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.
Inside Out
Aynsley Lister Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Filling the space I need to breathe, why can't they see
How can they say the things they do
Criticise me, treat me like a fool
Tell me just what it is I need
when they don't even know me
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
What makes me tick when only you're the one yeah
The only one
who knows me inside out
Not content to leave alone
Talk about me like I'm their very own
They seem to think they got a right
To step into my life
‘Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
They all seem so intent to bring you down
They say they really care but you're the one yeah
The only one who knows me inside out
Inside out, yeah inside out
‘Cause they can't just seem to wanna put it down
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
What makes me tick when only you're the one
The only one,
you're the only one
‘Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
They all seem so intent to bring you down
They say they really care but you're the one
The only one,
you're the only one
The lyrics to Aynsley Lister's song Inside Out explore the theme of intrusion and invasion of privacy. Lister's frustration is evident in the opening verse as he sings about being caught in the firing line and wanting to be left alone. The use of the phrase "inside my head" connotes that the perpetrators are trying to invade the most private and intimate part of his being. He goes on to express his dissatisfaction with how people treat him, criticise and judge him, and makes it clear that he feels misunderstood, asking "How can they say the things they do?".
The second verse reflects on the feeling of being a victim of gossip and being talked about by people who believe they have a right to interfere in Lister's life. The use of the word "vultures" suggests that these people are like scavengers waiting to prey on their prey. Lister's resentment about how people are trying to bring him down comes to a climax in the chorus, where he affirms that only one person, presumably his partner or someone close, knows him inside out.
In summary, the lyrics of Inside Out reveal Lister's frustration with people who have no business interfering with his life and trying to bring him down. Lister's message is clear - no one knows him better than the person who truly loves him.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught in the firing line again, they wanna get inside my head
I feel under attack again, people are trying to control my thoughts and emotions.
Filling the space I need to breathe, why can't they see
Their words and actions are suffocating me, and they don't seem to realize it.
How can they say the things they do
I'm perplexed as to why they would say and do the things they are doing.
Criticise me, treat me like a fool
They are judging me harshly and disrespecting me.
Tell me just what it is I need
They are telling me what I should do, despite not knowing what's best for me.
when they don't even know me
They don't truly know who I am as a person.
‘Cause they can't just seem to wanna put it down
They aren't willing to stop their behavior towards me.
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
They are lecturing me without any real understanding of my situation.
What makes me tick when only you're the one yeah
Only you truly understand my motivations and what drives me.
The only one
who knows me inside out
You are the only person who knows me completely and intimately.
Not content to leave alone
They aren't satisfied with leaving me in peace.
Talk about me like I'm their very own
They speak about me as if they own me, even though they have no right to do so.
They seem to think they got a right
They believe they have a right to interfere in my life, despite not being invited or welcome.
To step into my life
They are intruding into my personal life and boundaries.
‘Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
There are many people who seem to want to take me down or harm me.
They all seem so intent to bring you down
Their motivations seem to be focused on destroying me in some way.
They say they really care but you're the one yeah
They claim to care about me, but only you truly care and understand my needs.
Inside out, yeah inside out
Everything about me is exposed, and they can see every aspect of me.
The only one,
you're the only one
You are truly the only person who knows and understands me completely.
Writer(s): Aynsley Craig Lister
Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elizabeth Hernandez
Caught in the firing line again, they wanna get inside my head
Filling the space I need to breathe, why can't they see
How can they say the things they do
Criticise me, treat me like a fool
Tell me just what it is I need
when they don't even know me
'Cause they can't just seem to wanna put it down
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
What makes me tick when only you're the one yeah
The only one
who knows me inside out
Not content to leave alone
Talk about me like I'm their very own
They seem to think they got a right
To step into my life
'Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
They all seem so intent to bring you down
They say they really care but you're the one yeah
The only one who knows me inside out
Inside out, yeah inside out
'Cause they can't just seem to wanna put it down
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
What makes me tick when only you're the one
The only one,
you're the only one
'Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
They all seem so intent to bring you down
They say they really care but you're the one
The only one,
you're the only one
Joe Liska
A very respectful artist. This one is full tribute to John Mayer. Aynsley Lister is a blues historian if you pay attention.
Pranjit Deka
So glad to hear ur music sir , i discovered ur track today , great piece of work.
Nilson Meucci Neto
Sensacional!!!!
Sinjin von Richthofen
digging this sound
Elizabeth Hernandez
Caught in the firing line again, they wanna get inside my head
Filling the space I need to breathe, why can't they see
How can they say the things they do
Criticise me, treat me like a fool
Tell me just what it is I need
when they don't even know me
'Cause they can't just seem to wanna put it down
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
What makes me tick when only you're the one yeah
The only one
who knows me inside out
Not content to leave alone
Talk about me like I'm their very own
They seem to think they got a right
To step into my life
'Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
They all seem so intent to bring you down
They say they really care but you're the one yeah
The only one who knows me inside out
Inside out, yeah inside out
'Cause they can't just seem to wanna put it down
Yet still they preach knowing nothing about
What makes me tick when only you're the one
The only one,
you're the only one
'Cause the vultures seem to come from all around
They all seem so intent to bring you down
They say they really care but you're the one
The only one,
you're the only one
Twelve Above
One of our Favs!
cosy1234
how many are you?
yuza791
Fantastico!
tedlings333
Class.
paul chumley
so tasteful.