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.
Let It Snow
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow
Let it snow
Let it snow
And I've bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow
Let it snow
Let it snow
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still good-bying
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow
Let it snow
Let it snow
The lyrics to Colin James's "Let It Snow" is all about finding warmth and comfort in the midst of winter's harsh weather. The first verse describes a blustery snowstorm outside, with the wind howling and driving snowflakes into every corner. But instead of braving the storm, the singer chooses to stay inside where it's warm: "the fire is so delightful" and "since we've no place to go, let it snow". This verse emphasizes the isolation that can come with winter weather and the desire to find refuge from it.
The second verse continues with this theme of finding comfort indoors during a snowstorm. The singer has "bought some corn for popping", a cozy and homey activity that is perfect for a snowy night. The line "the lights are turned way down low" emphasizes the feeling of being snuggled up inside, with only the soft, warm glow of the fire and some candles to light the room.
The third verse shifts the focus to a romantic relationship. The singer describes how they will "finally kiss goodnight", but they are reluctant to leave because of the storm outside. However, if the other person "holds me tight, all the way home I'll be warm". This verse echoes the idea of finding refuge from the storm, but also emphasizes the emotional warmth that comes from being close to someone you love.
The final verse returns to the idea of the fire dying and having to say goodbye, but the singer knows that as long as they are loved, they can weather any storm. This line ties together all of the other verses and emphasizes the importance of finding warmth and comfort, whether it's from a cozy fire or a loving relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
The weather outside is extremely unsettling, frightening even.
But the fire is so delightful
On the other hand, the fire inside is very pleasing and satisfying.
And since we've no place to go
Since there is nowhere else to be or go in this weather,
Let it snow
It's better to just allow the snow to fall and embrace it.
Let it snow
Let the snow continue to fall.
Let it snow
Don't try to stop the snow from falling.
It doesn't show signs of pausing
The snowfall is not stopping anytime soon.
And I've bought some corn for popping
I've acquired some corn meant for popping by the fire.
The lights are turned way down low
The lights have been dimmed to create a relaxing, cozy atmosphere.
Let it snow
Once again, let the snow continue to fall.
Let it snow
Don’t try to intervene and stop the snow from falling.
Let it snow
Continue to let the snow fall.
When we finally kiss goodnight
When we kiss each other goodnight,
How I'll hate going out in the storm
It will be very unpleasant to leave and go out in such intense weather.
But if you'll really hold me tight
As long as you hold me tightly,
All the way home I'll be warm
I'll be able to keep warm all the way home.
The fire is slowly dying
The once bright and lively fire is now dying down.
And, my dear, we're still goodbye-ing
And even though we're saying goodbye,
But as long as you love me so
As long as you love me deeply and truly,
Let it snow
It's better to just let the snow fall and embrace it.
Let it snow
Continue to allow the snow to fall.
Let it snow
Don’t try to stop the snow from falling.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind