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.
Never
Chris Whitley Lyrics
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All at odds with these mythologies of sexual mentors
Well if she ever need a rest
From all that Dogma all undressed
On no religion I love you blessed
Never forever
Dress for the evening with such disguise
Well laying here now with your open eyes
Forever
Well I'm all in open view
Wear it raw in front of you
Milk the drug and misconstrue
Well I stood all night out there
Waiting for the Ark
Gasoline all in my hair just to tempt a spark
Ain't got no hard-on like you have known
Ain't got no icon like those you been shown
All our lives or one night alone
Never forever
All our lives or one night
Never
Chris Whitley's song "Never" is a complex and mysterious exploration of love, religion, and sexuality. The lyrics begin with a statement of frustration with the limitations of language when it comes to expressing emotions like love. The singer asserts that "she can't spell no love with letters," suggesting that conventional expressions of affection are inadequate for capturing the intensity of feeling that the singer experiences. This opening line sets the tone for a song that is skeptical of conventional wisdom and tradition.
The next few lines of the song reference "mythologies of sexual mentors" and "Dogma," hinting at a critical perspective on religious teachings and societal norms surrounding sex and love. The line "On no religion I love you blessed" further emphasizes the singer's rejection of organized religion and suggests that love itself can be a kind of spiritual experience.
In the second verse, the lyrics shift to a more personal and introspective tone. The singer describes lying beside someone whose "open eyes" suggest a kind of emotional distance, and muses on the passage of time. The lyrics "Killing time now and time just dies / Forever" convey a sense of existential ennui and frustration with the inevitability of death.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are marked by ambiguity and suggestion rather than direct statements. This leaves plenty of room for individual interpretation and underscores the complexity of the themes and ideas that the song explores.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I see now she can't spell no love with letters
I have realized that this person I'm interested in is incapable of expressing love through words.
All at odds with these mythologies of sexual mentors
Their behavior contradicts common beliefs of how sexual attraction should be expressed or experienced.
Well if she ever need a rest From all that Dogma all undressed
If this person needs a break from societal norms and expectations surrounding sexuality and relationships.
On no religion I love you blessed Never forever
Our love isn't bound by any particular religious beliefs, but it also doesn't have the potential to last forever.
Dress for the evening with such disguise
This person presents themselves in a deceptive way for social occasions and the like.
Well laying here now with your open eyes Killing time now and time just dies
We're lying here together in bed, but time feels like it's passing meaninglessly.
Forever
A repeated assertion that something will last forever, though the earlier lyrics seem to contradict this idea.
Well I'm all in open view Wear it raw in front of you Milk the drug and misconstrue
I'm putting all my feelings and vulnerabilities out in the open, but I'm worried that my emotions might be unintentionally manipulated or misinterpreted.
Well I stood all night out there Waiting for the Ark Gasoline all in my hair just to tempt a spark
I've been waiting around for a long time hoping for something to ignite our connection, but it feels like I might be trying too hard or setting myself up for failure.
Ain't got no hard-on like you have known Ain't got no icon like those you been shown
I don't exhibit the same physical or emotional reactions to love and attraction that this person might be accustomed to or expecting based on their past experiences.
All our lives or one night alone Never forever
Our relationship may not last through the entirety of our lives, but even an intense, fleeting connection is worth it in its own right.
All our lives or one night Never
Reiterating the idea that our relationship might only last for a short time, but still holds value.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS WHITLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind