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.
Just One Love
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't mind the way you talk
But if you touch me something's got to give
I live the life I love
And I love the life I live
A diamond ring and my money too
Tomorrow night they could belong to you
I live the life I love
And I love the life I live
May lay a hundred-dollar bet this time
Tomorrow night I can't cover your dime
Next week I could be over the hill
Just trying to tell you people how I feel
I see you rocking and you pass me by
Talk about me 'cause I might be high
Just forgive me if you will
I live the life I love
And I love the life I live
May lay a hundred-dollar bet this time
Tomorrow night I can't cover your dime
Next week I could be over the hill
Just trying to tell you people how I feel
I see you rocking and you pass me by
Talk about me 'cause I might be high
Just forgive me if you will
I live the life I love
And I love the life I live
Live the life I love
I love the life I live
I live the life I love
The life I live
The song "Just One Love" by Colin James is about living life to the fullest and embracing the present moment. The singer talks about being watched like a hawk, but not minding the attention. However, he warns that if someone tries to touch him, there will be consequences. He then sings about his material possessions, such as a diamond ring and money, and how they could belong to someone else tomorrow. But he enjoys being moved by women and living life on his own terms.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I live the life I love, and I love the life I live." This emphasizes the theme of living in the moment and not worrying about the future. He puts a wager on his own life, saying that next week he could be over the hill, but he wants to tell people how he feels now. The last verse talks about being judged for being high and asking for forgiveness. He loves his life and doesn't want to be held to anyone else's standards.
Overall, "Just One Love" is about living life on one's own terms and enjoying the present moment without worrying about the future or what others think. It's a message of self-acceptance and embracing one's own unique journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you watching me just like a hawk
I notice you scrutinizing me carefully
I don't mind the way you talk
I have no objections to your way of speaking
But if you touch me something's got to give
If you physically engage with me, there will be consequences
I live the life I love
I am content with my way of life
And I love the life I live
I thoroughly enjoy my existence
A diamond ring and my money too
I possess valuable possessions and finances
Tomorrow night they could belong to you
You may be able to obtain these items from me in the near future
The girls move me at their will
Women have the ability to emotionally affect me
May lay a hundred-dollar bet this time
I would consider making a bet that costs one hundred dollars
Tomorrow night I can't cover your dime
However, I may not be able to pay you back by tomorrow night
Next week I could be over the hill
In the future, I may experience a decline in my current state
Just trying to tell you people how I feel
I am attempting to communicate my thoughts and emotions to you
I see you rocking and you pass me by
I observe you moving rhythmically as you walk past me
Talk about me 'cause I might be high
You may speak about me because I may be under the influence of drugs
Just forgive me if you will
Please excuse me for any misbehavior
Live the life I love
I continue to enjoy my current lifestyle
I love the life I live
I remain happy and content with my existence
I live the life I love
My current way of life brings me joy and satisfaction
The life I live
My current existence
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind