(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
On the Way
Eric Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And I thought that you cared about me
You
I loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
I thought that you cared for me
The picnic at the library
You
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And I thought that you cared about me
You
I loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
Upstairs at that restaurant
Sharing food and all time stopped
Never been as happy as those days
You
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And I thought that you cared about me
You
I loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
We collided – two lost souls
Jasmine tea and summer rolls
Holding hands and walking down the street
And you…
#instrumental
You
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And I thought that you cared about me
You
I loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You pushed away, and in the end
Said that you were not my friend
Now it seems like it was all a dream
And you
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And I thought that you cared about me
You
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And I thought that you cared about me
You
I loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You
And you said that you cared...
The lyrics of Eric Johnson's song "On the Way" depict a bittersweet reflection on a past relationship. In the first verse, the singer expresses admiration for the way their partner loved them. They believed that their partner truly cared for them and cherished the moments they spent together. The imagery of a picnic at the library and lying on a blanket in the park suggests a nostalgic and romantic atmosphere.
In the second verse, the singer continues to reminisce about their relationship. They recall an intimate moment spent at a restaurant where time stood still while they shared food. These moments were incredibly joyous for the singer, as they had never experienced such happiness before.
The third verse delves deeper into their connection, describing themselves and their partner as two lost souls who collided. The mention of jasmine tea and summer rolls adds a touch of exoticism and represents the unique experiences they shared. Holding hands and walking down the street together symbolizes their unity and emotional bond.
However, the mood shifts in the instrumental section, indicating a turning point in the relationship. The fourth verse reveals that their partner pulled away, eventually confessing that they were not truly a friend. This revelation shatters the singer's perception of the relationship, suggesting that what they thought was love and care was merely an illusion. The sense of it all being a dream highlights the confusion and disillusionment the singer feels.
The last repetition of the chorus emphasizes the contrast between the past perception of love and the harsh reality that unfolded. The lyrics express the lingering pain and disappointment experienced by the singer, who had believed in their partner's love. Ultimately, the song portrays the complexities of relationships and the vulnerability we feel when our trust is broken.
Line by Line Meaning
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You possessed a unique manner in which you expressed your love towards me
And I thought that you cared about me
I believed that you genuinely had feelings for me
I loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
I deeply adored the way in which you showered me with affection and love
The picnic at the library
Our time spent together enjoying a picnic at the library
And laying on a blanket in the park
And reclining on a blanket in the park, cherishing each other's company
Upstairs at that restaurant
Sharing intimate moments together on the upper floor of a restaurant
Sharing food and all time stopped
Sharing a meal together and feeling as if time has stood still in that moment
Never been as happy as those days
I have never experienced such immense happiness as I did during those days
We collided – two lost souls
We unexpectedly collided, two individuals who felt lost in the world
Jasmine tea and summer rolls
Enjoying the aroma of jasmine tea and relishing in the flavors of summer rolls
Holding hands and walking down the street
Walking together, hand in hand, down the street, feeling a strong connection
And you…
And you, the person who had such an impact on my life
You pushed away, and in the end
You distanced yourself from me, and eventually
Said that you were not my friend
Expressed that you no longer wanted to be considered my friend
Now it seems like it was all a dream
Now it feels as if everything we had was merely a figment of my imagination
You had way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You possessed a unique manner in which you expressed your love towards me
And I thought that you cared about me
And I genuinely believed that you had feelings for me
You loved the way that you loved me (oh, oh, oh)
You took pleasure in the way you showered me with affection and love
You
You, the person who had such an impact on my life
And you said that you cared...
And you claimed to have cared about me...
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: ERIC RYAN JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pjstamm
The happiest guitar instrumental around!
Cesar Sandoval
Ohhh shit.....
Cesar Sandoval
Its emotional. Maybe the reward in the end of the road or something
Cesar Sandoval
You mean sad
Skyeparcage
Wow! What rockin' country song! Way to go, Eric!
Pranav Phx
Such a happy song. EJ s genius
Michael Thomas
More Jerry Reed influence...love it!
Cristiano B.
MASTER EJ !!! KILLER SONG ! AMAZING !
William Freeman
My favorite Eric Johnson song
Gasparina Cunha
Very good 👍