Biography:
Lister started playing guitar at 8 and played his first concert in a bar band at the age of 13. He had learned guitar by playing along to his father's old 45s of Freddie King, John Mayall and Eric Clapton. By the time he was 18, having already been in several bands, he formed his own, which recorded two albums Messin' With The Kid (1996) and Pay Attention! (1997). Three numbers written by Lister, on the second album, attracted the attention of Ruf Records' owner Thomas Ruf. In 1998 they signed a record deal and Lister recorded his first major album, Aynsley Lister, produced by Jim Gaines. The tracks were primarily Lister compositions, and the album featured a guest appearance by Walter Trout. The album led to him touring Europe and working with some of the top current blues players.
While Lister's music is blues based, his own material incorporates contemporary influences with harder rhythms and guitar work, reminiscent of early Eric Clapton. Lister was the only British artist to be featured in Classic Rock's 2007 "Top 10 Contemporary Blues Artists"; alongside The White Stripes, The Black Keys, John Mayer, Jon Spencer, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks and the North Mississippi Allstars.
After his first album Lister began opening for artists such as Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, John Mayall and contemporaries such as Bryan Adams and Fun Lovin Criminals. Having become better known, he now headlines major festivals in Europe. He has twice played the Heitere Open Air in Switzerland to 12,000 people and in 2006 he played the main stage at The Bayfront Blues Festival, MN. Later that year he was invited to sit in with Delbert McClinton at The Pinedale Blues Festival in Wyoming, where Delbert kept Lister on stage for the whole second half of his show. In May 2009, Lister played to over 16,000 people whilst opening for the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd on the UK dates of their God and Guns tour, performed a headline slot at Glastonbury in 2010 and during the same year, shared the stage with ZZ Top at the Skånevik Bluesfestival in Norway.
Lister has also recorded with Jesse Davey from the English blues band The Hoax on Everything I Need (2000) and All Or Nothing (2002) both produced by Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia). Everything I Need was his debut US release in 2006, in preparation for a US tour, and received critical acclaim. Lister's fourth studio album, and his first to only contain original material, was 2007's Upside Down which Lister produced himself.
In June 2008 Lister changed to ARM Management and signed to Manhaton Records in August 2008, releasing Equilibrium in March 2009. Equilibrium was produced by Steve Darrel Smith and features Robbie McIntosh, Paul Beavis and Simon Johnson. Following "Equilibrium", he and his band relocated to the Tower Arts Centre and with the tape rolling, nailed a cracking rendition of their high-octane live set to produce the storming 'Tower Sessions' record, which was released on Manhaton Records in 2010 and consequently voted 'Best Live Album' in the 2011 Blues Matters Writers Poll.
For the tenth album of his career to date, "Home" (2013), Aynsley has flown the nest of being under contract with anyone but himself. "Home" is the debut release for his own label "Straight Talkin' Records," set up in partnership with his fiancée and manager, Stephanie Wildey in the same year.
As The Crow Flies
Aynsley Lister Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the crow flies baby, well I ain?t so far from you
But since I don?t have wings, I can?t get home as fast as I want to
In a dream last night, where I heard you call my name
Well I took it as an omen and jumped on the very first freight train
Well you don?t know baby how I miss your sweet caress
Well you don?t know baby how I miss your sweet caress
When I?m in your loving arms baby
You know that?s how I?m at my very best
The song "As The Crow Flies" by Aynsley Lister is a poignant expression of yearning and longing for a loved one. The opening lines, "As the crow flies baby, well I ain't so far from you," suggest that physical distance is not the only barrier between the singer and their loved one. Though they may be close in proximity, for the singer, the longing for love is deep and abiding. The line "But since I don't have wings, I can't get home as fast as I want to" hints at the impossibility of bridging this emotional distance with mere physical proximity.
The chorus continues this theme of yearning for physical closeness, with the singer dreaming of hearing their loved one's voice calling out to them. The line "Well I took it as an omen and jumped on the very first freight train" suggests a desperate desire to be reunited with their beloved, even if it means taking risks or finding unconventional means of transport. This longing for closeness is further underscored by the lines "Well, you don't know baby how I miss your sweet caress / When I'm in your loving arms baby / You know that's how I'm at my very best." The singer seeks refuge and fulfillment in the physical connection with their lover, finding a sense of completeness and emotional fulfillment that is otherwise elusive.
Overall, the lyrics of "As The Crow Flies" express a deep sense of longing for physical and emotional closeness that is at once universal and deeply personal. The singer's desire for their loved one is palpable and raw, speaking to the experience of so many people who have felt the ache of distance and the longing for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
As the crow flies baby, well I ain?t so far from you
Even though I may be physically distant, I feel close to you
But since I don?t have wings, I can?t get home as fast as I want to
I want to be with you as soon as possible, but there are limitations that prevent me from doing so
In a dream last night, where I heard you call my name
I had a dream about you, and it felt like a sign or message from you
Well I took it as an omen and jumped on the very first freight train
I interpreted the dream as a call to action and immediately took steps to see you
Well you don?t know baby how I miss your sweet caress
I long for your physical touch and affection
When I?m in your loving arms baby, You know that?s how I?m at my very best
Being close to you brings out the best in me and makes me feel truly happy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TONY JOE WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind