A man of rare poetic honesty, Whitleymaintained a resolute musical integrity throughout his career. His more than a dozen albums range from raw-boned folk-rock to lush electro-blues.
Whitley was born in Houston, Texas. Though relatively unknown to the mainstream, he worked with many top named musicians throughout his career. In 1991, U2/Peter Gabriel producer Daniel Lanois and his protégé, Malcolm Burn, recorded Whitley's debut album Living With the Law (Malcolm Burn also produced 2005's Soft Dangerous Shores). In 2000, Whitley worked with Chris Wood and Billy Martin from the famed trio of Medeski, Martin and Wood, on the Perfect Day album. Others like Dave Matthews and Bruce Hornsby also appeared on 2001's Rocket House.
Whitley played a unique brand of confessional acoustic and electric blues, mixed with inspired modern rock. His lyrics often contained overt sexual references and sometimes bordered on the surreal. An avid fan of jazz saxophone legend John Coltrane, Whitley was a master of the National / Dobro, made famous by many of the great Mississippi delta blues players of the 1930's. Whitley also appeared in the concert documentary Hellhounds on my Trail - The Afterlife of Robert Johnson, with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green, jam band Gov't Mule, and blues guitarist Keb' Mo. In addition to recording his original material, Whitley has also guested on albums by Mike Watt, Rob Wasserman, Cassandra Wilson, Dave Pirner (of Soul Asylum) and Shawn Colvin.
"The notable constant has been the quality of craftmanship, and the consistent question of how Whitley's combination of super songs, muscular-but-poetic lyrics, athletic voice and rock-god guitar work hasn't earned him a wider audience." - Detroit Free Press
"The post-Hendrix explosion of whammybar wankers hasn't produced a single axeman who can compare to Chris Whitley. His eerie, bluesy voice and American gothic tunes frequently draw attention from the fact that he picks like a pissed off Doc Watson jacked through a Marshall stack" - RollingStone.com
Health and death
In fall 2005, Chris Whitley cancelled his tour due to health issues. Dan Whitley, his brother, revealed on November 11, 2005 that he was "in a comfortable warm home with hospice care at his disposal". Later that week it was revealed that he was terminally ill with lung cancer. On November 20, 2005, his death (at the age of 45) was announced by Dan Whitley and Chris' daughter, Trixie Whitley.
Know
Chris Whitley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring me them as a scar
Bring me your favors in the broad daylight
I'll never know who you are
Never know
Never know
Bring me your favor in the broad daylight
I'll never know who you are
Come around before sunrise
Come and leave your mark
Come around 'round midnight child
I'll know you in the dark
I will know
I will come 'round midnight child
I'll know you in the dark
The lyrics of Chris Whitley's song "Know" exude an air of mystery and a hint of danger. The artist pleads for his anonymous lover to come to him, to bring him her "favors" - whatever they may be - as a "scar". This suggests that the favors are not something benevolent but rather something that has caused hurt or damage. He apparently wants her to bring them in broad daylight, and he will never know who she is, which could be an indication that he is involved in something shady himself. On the other hand, the line "I'll never know who you are" could also mean that the artist is acknowledging that he cannot entirely know his lover since she is wild and unpredictable, and the scar represents her untamed and unrestrained nature.
In the second verse, the artist sings about his lover coming around before sunrise, leaving her mark, and then coming again around midnight, at which time he will recognize her in the dark. This verse carries the suggestion of a secret rendezvous, with the lovers meeting clandestinely in the wee hours of the night. The line "I'll know you in the dark" could represent the way the artist sees his lover, as someone who is not entirely transparent but who only reveals herself fully in the shadows. Throughout the song, there is a sense of things obscured, of secrets that are kept, of hidden truths that can only be glimpsed at dimly. The lyrics of "Know" are poetic and intriguing, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue.
Line by Line Meaning
Bring me your favors mama
Request to receive love and kindness from someone special
Bring me them as a scar
Bring me all your pain and struggle as a symbol of how much you care
Bring me your favors in the broad daylight
Share your love openly and publicly, don't hide it away
I'll never know who you are
Even if you show me your love, I may never truly understand your inner self
Never know
Reiterating that understanding someone's true self is difficult
Come around before sunrise
Visit me early in the morning, before the busy day begins
Come and leave your mark
Make an impression on me, show me your unique qualities
Come around 'round midnight child
Visit me late at night when the world is still and quiet
I'll know you in the dark
I'll recognize your true self when the distractions of the world fade away
I will know
Confirmation that the artist will recognize the true character of the one they seek
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS WHITLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind