Eric Hutchinson (born September 8, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter. … Read Full Bio ↴Eric Hutchinson (born September 8, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter. He signed with Madonna's Maverick Records, but the label shut down before his album was released. Hutchinson recorded and released the album Sounds Like This on his own. The album won praise from gossip blogger Perez Hilton, which sent it to the top ten on the iTunes Store, where it peaked at number five in September 2007 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The album was picked up by Warner Bros. Records, who released it in May 2008.Born in Washington, D.C., Hutchinson grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, attended Montgomery Blair High School and went to Emerson College in Boston, where he lived for about four years before moving to Los Angeles. Hutchinson began playing guitar around 1995, and later added piano to his repertoire. When on acoustic guitar, he plays with exuberance, often laying down percussive hand slaps on the strings. He says he "should've taken more guitar lessons," but was always "more interested in playing and singing songs I knew and liked better than Hot Cross Buns out of a workbook." As of February 2007, he resides in New York City.

On September 15, 2008, he performed his song "Rock and Roll" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Eric has also performed "Rock and Roll" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Eric debuted his single "Ok It's Alright With Me" on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on July 24, 2009

His song "Rock and Roll" was used in the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, and was included in the soundtrack. "Rock and Roll" was also used as the song to end the final episode of 2008 series of Packed to the Rafters. Packed To The Rafters was the highest rating Australian show in 2008. It was featured in the Platinum selling Packed to the Rafters soundtrack. "Rock and Roll" went on to get a number #1 position on the Australian airplay chart in early April 2009.

"Rock and Roll" has reached a number #1 position on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart and has been certified Platinum in Australia. "Rock and Roll" has also reached Gold in New Zealand and Gold in Norway. "Rock and Roll" also reached #1 airplay in the United States.

The Watching You Watching Him Songfacts says that Hutchinson's sophomore major label album, Moving Up Living Down, was recorded with Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Regina Spektor) in California and Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, James Morrison) in London after Hutchinson penned the songs at home in New York City.

Hutchinson has also been named an AOL "About To Pop" artist, Yahoo! Who's Next Artist, MSN "One To Watch" Artist and a "VH1 You Oughta Know" Artist.

Oh!
Eric Hutchinson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got arrested in the dark of the night
The cop got restless as he read me my rights
He told me, "I'm always envious of those that I jail
If I got locked up nobody come to help me post bail"
And I said "oh!"

Went to a party on the side of a hill
Met three Latinas who had gotten their fill.

They told me "nobody ever gets us down on our knees
Simply to help us take a load off our feet."
And I said "oh!"

And I'm never sure what I'm living for but it's always on my mind
Someone comes along always proves me wrong think im gonna be fine

I picked a pocket just to give it all back
Took out the license left the money in tact
The man said "I wanna thank you" and I had to ask why
"That was the old me I was living a lie"
And I said "oh!"

Riding the subway with the scent of her hair
She took out a toothbrush started using it there
She explained "I'm always sure today's the day I will die
I wanna look good if I get to look god in the eye"
And I said "oh!"

And I'm never sure what I'm living for but it's always on my mind
Someone comes along always proves me wrong think im gonna be fine

We get lost in the back of our minds
Got nothing to burn but time time time
Everybody's got the love but they keep it inside

Met an acquaintance we were reintroduced
With more in common than we had in our youth
She told me "you look the same" I said "I'm now a new man"

She asked me "how does that work" "I started giving a damn"
And I said "oh!"

Overall Meaning

The song "Oh!" by Eric Hutchinson is a reflection on the fleeting moments of life and the different experiences that shape a person's perspective. The song is an account of various encounters the singer has had, where he learns lessons from those he meets, and the lessons help him to make sense of his past, paving the way for a better future.

The first verse highlights the theme of envy and how people always seem to want what they cannot have. The cop, who is supposed to be a symbol of authority, wishes he could experience the kindness and support that the singer seems to have. Similarly, the Latinas mentioned in the second verse want to be helped, but not to the point of being brought down to their knees. This is a metaphor for how people want to be helped, but in a way that preserves their dignity and self-respect.

In the third verse, the singer picks a pocket, but instead of keeping the contents, he gives them back to the person. The person thanks him, saying that he used to be a different person who was living a lie. This observation reveals that people can change, and the act of kindness has the power to transform.

Finally, the fourth verse touches on death, the finality of life, and the idea that people want to be remembered in a good light. The woman on the subway uses a toothbrush to look presentable, just in case today's the day she meets her maker, and the singer realizes that he, too, wants to be remembered as a better person. The encounter with the acquaintance in the last line further corroborates the theme of transformation, as the singer claims to be a changed man after realizing that he needs to start "giving a damn."

Line by Line Meaning

I got arrested in the dark of the night
I was caught by a police officer during the night

The cop got restless as he read me my rights
The police officer was anxious and uneasy as he informed me of my rights

He told me, "I'm always envious of those that I jail
The officer expressed that he envies those who he arrests

If I got locked up nobody come to help me post bail"
He continued to confess that if he were to be arrested, he would have no one to help him post bail

And I said "oh!"
And I exclaimed "oh!" in response to his statement

Went to a party on the side of a hill
I attended a party located on the slope of a hill

Met three Latinas who had gotten their fill.
I encountered three Latina women who had satisfied themselves

They told me "nobody ever gets us down on our knees
The women shared with me that no one can make them submit themselves

Simply to help us take a load off our feet."
They expressed that they only want someone to help them relax

And I said "oh!"
And I exclaimed "oh!" in response to their statement

And I'm never sure what I'm living for but it's always on my mind
I'm always unsure of my purpose but it's a constant thought on my mind

Someone comes along always proves me wrong think im gonna be fine
Whenever I lose faith, someone comes and shows me otherwise and I know I will be okay

I picked a pocket just to give it all back
I stole something in order to return it afterward

Took out the license left the money in tact
I removed the identification but left the money untouched

The man said "I wanna thank you" and I had to ask why
The man expressed gratitude and I questioned why he was thanking me

"That was the old me I was living a lie"
He answered that his former self was deceitful

And I said "oh!"
And I exclaimed "oh!" in response to his statement

Riding the subway with the scent of her hair
I was on a train with a woman whose hair had a pleasant smell

She took out a toothbrush started using it there
She began brushing her teeth while on the train

She explained "I'm always sure today's the day I will die
She revealed that she constantly thinks she will pass away that day

I wanna look good if I get to look god in the eye"
She wanted to appear presentable in case she meets God

And I said "oh!"
And I exclaimed "oh!" in response to her statement

We get lost in the back of our minds
We tend to lose ourselves in our thoughts

Got nothing to burn but time time time
We have nothing to do but pass the time

Everybody's got the love but they keep it inside
Everyone has love but most choose to conceal it

Met an acquaintance we were reintroduced
I met an old acquaintance and we were reintroduced to each other

With more in common than we had in our youth
We found that we have more similarities now than when we were younger

She told me "you look the same" I said "I'm now a new man"
She noted that I still have the same appearance, but I informed her that I am a different person now

She asked me "how does that work" "I started giving a damn"
She inquired how that was possible, and I responded by saying that I started to care more

And I said "oh!"
And I exclaimed "oh!" in response to our conversation

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ERIC MARTIN HUTCHINSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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