Born in Chicago, Carlos Johnson is considered one of the preeminent blues g… Read Full Bio ↴Born in Chicago, Carlos Johnson is considered one of the preeminent blues guitarists in the world today. For more than 20 years, before becoming the leader of his own band, Carlos was in demand by the greatest names in blues with whom he toured the world (Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Son Seals, Valerie Wellington, Carey Bell, Buddy Miles, etc...). With his slashing and passionate left-handed guitar virtuosity, he has developed one of the most original guitar styles ever to come out of the Windy City. He combines the deep, raw blues sound of the traditional Chicago West-side style with the more contemporary, funky sound. Yet, it is with his bursts of jazz textures and phrasing and his obvious love for country blues sounds, that he has created astyle all his own. His personal and powerful vocals, along with his charismatic stage presence and explosive guitar makes him one of the most exciting performers in the blues today. Carlos Johnson is being recognized as a rising star of the blues and one of the keeper’s of the Chicago blues flame.

Out of Control
Carlos Johnson Lyrics

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I was out in the city
I was out in the rain
I was feeling down hearted
I was drinking again
I was standing by the bridges
Where the dark water flows
I was talking to a stranger
About times long ago

I was young
I was foolish
I was angry
I was vain
I was charming
I was lucky
Tell me how have I changed
Now I'm out
Oh out of control
Now I'm out
Oh out of control
Oh help me now
And the girls in the doorway
And the boys in the game
And the drunks and the homeless
They all know me
And the police on the corner
Give a nod and a wave
As they point me
To my final destination
I was young
I was foolish
I was angry
I was vain
I was charming
Feeling lucky
Tell me how have I changed
Now I'm out
Oh out of control
Now I'm out
Oh out of control
Oh help me now
In the hotel I'm excited
By the smile on her face
But I wondered
How was time
Gonna change her
I was young
I was foolish
I was angry
I was vain
I was charming
I was out there
Tell me how have I changed
Now I'm out
Oh out of control

Oh I'm out
Oh out of control

Overall Meaning

In the song "Out of Control", Carlos Johnson reflects on his past mistakes and the consequences of his actions. He describes being out in the city and in the rain, feeling down-hearted and turning to alcohol to numb his pain. He stands by the dark water of a bridge and talks to a stranger about "times long ago", perhaps reminiscing about a better time before he reached this low point in his life. Johnson acknowledges that he was young, foolish, angry, vain and charming – a cocktail of emotions that may have contributed to his current situation. He wonders how he has changed since then and pleads for help as he feels out of control.

Throughout the song, Johnson encounters various characters who know him, including girls in a doorway, boys in a game, drunks, homeless people and police officers. This highlights the idea that his behavior has become public knowledge and that he is the subject of gossip and judgment. In the hotel room, he is excited by a woman's smile but wonders how time will change her, suggesting that he recognizes the fleeting nature of pleasure and that his excesses have impacted his ability to form lasting connections. Ultimately, "Out of Control" is a somber reflection on the consequences of irresponsible behavior and a plea for help and redemption.

Line by Line Meaning

I was out in the city
I left my home and was out in the big city

I was out in the rain
It was raining and I was getting wet as I walked around the city

I was feeling down hearted
I was feeling sad and depressed

I was drinking again
I started to drink alcohol to ease my sadness

I was standing by the bridges
I spent time close to the bridges that cross the river

Where the dark water flows
The water was dark, almost black, as it flowed underneath the bridges

I was talking to a stranger
I started talking to someone whom I had never met before

About times long ago
We talked about our past and reminisced about the olden days

I was young
I was once youthful and full of life

I was foolish
Back then, I used to make silly and unwise decisions

I was angry
I used to get easily irritated and frustrated

I was vain
I was overly proud of myself and my appearance

I was charming
I had a way with words and could easily win people over

I was lucky
I used to be lucky in many situations

Tell me how have I changed
I wonder if I have changed as a person since my youthful days

Now I'm out
Currently, I am in a state of being

Oh out of control
But I am out of control, unable to manage myself or my actions

And the girls in the doorway
I noticed girls standing near an open door

And the boys in the game
Boys were playing games nearby

And the drunks and the homeless
Homeless people and inebriated people were in that area too

They all know me
Those people recognize me from previous encounters

And the police on the corner
The police officers on the street corner

Give a nod and a wave
The police didn't take any actions against me beyond acknowledging my presence

As they point me
But they do direct me

To my final destination
They guide me to a specific place, likely jail or a rehabilitation center

In the hotel I'm excited
I am feeling excited in my hotel room

By the smile on her face
I am happy with the person I am with, based on their smile

But I wondered
I had some doubts or concerns

How was time
I considered how much time has passed since my youthful days

Gonna change her
I thought about how much or how little the person I am with has changed over time

I was out there
I was living a wild and adventurous life

Oh I'm out
I am currently living a certain lifestyle

Oh out of control
But I am out of control, and my actions bear witness to that

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICK JAGGER, KEITH RICHARDS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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