A.J. Croce (born Adrian James Croce on September 28, 1971 in Bryn Mawr, Pen… Read Full Bio ↴A.J. Croce (born Adrian James Croce on September 28, 1971 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania) is an American singer-songwriter. He is the son of singer-songwriter Jim Croce.

Shortly before his father's death in a 1973 plane crash, Croce's family moved west to San Diego, California, where his mother, Ingrid, raised him.

At the age of four, Croce was completely blinded, as the result of a brain tumor. Between the ages of four and ten, Croce gradually regained vision in his left eye. It was during this difficult time in Croce's life that he began to play the piano. "I learned to play music by listening and playing along to the radio and to records..." Croce says, "At some point I was given the music of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder as inspiration, which it was, and has been ever since."

Croce's first paying gig was at the age of 12, when he was paid $20 to perform at a Bat-Mitzvah party. By the age of 16, Croce was performing regularly at San Diego nightclubs, as a sideman and band leader. Croce reflects, "I was into every kind of music... you might say I was unfocused, but I consider an eclectic taste in music to be the foundation of versatility." Croce's house burned down when he was age 15.

Ron Goldstein and Peter Bauman of Private Music signed Croce to his first record deal at age 19. He recorded two CDs for Private Music: his self-titled debut, "A.J. Croce," produced by T-Bone Burnett and John Simon, and "That's Me In The Bar," produced by Jim Keltner, and featuring artists such as Ry Cooder, David Hidalgo, and Keltner himself.

Croce's third release, "Fit To Serve," was recorded in Memphis, and produced by Jim Gaines, who had previously produced Van Morrison, Santana, and The Steve Miller Band. Croce then took a musical turn with the release of his album Transit. He explained, "I had been playing blues-based music for a long time, and I was ready to try something new." Transit was compared by critics to the work of John Lennon, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison. Glen Starkey of New Times labeled Croce "a song crafter of the first order."

A fifth CD, titled "Adrian James Croce" was released in the summer of 2004, and a sixth CD, Cantos, in 2006.

Croce has performed as an opening act for artists such as Carlos Santana, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, James Brown, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Earth, Wind and Fire and Ray Charles. He has also performed on such national venues as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Austin City Limits.

Now and Then
A.J. Croce Lyrics

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Nightlife be buzzing around you
Open up a window soon
Wonder if it might rain tomorrow
Maybe in the afternoon
Nobody knows nothing anyhow
Don't you think that it's so nice tonight
Trouble is I ain't a good mind reader
But I hope it all goes your way soon

Hope it all goes your way now and then

Now and then

Nightlife be buzzing around you
Open up a window soon
Wonder if the sun will shine tomorrow
Maybe in the afternoon
Nobody knows nothing anyhow
Don't you think that we can do much better
Trouble is I ain't a good mind reader
But I hope it all goes your way soon
Hope it all goes your way now and then

Now and then

Now and then
Now and then

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of A.J. Croce's "Now and Then" evoke a sense of contemplation and uncertainty, capturing a moment in time when the nightlife is alive and bustling, with the constant possibility of change and unpredictability in the air. The imagery of opening up a window and wondering about the weather - whether it might rain tomorrow or the sun will shine - reflects a sense of anticipation and the fleeting nature of life's circumstances.

The repeated refrain of "Nobody knows nothing anyhow" conveys a sense of resignation to the mysteries and complexities of life, highlighting the limited understanding we have of the world around us. Despite this, there is a subtle acknowledgement of the beauty and tranquility of the present moment, with the singer musing on how nice the night is and expressing a hope that things will turn out well for the listener.

The singer admits to not being a mind reader, indicating a lack of complete insight into the thoughts and feelings of others. This admission of fallibility adds a layer of vulnerability and humility to the lyrics, as the singer acknowledges their limitations in understanding and predicting the future. The repeated wishes for things to go "your way soon" and "now and then" reveal a sense of empathy and compassion, as well as a recognition of the cyclical nature of life's ups and downs.

Overall, "Now and Then" captures a moment of introspection and connection in the midst of a lively and uncertain world. It invites listeners to pause and reflect on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of hope, empathy, and understanding in navigating life's uncertainties. The combination of vivid imagery, introspective musings, and heartfelt wishes for the listener's well-being creates a poignant and relatable narrative that resonates with themes of resilience, empathy, and the inevitability of change.

Line by Line Meaning

Nightlife be buzzing around you
The excitement of the evening surrounds you

Open up a window soon
Let some fresh air into your life

Wonder if the sun will shine tomorrow
Questioning whether a better day is on the horizon

Maybe in the afternoon
Perhaps things will improve later in the day

Nobody knows nothing anyhow
No one truly has all the answers

Don't you think that we can do much better
Believing in the possibility of improvement

Trouble is I ain't a good mind reader
Struggling to understand your thoughts and feelings

But I hope it all goes your way soon
Wishing for happiness and success in your future

Hope it all goes your way now and then
Hoping for positive outcomes occasionally

Now and then
Occasionally

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: J.R. Collins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind