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.
To Joy
Chris Whitley Lyrics
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You know
Far as it was in me -
Somewhere to go
She goes - make my presence
Felt by
All the innocence you would destroy
She know - angels
All await to show
How far we come to joy
I'll live anywhere you think you're from
Far as it is in you
To know you belong
She go - make my presence
Felt by
All the revolution you employ
She know angels -
Even devils too
Await to show how far we go to joy
Go down to the water
With your rod
All that which ain't all good
Is yet all God
She goes
Make my presence
Felt by
All the innocence you would destroy
Angels
And even devils too
All await to show
How far we go to joy
She go
Make my presence
Felt by
By all the revolution you would employ
She know
Angels
And even devils too
All wait to show
How far we go to joy
How far we come
How far we've come
The opening lines of Chris Whitley's song To Joy, "I made a bid for you - You know, Far as it was in me - Somewhere to go" suggest a person striving to connect with someone on a deeper level. The singer wants to go beyond the surface, to a place where deeper emotions can be felt. He wants to belong somewhere and make his presence felt, but he understands that to do that, "She knows - angels and even devils too" must show how far people can go to joy.
The song continues with the singer offering to "live anywhere you think you're from, far as it is in you, to know you belong," emphasizing the importance of feeling connected to a place or person. He then suggests going down to the water to cast a rod, implying that the search for deeper meaning is a timeless quest that has been undertaken by people for generations. The lines "All that which ain't all good, is yet all God" suggest a belief that everything, good or bad, is part of something greater.
The final stanza repeats the refrain of the angels and devils waiting to show us how far we can go to joy, emphasizing that the search for meaning and fulfillment is ongoing and requires us to look within ourselves and beyond ourselves. Through its lyrics, To Joy encourages people to seek out connections with others and with the world around them, and to embrace all aspects of life in order to experience true joy.
Line by Line Meaning
I made a bid for you -
I made an attempt to have you with me
You know
You are already aware of it
Far as it was in me -
I tried my best
Somewhere to go
A place to be with, to feel belonged
She goes - make my presence
Felt by
All the innocence you would destroy
She wants to be felt by you, to make sure that your actions don't harm the innocent
She know - angels
And even devils too
All await to show
How far we come to joy
She knows that everyone, even the worst of the worst, has the potential to bring joy and happiness
I'll live anywhere you think you're from
Far as it is in you
To know you belong
I am willing to live anywhere as long as you feel belonged and happy there
All the revolution you employ
All the changes you bring, all the ideologies you follow
Go down to the water
With your rod
All that which ain't all good
Is yet all God
Go to the water and fish, everything will be alright, even if they are not entirely good, they are still made by God
By all the revolution you would employ
By all the changes and ideologies you follow
She know
Angels
And even devils too
All wait to show
How far we go to joy
She knows that every being is waiting to show how far they can go to bring joy
How far we come
How far we've come
How much progress we have made, how much we have achieved
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS WHITLEY, TONY MANGURIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind