(2) Very few musical artists achieve a true signature style -- one that makes comparisons to other musicians impossible. But Texas guitarist Eric Johnson arguably comes as close to this echelon as any musician from the past quarter-century. Like fellow Lone Star State guitarists Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnson blends the rock style of Jimi Hendrix and the blues power of Albert King. Yet Johnson's wide array of additional influences (from the Beatles and Jeff Beck to jazz and Chet Atkins) makes for a guitar sound as unique as his fingerprints.
"When I first heard Eric," Winter recalled, "he was only 16, and I remember wishing that I could have played like that at that age." Former Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter said, "If Jimi Hendrix had gone on to study with Howard Roberts for about eight years, you'd have what this kid strikes me as." The Austin prodigy appeared on the cover of Guitar Player magazine while working with Texas jazz/fusion band the Electromagnets and as a session player (Cat Stevens, Carole King, Christopher Cross), and a 1984 performance on the TV show Austin City Limits set his recording career in motion.
Johnson's 1986 debut album, Tones, certainly proved that the hype was warranted. Playing with the ace rhythm section of bassist Roscoe Beck and drummer Tommy Taylor, Johnson mixed blazing instrumentals ("Zap," "Victory") with Beatles-influenced vocal tunes like "Emerald Eyes" and "Bristol Shore." Johnson used the same half-and-half format on the 1990 follow-up, Ah Via Musicom, but a trio of the album's tunes surprisingly made him the first artist to have three instrumentals from the same album to chart in the Top Ten in any format (with "Cliffs of Dover" earning Johnson a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental).
But, if Johnson had a perceived weakness, it was the perfectionism that caused four years to pass between recordings. Even in concert, he would painstakingly tune his guitar between songs, by ear, for minutes on end. With the success of Ah Via Musicom, the guitarist admitted to feeling pressure to raise the bar again. But Johnson's studio nitpicking delayed Venus Isle until 1996, and the disappointing CD contained fewer instrumentals and sounded forced.
A stint on the 1997 G3 tour with fellow headlining guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and its resulting live release, breathed new life into Johnson and sparked the idea of a live album. Overhauling his band for the 2000 CD Live and Beyond, Johnson brought in bassist Chris Maresh and drummer Bill Maddox, and concentrated on more of a blues feel. The guitarist still blended instrumentals with his vocal tunes ("Shape I'm In," "Last House on the Block"), but perhaps realized that his thin voice was too one-dimensional for guttural blues or R&B. Guest vocalist Malford Milligan ignites "Don't Cha Know" and "Once a Part of Me," helping Johnson's blazing debut on Vai's Favored Nations label and reestablishing the versatile virtuoso's status for the 21st century. As Vai himself testified, "Eric has more colorful tone in his fingers than Van Gogh had on his palette."
Souvenir, an album available only through Johnson's website, appeared in 2002, followed by CD and DVD versions of New West's Live from Austin, TX and Bloom, the second album for Vai's Favored Nations imprint, in 2005. Johnson returned in 2010 with Up Close, a studio album that slightly emphasized the guitarist's Texas roots. A collaboration with jazz guitarist Mike Stern, Eclectic, appeared in 2014. ~ Bill Meredith
Battle We Have Won
Eric Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Album: Venus Isle
Track: Battle We Have Won
Everywhere are hearts and empty hands,
With no one there, to understand,
Future dreams, you're searching for a clue,
That sun don't shine, you never mind.
Don't get too discouraged in this life,
It's just a game, for now we play.
And soon or later things can work out right
This you must know, just wait and see
And after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won.
All across the view, hills of desires,
The Knights, the Kings, the Queens, The Squires.
The serenading dreams, bound tears of hope,
They start to fall, keep standing tall.
So, don't get too discouraged in this life,
It's just a stage, we act upon.
Soon or later things, they work out right,
The sun will shine, the night will dawn.
And after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won.
So don't get too discouraged in this life,
Our thoughts can breathe, sonnets of love.
Soon the winds of change will make it right,
This you must know, just wait and see.
And after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won--
In this life,
We'll set the sail, inside above.
Soon or later things they work out right
This you must know, just wait and see.
Lord, after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won.
The lyrics to Eric Johnson's "Battle We Have Won" are an inspiring message about persevering through difficult times and holding on to hope for a better future. The first verse speaks to the feeling of isolation and loneliness that can come with searching for fulfillment and purpose, with no one around to provide guidance or support. Nonetheless, the lyrics urge perseverance in the face of obstacles and rejection, with the line "you never mind" indicating a resolve to keep going despite setbacks.
The second verse continues the theme of perseverance, likening life to a stage where we must play our roles and trust that things will work out eventually. The images of knights, kings, and queens in "hills of desires" suggest a quest for greatness and fulfillment, but also a sense of struggle and challenge. However, the lyrics ultimately emphasize the message that success is possible even in the midst of difficulty, encouraging listeners to "keep standing tall" and holding on to hope.
The chorus repeats the phrase "don't get too discouraged in this life" three times, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience even when things feel hopeless. The line "our thoughts can breathe, sonnets of love" suggests that positivity and optimism can be powerful forces, and the use of the phrase "winds of change" suggests that better things are on the horizon.
Overall, "Battle We Have Won" is a message of hope and inspiration, urging listeners to keep pushing forward even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Everywhere are hearts and empty hands,
People are going through life with emotional emptiness and a lack of resources.
With no one there, to understand,
There is no one around to empathize with their struggles.
Future dreams, you're searching for a clue,
They are searching for direction in order to achieve their desired future.
That sun don't shine, you never mind.
Even though things are not going as planned, they remain optimistic.
Don't get too discouraged in this life,
Advice to not lose hope and give up during hard times.
It's just a game, for now we play.
Life is meant to be enjoyed and not taken too seriously.
And soon or later things can work out right
Belief that eventually things will fall into place.
This you must know, just wait and see
Have patience and wait for things to turn around.
And after everything is said and done,
Upon reflection of what has happened.
This can be another battle we have won.
Overcoming challenges and struggles can be considered a victory.
All across the view, hills of desires,
There are many goals to be achieved and desires to be fulfilled.
The Knights, the Kings, the Queens, The Squires.
Reference to different types of people trying to achieve their aspirations.
The serenading dreams, bound tears of hope,
Desires and aspirations that bring both hope and distress to individuals.
They start to fall, keep standing tall.
Even when things don't go their way, they need to keep moving forward.
It's just a stage, we act upon.
Life is comparable to a play or performance.
The sun will shine, the night will dawn.
Things will eventually get better even after a period of darkness.
Our thoughts can breathe, sonnets of love.
Our positive mindset can lead to wonderful experiences.
Soon the winds of change will make it right,
Change will come and improve the current situation.
Lord, after everything is said and done,
Upon reflection of the past and the progress made.
This can be another battle we have won.
Previous hardships overcome can be seen as significant achievements.
In this life,
During our time on earth.
We'll set the sail, inside above.
We have control of our own direction and growth.
This you must know, just wait and see.
Advice to remain patient in order for things to get better.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID ERIC JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric
on Camel's Night Out
What is it about? A person?