In 1993, He started his musical career as the singer in Planet Waves, a group which released only one album, Brutal Awakenings before splitting up due to internal conflicts. He then turned to a solo career, releasing the debut solo album Cottonfish Tales. In 1999, he had an international hit with the single Glorious, which later featured on the album Liebling, which has been used in a number of advertisements including Volvo, Nutella and Vauxhall. Deadly Happy, his third solo album, was released in 2002, and Mr Johnson, Your Room Is On Fire was released in 2005. 2007 he gave out a greatest hits CD called The Collector.
Bio from the poet site written by Unbry, Mysty and Bending:
March 22nd, 1970 - Lund, Southern Sweden: a wonderful baby starts to let the world hear his phenomenal voice: his name is JON ERIK ANDREAS JOHNSON. His mummy is called Marie, his daddy Gigge; they're both jazz musicians. He also has an older brother called Olof who's now a lawyer. Since they were children, the Johnson brothers have travelled throughout the world with their parents, always in a tour: "I've grown up on the stage, surrounded by instruments, scores and dressing-rooms sometimes not decent. [...] I was the group's mascot and to joke or because I liked it, I always ended up with taking a microphone in my hands, often on daddy's knees..." Music becomes a natural yearning for Andreas: as a kid he used to fall asleep listening to his mother singing jazz songs instead of traditional lullabies, believe it or not! In his early teens he moves with his family in a Stockholm suburb: "There was not so much to do, I only had three choices: sport, drugs or music and I chose the last!". He starts joining small bands and making his first experiences; his first band Silver Arrow made its debut in an assembly-hall at school "It was my first gig ever, It ended up with that I and the two guitarists went up and played without drummer. The guitarists were so nervous that they played with their back against the public". But his parents disagree with him having seen many friends quitting their musical career pretty soon. "So you don't want me to be in the music world? I'll prove you wrong!"
Andreas releases his first album with Planet Waves, "Brutal Awakenings", published by EMI only in Scandinavia. The band seems to take inspiration from Bob Dylan, and also the title is the same of a Dylan's album (Andreas will later confess that they didn't actually know anything about that album!). Between 1993 and 1995 love brings him with the band to New York, where he finds his first personal inspirations for his songs; back in Stockholm the band splits up "We didn’t come to agree. It became a total conflict. Also physical confrontations, fights".
Under the American influence Andreas releases, again with EMI and only in Scandinavia, his first solo album, "Cottonfish Tales". And here problems begin, he fight with EMI because they don't give him enough freedom, he takes a period off in Berlin and in this magic city the new album "Liebling" starts to breathe in only 2-3 months.
The album is dedicated to Debbie Starlight, mysterious inspiring muse, dead before her time but somehow still present in his songs' sounds. Italy brings inspiration too: he spends a couple of weeks in Porto Ercole, Tuscany, and, inspired by green Tuscanian hills, he writes 8 songs, 3 included in the album (the last three). As a final gift he gets a new contract with another recording house, WEA. Tales say that when Andreas went to WEA he brought with him three sample songs in DAT format, but the player jammed right at the proof moment; he took a guitar and decided to make a live performance, with an acoustic version of "The Games We Play": the editor was immediately crazy about it and signed the contract the same day! The POET's talent strikes back!
After the album conclusion, comes the single choice: for about two weeks Andreas and his band try to choose a song to be released as a single, but everyone has his own favourite and the choice is not easy; in the end the album opening song is chosen: "Glorious". In Gothenburg, during the first months of 1999, in an old dismissed gas container, Karl-Johan Larsson directs the video of "Glorious"; in interviews Andreas always says that it was "quite frightful: I was 80 metres above the ground and we were even without permissions!". The song is published just before summer, but it doesn't reach immediate success: "This song is too distressing for summertime" the POET says. But during autumn it becomes the biggest success of the season: it reaches the third place in Italian singles chart and also the fourth place in the "difficult" English chart, which is a quite good result for a debut single! Andreas receives two nominees for the Swedish Grammy Awards, as best single and best video for 1999. Critics unanimously recognise that "Glorious" is "the most beautiful song of the last decade". Concerts in Germany, England, Spain and Sweden are always sold out.
..At the end of 1999 the new single, "The Games We Play", is published in Sweden, reaching 7th place in the chart. Unsatisfied with the video shot in Praga, Andreas decides to shoot a new version during the weekend 4-5 march 2000, with the same director of "Glorious", Karl-Johan Larsson, and again in Gothenburg waiting for the new single to be published in the rest of Europe on May 15..
..In Autumn 2000 “People” video was ready and directed by Karl-Johan Larsson too in Kiev/Ukraina. At our advise the best video of our POET..
..After a long European tour from 1999 till Autumn 2000 till the presentation of the best hip hop MTV Europe Award, a long working period gets him ready to conquer the world..
...15/12/01 he is ready to enter in all charts with the new single Shine. A little taste coming from the new album Deadly Happy, third work of the Swedish singer songwriter, that will be released in Europe between March and April...
.. No one will ever stop the POET)
Waterfall
Andreas Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Staring at a son that she just can't touch
If at any time he's in a jam she'll be by his side
But he doesn't realize he hurts her so much
But all the praying just ain't helping at all
'Cause he can't seem to keep his self out of trouble
So, he goes out and he makes his money the best way he know how
Another body laying cold in the gutter
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast
Little precious has a natural obsession for temptation
But he just can't see
She give him loving that his body can't handle
But all he can say is, "Baby, it's good to me"
One day he goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror
But he doesn't recognize his own face
His health is fading and he doesn't know why
Three letters took him to his final resting place
Y'all don't hear me
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast
I seen rainbow yesterday
But too many storms have come and gone
Leavin' a trace of not on God-given ray
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray
I pray all ten fade away
Seldom praise Him for the sunny days
And like his promise is true
Only my faith can undo
The many chances I blew
To bring my life to anew
Clear blue and unconditional skies
Have dried the tears from my eyes
No more lonely cries
My only bleedin' hope
Is for the folk who can't cope
Wit such an endurin' pain
That it keeps 'em in the pourin' rain
Who's to blame
For tootin' caine in your own vein
What a shame
You shoot and aim for someone else's brain
You claim the insane
And name this day in time
For fallin prey to crime
I say the system got you victim to your own mind
Dreams are hopeless aspirations
In hopes of comin' true
Believe in yourself
The rest is up to me and you
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast
The song "Waterfall" by Andreas Johnson tells the story of two situations where individuals are struggling with addiction, and the dire consequences that follow. The first verse portrays a mother helplessly watching her son spiral out of control, constantly getting in trouble and disregarding her advice. The chorus then comes in, warning him not to chase success and indulge in risky behavior that can lead to destruction.
The second verse zooms in on a man who is indulging in hedonistic pleasures, represented by a woman who offers him pleasure despite the damage it is causing to his health. As he continues his addictive behavior, he gradually loses himself to his addiction, eventually passing away from it. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the necessity of sticking to one's safe habits and not chasing excessive desires. The bridge then portrays hope amidst the bleak circumstances, with the singer praying for a better future where people don't succumb to addiction and can have clarity and positivity in their lives.
Overall, "Waterfall" is a cautionary tale that encourages listeners to be mindful of their behavior and not give in to temptation. Through its story of addiction and loss, the song emphasizes the importance of self-control, moderation, and caution in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
A lonely mother gazing out of her window
A mother is sitting by herself, looking out the window, feeling sad and helpless about her son's situation
Staring at a son that she just can't touch
She is looking at her son who is going through a tough time, but she can't seem to connect with him emotionally
If at any time he's in a jam she'll be by his side
The mother is willing to support her son in hard times
But he doesn't realize he hurts her so much
The son is unaware that his actions are affecting his mother deeply
But all the praying just ain't helping at all
Despite her prayers, nothing seems to be getting any better
'Cause he can't seem to keep his self out of trouble
The son keeps getting himself in trouble and can't seem to stay out of it
So, he goes out and he makes his money the best way he know how
To deal with his problems, he resorts to making a living the only way he knows how
Another body laying cold in the gutter
Unfortunately, his way of making money leads to a grim result
Listen to me
The singer is trying to convey a message
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Don't bite off more than you can chew
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
Stay with what you know and what is safe
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
I understand that you feel like you need to do things your way, but it might not be the best decision
But I think you're moving too fast
The singer thinks that the person is moving forward too quickly and needs to slow down
Little precious has a natural obsession for temptation
Someone, referred to as "little precious," has a tendency to give in to temptation
But he just can't see
He is blind to the dangers of what he is doing
She give him loving that his body can't handle
His partner provides him with affection that his body can't handle
But all he can say is, "Baby, it's good to me"
He disregards the negative effects of the relationship and only thinks about the pleasure he receives from it
One day he goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror
One day, he looks at himself in the mirror
But he doesn't recognize his own face
He doesn't recognize the person looking back at him
His health is fading and he doesn't know why
He is experiencing health problems but doesn't understand why
Three letters took him to his final resting place
He dies due to complications from a disease
Y'all don't hear me
The singer is emphasizing the importance of the message he is trying to convey
I seen rainbow yesterday
The singer saw a rainbow recently
But too many storms have come and gone
There have been many difficulties and hardships in his life
Leavin' a trace of not on God-given ray
There is lingering evidence of those hard times
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray
The singer questions if his life is bleak and depressing
I pray all ten fade away
He hopes that all of the pain and hardship he has experienced will disappear
Seldom praise Him for the sunny days
We don't give enough thanks or appreciation for good times
And like his promise is true
God keeps his promises
Only my faith can undo
Having faith is the only way to reverse the negative effects of life's difficulties
The many chances I blew
The many opportunities and chances in life that the singer didn't take advantage of
To bring my life to anew
To turn his life around
Clear blue and unconditional skies
Bright and pure skies with no negative influences
Have dried the tears from my eyes
The good times have made the bad times easier to bear
No more lonely cries
The singer is no longer feeling alone and helpless
My only bleedin' hope
His only hope, despite his past experiences, is to believe in himself and move forward
Is for the folk who can't cope
He hopes that others who are struggling can also find hope and strength
Wit such an endurin' pain
Those who are in prolonged pain and suffering
That it keeps 'em in the pourin' rain
Their pain feels like a never-ending rain storm
Who's to blame
The singer is questioning who is responsible for this situation
For tootin' caine in your own vein
Drug addiction and substance abuse as a means of escape
What a shame
The situation is sad and unfortunate
You shoot and aim for someone else's brain
Taking out your frustration on others instead of dealing with your own issues
You claim the insane
You try to justify your actions by claiming insanity
And name this day in time
The day you realize that you need to take control and change your life
For fallin prey to crime
For becoming a victim of crime, possibly due to your own actions or decisions
I say the system got you victim to your own mind
The system has failed you and you are now a victim of your own mind
Dreams are hopeless aspirations
Dreams can feel unattainable and hopeless
In hopes of comin' true
Despite feeling hopeless, we still hold onto the hope that they will come true
Believe in yourself
The most important thing is to have faith in yourself
The rest is up to me and you
We take control of our lives and make the best of our situations, no matter how difficult they may be
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andreas Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind