James was only 18-years old when he captured the attention of guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan, who marveled at this prodigious guitar talent, and immediately decided to take him on the road through the Canadian prairies, and later the United States. It wasn't long after that the young musician began opening for the likes of John Lee Hooker, ZZ Top, Steve Winwood and Keith Richards, Colin's 1988 self-titled debut Colin James was the fastest-selling album in Canadian music history featuring the smash hits "Why'd You Lie?”, “Voodoo Thing” and “Five Long Years". It featured a team of three top producers, including Tom Dowd (Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers), Danny Kortchmar (Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young) and Bob Rock (Jann Arden, Michael Bublé, Bush, The Cult, Loverboy, Sarah McLachlan, Metallica).
James followed up his record-breaking debut with a strong 1990 release, Sudden Stop, which was produced by Joe Hardy (.38 Special, Steve Earle, The Jeff Healey Band, ZZ Top ). This release has two top forty radio hits: "Just Came Back" and, "Keep On Loving Me Baby", and features Bonnie Raitt singing backing vocals on "Give It Up". This sophomore album further helped established Colin's integrity as an artist to lookout for.
James formed The Little Big Band in early 1990's and would eventually release a trilogy of CDs fronting this 1930's-50's style punchy horn section band, playing classics and originals featuring his stellar guitar fills and confident vocals. The first Colin James and The Little Big Band was released in 1993, and it was produced by Chris Kinsley (The Cult, Duran Duran, Psychedelic Furs, The Rolling Stones). The second Colin James and The Little Big Band II was released in 1998 on Warner Music, while the third, Colin James & The Little Big Band 3 was distributed on Maple Music in Canada and Universal Music Group globally in 2006, and he would eventually do a fourth with the band, a holiday album Colin James & The Little Big Band Christmas.
In 2008 he took home three Maple Blues Awards (Toronto Blues Society), which included Entertainer of the Year, while his release Limelight also went gold in Canada.
James released his twelfth album Rooftops and Satellites on October 6th, 2009, and it was a return to his guitar Blues-Rock roots. The album was primarily co-written by Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond) and Thomas "Tawgs" Salter, co-writer and producer of Lights' debut and Josh Groban's Awake, and it has generated four Canadian radio singles, “Man’s Gotta Be A Stone”, “Lost Again”, “Wavelength” and “Johnny Coolman.”
2011's 'Take It From The Top: The Best Of’ pays tribute to James's career's first 23 years and serves as a celebration of Colin’s return back where he started his recordings, Virgin/EMI. This Greatest Hits collection also features two newly recorded tracks, “It’s Gonna Be Alright“ as well as an innovative cover of the Buddy Miles' classic “Them Changes”, that were recorded in Vancouver with veteran producer Bob Rock (Michael Bublé, Metallica), reuniting the two after almost twenty years.
On June 12th, 2012, James released his fifteenth album, appropriately entitled Fifteen, which was produced by Joe Hardy (ZZ Top, Brooks & Dunn, Jeff Healey, Steve Earle), who had handled three of Colin's previous album productions including his successful sophomore release. Colin co-writes with Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady) on the opener “Sweets Gone Sour” and the rocker “I Need You Bad.” Colin also re-teamed with Tom Wilson and Thomas “Tawgs” Salter on four high-octane tracks, including the bluesy “No Time to Get There” and the driving “Stone Faith,” the album’s first single.
Fifteen also features two beautiful co-writes with Ron Sexsmith that reveal Colin’s seductive side: “Finally Wrote a Song for You”, a soulful love ballad; and “Shoulder to Cry On,” a moving acoustic number that highlights his vocal range, while closing the album. The disc also features some inspiring covers, including John Lennon's "Jealous Guy", Peter Green's (Fleetwood Mac) "Oh Well", [artis]Foy Vance’s gospel-tinged “Shed A Little Light,” and Allen Toussaint's funky "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley", which has perhaps become best known by Robert Palmer's cover.
On February 3, 2015, James released Hearts On Fire which was produced by Colin Linden at House of Blues Studios in Nashville, and this twelve track collection is distributed by Universal Music. The title track and all but two of the songs were written or co-written by Colin.
In 2016, James was named an inductee into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame presented by FACTOR (The Canadian Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings). In addition to this honour, Colin headlined the Western Canadian Music Awards Show at Casino Regina on October 13th, 2016, kicking off BreakOut West’s 14th year of celebrating Western Canada’s talent.
James's studio album Blue Highways features thirteen Classic Blues covers from guitar-hero greats like Blind Willie McTell, Freddie King, Peter Green, and Robert Johnson. The CD was released on October 16th, 2016. Recording and Production was primarily handled in Vancouver by Colin James and Dave Meszaros, with recording and mixing assistance from Eric Mosher, Chris Stringer and Jason Jaknunas. Blue Highways is being distributed by True North Records, and iTunes.
Over his illustrious career, James has earned 16 Maple Blues Awards, and he has worked and toured with the 'who’s who' in the international music scene (in alphabetical order): Luther Allison, Jann Arden, The Chieftains, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Tom Dowd, Buddy Guy, Johnny Hallyday, John Hammond Jr., Gordie Johnson, Albert King, Bobby King and Terry Evans, Danny Kortchmar, Lenny Kravitz, Little Feat, The Memphis Horns, Craig Northey, Bill Payne, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Bob Rock, The Rolling Stones, Roomful Of Blues, Carlos Santana, Mavis Staples, Roebuck "Pops" Staples, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Wilson, Betty Wright and ZZ Top. In addition to writing most of his own material, his music has been covered by artists like Maria Muldaur, Johnny Halliday and Lucinda Williams.
Finally Wrote A Song For You
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her brown eyes would make my heart stop
I finally wrote a song for you.
My lover and my best friend
Together 'til the road ends
I finally wrote a song for you.
Just like the old folks say,
Don't come around everyday.
And from the moment you came my way
I knew I was meant for you,
And you were meant for me too.
I finally wrote a song for you
It's a long time overdue
After everything we've been through
(I finally wrote a song for you) I finally wrote it
I can't thank you enough
It's better late than never my love
I finally wrote a song for you.
(I finally wrote a song for you)
All the love and the pain
I'd do it all over again
I finally wrote a song for you.
You're my true love my shining light
My only star in the sacred night
I finally wrote a song for you.
And we'll show everybody how
Show 'em that real love
Never leaves any doubt
From this moment 'til the lights go out
Some things were meant to be
Some things like you and me
I finally wrote a song for you
It's a long time overdue
After everything we've been through
(I finally wrote a song for you) I finally wrote it
I can't thank you enough
It's better late than never my love
I finally wrote a song for you.
(I finally wrote a song for you)
I finally wrote a song for you
It's a long time overdue
After everything we've been through
(I finally wrote a song for you) I finally wrote it
I can't thank you enough
It's better late than never my love
I finally wrote a song for you.
(I finally wrote a song for you)
The lyrics of "Finally Wrote A Song For You" by Colin James speaks to the emotions of a person who has finally found the words to encapsulate their feelings for their significant other. The singer paints a picture of a woman with a warm heart and brown eyes that make his heart stop. Finally, after all they have been through together, he has found the words to express his love for her. The singer views their love as something that was meant to be, a love that comes once in a lifetime, and it is with gratitude that he has finally written a song that communicates his appreciation for her.
The lyrics emphasize the idea that real, authentic love does not come around every day, as the old folks say. However, the singer recognizes that the moment he met his lover, he knew that they were meant to be together. The song also addresses the fact that love is not always a straightforward path but includes both love and pain. Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, the singer is thankful for their journey, and he believes their connection is destiny.
Overall, "Finally Wrote A Song For You" is a beautiful love song that captures the essence of a perfect partnership. It's about being grateful for the one they love, recognizing the beauty in them, and finally finding the words to express that love through song.
Line by Line Meaning
A woman with a warm heart
There is a woman with a caring and affectionate personality.
Her brown eyes would make my heart stop
The woman's brown eyes are so captivating that it causes the writer to pause in admiration.
I finally wrote a song for you.
The writer has created a piece of music dedicated to the woman he cares for.
My lover and my best friend
The woman is not only his romantic partner but also his closest confidant.
Together 'til the road ends
They will remain united until the end of their lives.
Just like the old folks say,
The writer is referencing wise advice passed down from generations before.
Well they say that real love
The older generation believes that genuine love is rare and special.
Don't come around everyday.
Finding authentic love is not a common occurrence.
And from the moment you came my way
The writer knew he was meant to be with the woman from the very beginning of their relationship.
I knew I was meant for you,
The writer always had a strong conviction that he and the woman were meant to be together.
And you were meant for me too.
The writer also believes that the woman is his destined partner.
It's a long time overdue
The writer realizes that it has taken him too long to create the song for the woman he loves.
(I finally wrote a song for you) I finally wrote it
The writer is emphasizing that he has indeed written the song for the woman.
I can't thank you enough
The writer is grateful for the love and companionship that the woman brings to his life.
It's better late than never my love
Even though the writer took a long time to write the song, it's still a meaningful gesture for the woman he loves.
All the love and the pain
The writer has experienced both the positives and negatives of their relationship.
I'd do it all over again
Despite the challenges, the writer would still choose to be in a relationship with the woman.
You're my true love my shining light
The woman is the writer's one true love and a bright spot in his life.
My only star in the sacred night
The woman is a guiding light for the writer even in the darkest times.
And we'll show everybody how
The couple will demonstrate to others what a true loving relationship looks like.
Show 'em that real love
The couple will prove that authentic love exists and is possible.
Never leaves any doubt
Their love is unshakeable and without uncertainty.
From this moment 'til the lights go out
Their commitment to each other will last a lifetime.
Some things were meant to be
The writer believes that certain things in life are predetermined and inevitable, such as his relationship with the woman.
(I finally wrote a song for you) I finally wrote it
The writer is again emphasizing that he has indeed written the long-awaited song for the woman.
Contributed by Emma V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
scotlandjames1
great song. love it.
Alexander Gadamer
This song creeps up on your pleasure zone. Listen to it a few times and your hooked.
Christine Crossley
lub dis lotts...truly....heart felt tune and words good for u Colin and Ron Sexsmith...xo
Kat Manhire
:)