, take me down And bend me like the…
Home Free Maybe I'm crazy but I'm only Trying to relate when there's…
I The arms that long to hold you are empty tonight I've…
I Can't Get To You From Here I'm glad you called me, I still feel your voice Touch…
I Got You Covered It's time to ask the homeless to go home Happenings must…
I Just Can Baby, you're just like me Wearing your heart out on your…
I Just Can't Say No To You Just look at this mess that I'm in For a gentle…
I Still Love You The arms that long to hold you are empty tonight I've…
I Will Whisper Your Name Tonight I am thankful 'cause tomorrow begins A lifetime tog…
I'll Always Love You Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
I'm Gone When you came to me, you said love could not…
If You Can You closed the door Before I asked to have it opened You…
ill always love you Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
Imogene I remember images of bridges crossed And being left on the…
In 25 Words Or Less I like springtime flowers that Grow along the lane I like su…
In Your Eyes In your eyes I go flying In your lies I see…
It There've been lots of other girls Since I first met…
It Must Be You If there are reasons why I should come down off…
It's Only Over for You Somehow I knew I'd see you tonight Here at our old…
Just One Look I guess you know me better than I′ve ever known…
Leave It Alone Girl, don't let him take your pride Be good to yourself You…
Let Me Go Back Home Memories fill me on lonely, empty nights A light that burns…
Let This Be A Lesson To You Isn't it nasty, isn't it sad Don't it make you wonder Don'…
Life Ain't dis da life, ain't dis da life Ain't dis da…
Life's a Bitch Fresh out of college, carrying a Ph.D. I thought with all…
Lifetime Guarantee You say inside you beats a heart that could love…
Love And Sex I wanna meet somebody that I can talk to I wanna…
Love Me Like The Last Time Oh my love, now that you're here by me I can…
Lucky Stars Time turns to dust things that we trust Time works on…
Magic Time He pulls into her driveway His headlights flash across her …
May You Never May you never lay your head down Without a hand to…
Miami Beach Back in '37, when she first walked down that street She…
Moon Is Still over Her Shoulder She is fixed in his mind like the picture He's kept…
Moving In The Same Circles We called it quits a year ago, saw the writing…
Mr. Arthur's Place Mr. Arthur's place is set about a mile just off…
My Opening Farewell The lady stands before the open window Staring so far away S…
O.B. Glad O. B. Glad you're alive And today is the one day You've…
Oh Rosalee Bye bye to Chicago, so long to St. Lou Going back…
Old Fashioned Love I take my love seriously 'Cause I don't believe that love…
Old Folks The old folks don't talk much and they talk so…
On The Road Back in 1958, we drove an old V-8 And when it…
One Honest Tear You wonder how long we'll last and when I see…
One Mile Apart My name is Mary Francis And I live in El Paso In…
Our Snowflake Dreams Our snowflake dreams In a crystalline flurry and swirlin' th…
Pilot me No way I see through the storm Pilot me, pilot me No…
Ponies Somewhere out on the prairie Is the greatest cowboy that's …
Poor Little Robin Poor little robin, down with the blues She could make a…
Q.T I see your car at the bottom of the hill In…
Q.T. I see your car at the bottom of the hill In…
Rich Like Me On a hill at the edge of town There's a man…
Ridin Which way's the wind, how hard does it blow Up over…
Right Through The Heart Baby goes for prettier boys With shinier toys that make the…
Roller Coaster Run I ride a roller coaster up and down an asphalt…
Rooty Toot Toot For The Moon The whole kit and caboodle is in disrepair There's no where…
Rosalee Rosalee, why do you look at love so carefully Where is…
Sailing Without A Sail In the dark of the night something magic In the words…
Samson And Delilah When we first met, it was Juliet and that rascal…
Savin There've been lots of other girls Since I first met…
Savin' It Up There've been lots of other girls Since I first met…
See You Soon You know it seems I been about everywhere I been out…
She She looked into a heart so sad And saw what no…
She Put The Sad In All His Songs He was a good time beer bar picker Only until she…
She's Real I had stuffed animals when I was just a kid I…
Slutar försöka Jag hört om dig att du kan gå på vatten Jag…
Software She came to me inside a package all the way…
Some People's Lives Some people's lives run down like clocks One day they stop,…
Staying With It This is it, this is what I've waited for so…
Take My Body Home Well you can see here in my eyes I'm moving on…
Temptation Casey ought to know by now She's had time enough to…
That There's a quarter moon that's laying up on the ridge And…
That's That There's a quarter moon that's laying up on the ridge And…
That's What Your Love Does to Me I used to love free and easy Hitting the road any…
The Glory You always wanted to be a big rock 'n' roll…
The Good Life Honey we're gonna have a good life I can tell All our…
The Gypsy In The Photograph The gypsy in the photograph Has a laugh you've seen before S…
The Love She Found In Me She looked into a heart so sad And saw what no…
The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder She is fixed in his mind like the picture He's kept…
The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulders She is fixed in his mind like the picture He's kept…
The Night Won Everybody likes a celebration, happy music and conversation,…
The Power I tell myself it's wrong to think of you I say…
The Very First Time What a change you've made in me I can't get the…
There You don't ever have to change your world Cause I can…
There Is A Breeze There is a breeze that comes by here everyday Freshens the…
There's A Love You don't ever have to change your world Cause I can…
This Ain't The Night To Be Me Life of the party, feel like a fool Just look at…
This Night Won Everybody likes a celebration, happy music and conversation,…
Time Sweet Time If you're lonely, wait awhile Someone's coming by who'll fi…
To Feel A Friend And she told me of the lover So I listened like…
Too Soon To Tell So now there's somebody new And these dreams I've been drea…
Troubled For You I've troubled for you from time to time That's why nothing…
True Love True love takes a long tome to make Losing it causes…
Two In Love Two in love, life is worth living Two in love, takes…
Two Ships That Passed In The Moonlight He was chasing fame and fortune, glory bound He was too…
Unconditionally If it's me you want, I'm yours I'm a house of…
Walk Me Round Your Garden For all you mad musicians when your dreams of fortune…
We Can Live On Love Baby, you're just like me Wearing your heart out on your…
When You Come Home When you come home, fire'll be burning deep inside my…
Whenever I Call You Friend Whenever I call you friend I begin to think I understand Any…
Who You used to never could let go Now you hold me…
Who's That Look In Your eye You used to never could let go Now you hold me…
Worth The Trouble Even though you love her, even though she loves you Even…
You I was so full of hope, I was so full…
You Can Call Me Blue Well I'm not a foolish man but I'm half out…
You Sure Fooled Me I must have been too good to be true So trusting…
You You You I was so full of hope, I was so full…
You're Not Easy To Forget Everyone's saying it's for the best And I shouldn't be feeli…
You've Got To Be Carefully Taught You have got to be taught to hate and fear Day…


JGold


on Dialogue

first time i heard this song, i teared up. there's something about this song's melody & lyrics that grip my heart. in a beautiful way. & i still tear up when i hear this song

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