After learning guitar at the age of 12, Scaggs met Steve Miller at St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas. In 1959, he became the vocalist for Miller's band The Marksmen. The pair later attended the University of Wisconsin together, playing in blues bands like The Ardells and The Fabulous Knight Trains. Leaving school, Scaggs briefly left Texas to join the burgeoning rhythm and blues scene in London. After singing in bands such as The Wigs and Mother Earth, he recorded his first solo album Boz in 1965, which was not a commercial success. He traveled to Sweden as a solo performer and did a brief stint with the band The Other Side with fellow American Jack Downing and Brit Mac MacLeod.
Returning to the US, Scaggs promptly headed for the booming psychedelic music center of San Francisco in 1967. Linking up with Steve Miller again, he appeared on the Steve Miller Band's first two albums Children of the Future and Sailor, which won over critical reviews. After being spotted by Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, Scaggs secured a solo contract with Atlantic Records in 1968. Despite good reviews, his first Atlantic album was met with lukewarm sales, as were followup albums on Columbia Records. In 1976, he linked up with session musicians who would later form Toto and recorded his smash album Silk Degrees. The album reached number 2 on the US charts and number 1 in a number of countries across the world, spawning three hit singles: "Lowdown", "Lido Shuffle", and "What Can I Say", as well as the MOR standard "We're All Alone", later a hit for Rita Coolidge. A sellout world tour followed, but his follow-up album, the 1977 Down Two Then Left, lacked the cohesion of Silk Degrees.
Scaggs' 1980 album Middle Man would spawn two top 20 hits, "Breakdown Dead Ahead" and "Jojo," and Scaggs would enjoy two more hits over 1980 and 1981 ("Look What You've Done to Me" from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, and "Miss Sun" from a greatest hits set).
Scaggs continued to record and tour sporadically throughout the 1980s and 1990s, although he semi-retired from the music business and turned owner of the San Francisco nightclub Slim's. His lengthy hiatus from the music industry slowed his chart career down dramatically.
Scaggs recorded Other Roads in 1988, took another hiatus, and then came back in 1994 with Some Change. In the late 190s he released Come On Home, an album of blues, and My Time, an anthology. He garnered good reviews with Dig, although the CD, which was released on September 11, 2001, was lost in the post-911 melée. In May, 2003, Scaggs released But Beautiful, a collection of jazz standards that debuted at number 1 on the jazz charts.
In 2013 he released the album Memphis
Harbor Lights
Boz Scaggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was bound to wander from home
Stranger to whatever I'd awaken to
Spun the wheel
Took a shot in the dark
One way ticket and a runaway heart
A Sailors dream came true
The night I dreamed of you
Through the neon doorways
Down the stony streets I fell
All hands high side
All eyes a wreck I followed
Sailing shadows reds and blues
Curtains drawn but I saw through
The window to your soul
And I found you
Woah oh oh oh
The harbor lights of Venus
Shining through the breeze
That brings me back
To you my love
To you my love
To you my love
Ooh ooh ooh
My eyes must be betrayin'
But that lonesome jukebox playin'
Somethin' 'bout the harbor lights
Is calling me
Back to some Jamaican bay
Doesn't seem so far away
Keep the change
But I'll repay these memories
Dawn came in this morning
Like some old junked out melody
The words she spoke as we awoke still haunt me
"What you feel too
Won't reveal you
Let me steal you for my life"
Woah oh oh oh
The harbor lights of Venus
Shining through the breeze
That brings me back
To you my love
To you my love
To you my love
Woah oh oh oh
The harbor lights of Venus
Shining through the breeze
That brings me back
Oh to you my love
To you my love
To you my love
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
The song "Harbor Lights" by Boz Scaggs tells a story of a man who is restless and wandering, seeking something that he cannot define. He describes himself as a "son of a Tokyo Rose," implying that he is the child of a controversial figure linked to Japan in World War II. He takes a chance and leaves home, buying a one-way ticket and following his heart. He arrives at a new place, surrounded by neon lights and busy streets. Yet he is lost until he sees someone special. He calls her the window to his soul, and he knows they belong together by the harbor lights of Venus.
The lyrics use metaphorical language to paint a picture of a man searching for meaning and fulfillment. The harbor lights of Venus represent the beacon of hope that calls him back to the person he loves. The lyrics also suggest a sense of disappointment or regret. The memories of the past haunt him, and even as he returns to his love, he realizes that some things cannot be revealed. He accepts his faults and expresses his devotion, hoping to find redemption in the love he has found.
Line by Line Meaning
Son of a Tokyo Rose
As someone with a Japanese mother who was accused of being a spy during World War II, my upbringing and identity have always been complicated.
I was bound to wander from home
Due to my upbringing and unique circumstances, I always felt like an outsider and knew I was destined to explore the world.
Stranger to whatever I'd awaken to
As I traveled and experienced new places and people, I constantly felt like I was in a state of uncertainty and unfamiliarity.
Spun the wheel
In search of adventure and excitement, I made impulsive decisions and took risks by leaving behind the safety of my known world.
Took a shot in the dark
I pursued my desires even when the outcome was uncertain or potentially dangerous.
One way ticket and a runaway heart
I left without a plan and was guided purely by my passions and curiosities.
A Sailor's dream came true
As a child, I dreamed of traveling the world, and now as an adult, I have fulfilled that wish by venturing to new lands and waters.
The night I dreamed of you
One day while traveling, I had a dream of meeting someone who would change my life, and that dream came to fruition.
Through the neon doorways
I found myself walking down the bright and bustling streets of a new and exciting place.
Down the stony streets I fell
I was captivated by this unfamiliar place and the sense of possibility it held.
All hands high side
Despite feeling unsteady and unsure, I was determined to pursue this new adventure and see where it led me.
All eyes a wreck I followed
Despite the chaos and confusion around me, I was drawn to a particular person who stood out from the crowd.
Sailing shadows reds and blues
I continued to explore this new world, and as night fell, I was struck by the beauty and diversity of the people, colors, and cultures around me.
Curtains drawn but I saw through
Though this person was initially closed off and guarded, I could sense that there was more to them than what they were revealing to the world.
The window to your soul
I was able to connect with this person on a deeper level, seeing past their protective exterior and into their true self.
And I found you
I discovered a kindred spirit in this person, and our connection would change my life forever.
The harbor lights of Venus
As I reflect on this experience and think of this person, I am reminded of the beautiful lights and colors that illuminated the harbor that night, and how they mirrored the beauty I found in this person.
Shining through the breeze
The lights flickered and danced in the air, much like my heart did when I met this person.
That brings me back to you my love
These memories always bring me back to that night and that person, and the love and connection we shared.
My eyes must be betrayin'
As I remember this experience, I find myself questioning whether it was real or simply a dream.
But that lonesome jukebox playin'
Despite my doubts, hearing a familiar song brings back memories and emotions that remind me that this experience was, in fact, real.
Somethin' 'bout the harbor lights
The lights and colors of the harbor triggered a powerful and unforgettable experience that continues to shape my life.
Is calling me
The memories of that night and that person continue to draw me back and influence my choices and perspectives.
Back to some Jamaican bay
The memories of that night transport me to a Jamaican bay where I experienced a similar sense of beauty and wonder.
Doesn't seem so far away
Despite the distance and time that has passed, these memories continue to feel vivid and real in my mind.
Keep the change
Though I may be physically far away from these places and experiences, the memories and emotions they evoke are priceless and cannot be taken from me.
But I'll repay these memories
I am grateful for these experiences, and I cherish them by keeping them alive in my mind and heart, and allowing them to shape my perspective and actions.
Dawn came in this morning
As I wake up to a new day, I am reminded of the fragmented memories of that night, and the impact it had on my life.
Like some old junked out melody
These memories feel faded and distant, like an old song that I can barely remember the lyrics to, but that still brings up powerful emotions.
The words she spoke as we awoke still haunt me
Though the details of that night and that person may be hazy, I cannot forget the words they spoke to me, and the way they made me feel.
'What you feel too
These words and emotions continue to resonate with me and shape the way I approach relationships and life in general.
Won't reveal you
As I reflect on these words, I understand that vulnerability is a key part of connection and that sometimes, revealing our true feelings can be scary but necessary.
Let me steal you for my life'
This person wanted to connect with me on a deep level, and their request to 'steal me' serves as a reminder of the power of human connection.
Ooh ooh ooh
The repetition of this phrase serves to emphasize the emotions and memories that are intertwined with this experience and person.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JIMMY KENNEDY, WILHELM GROSZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@donsaluga5062
I'm old 66. I keep coming back to this album and concert. It is a work of genius. I never get tired of it.
@billhallsongs
me too Don!
@hwhartshorn1618
I’m also 66. We played this at my wedding in 2014.
@zdrumdude
64👍💪🏻💪🏻✌️
@FriPilot
I'm 73. I first heard Boz when I lived in The City in the 60's and 70's. I've always liked him.
I'm surprised that he isn't better known. Or that he never became that shooting star. Oh well, he moves in my soul so I guess he's where he's supposed to be, at least for me. Such a talent.
@JM800
I remember reading the critical reviews when it came out. Some not very kind, I bought it anyway. It picked up steam and it seems after that it was all very clear sailing, critic wise. It's a very nice album.
@lupearenas5994
I am also 66 years old. I was 19 when I bought this album, Silk Degrees. Oh, what an introduction to this fine, fine musician and his deeply soulful, rhythm and blues, and deeply felt sound. I've seen him twice in Uptown Napa. I am grateful to have experienced his music live and in an intimate small venue. Thank you, Mr. Scaggs for your music, an evening relived and enjoyed again via these videos. God bless.
@lincolnburns1999
Memories..SO many memories....joyous and sad ones...but the album is BRILLIANT...
@brucebarnes9638
I was a senior at San Diego State in 1976. Boz lyrics and incredible harmony defined the 70's. His music was unique and a sound like no other. Classics are timeless, thank you for incredible memories.
@jonanderson8211
Such beautiful comments,
I would embrace all of you.
Boz .Such a gift . Voice, lyrics etc. Amazing ability to take one into the moment.
Ya know this guy is singing from his deepest soul.