(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
Showdown
Eric Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jacob never wore his side guns
Till news broke out
Black Bart was back in town
Bart was gunning for the sheriff
Revenge burned in his eyes
Rosie tried to stop the Marshall
As he left tears fell from her eyes
Don't you lose your life
Put down your gun
Stay inside tonight
Jacob's men were on the rooftop
With artillery
Shots rang out Bart's men were fallin'
Someone's callin' Marshall's
On the ground
And Rose ran up to him and cried
Oh Lord
Oh will you ever see
Oh what you mean to me
And will we always be together
Oh together
Chorus
Showdown in town
Lord what have they done
Cause in the end
No one really won
The song "Showdown" by Eric Johnson is a narrative ballad that recounts the story of a showdown between the sheriff and a notorious outlaw named Black Bart. The story is set in Santa Fe, where Jacob, the singer, lives. Jacob was a lawman who never wore his guns until he receives news that Black Bart has returned to town and is gunning for the sheriff. The story is told from Jacob's perspective as he and his men prepare for the inevitable clash.
The lyrics are rich in detail, and they capture the tension and fear that permeates the scene. Rosie, a love interest, tries to stop Jacob from leaving, but he is determined to do his duty. The chorus warns of the senselessness of violence and the tragedy that it inevitably creates as both sides lose something. The final verses reveal the aftermath of the shootout, as Rose runs up to Jacob and cries, and they question if things will ever be the same again.
Overall, the lyrics of "Showdown" beautifully capture the human cost of violence and the toll it takes on individuals and communities. Eric Johnson's velvety voice and sensitive guitar work add depth and richness to the story, making it a poignant tale of love, loss, and the struggle to preserve justice and decency.
Line by Line Meaning
Lived in Santa Fe
The singer dwells in a town called Santa Fe, which is the setting of the story.
Jacob never wore his side guns
Jacob, the singer, did not carry any firearms on him.
Till news broke out
The situation changed when information was revealed.
Black Bart was back in town
A notorious outlaw known as Black Bart had recently returned to the town.
Bart was gunning for the sheriff
Black Bart had a vendetta against the sheriff and intended to kill him.
Revenge burned in his eyes
Black Bart was fueled by a desire for vengeance on the sheriff.
Rosie tried to stop the Marshall
A woman named Rosie attempted to prevent the Marshall from engaging in the confrontation.
As he left tears fell from her eyes
Rosie was emotional and cried as the Marshall went to face Black Bart.
Showdown in town
A confrontation between the Marshall and Black Bart was imminent.
Don't you lose your life
The situation was perilous, and people were advised to prioritize their safety above all else.
Put down your gun
Individuals were encouraged to relinquish their firearms to avoid escalation of the conflict.
Stay inside tonight
It was wise to remain indoors during the violence.
Jacob's men were on the rooftop
Individuals allied with Jacob had taken a strategic position on a roof.
With artillery
They were armed with heavy weapons.
Shots rang out Bart's men were falling
Gunfire was exchanged, and Black Bart's allies were being killed.
Someone's callin' Marshall's
An individual called out for the Marshall's assistance.
On the ground
The violence escalated until individuals fell dead or injured.
And Rose ran up to him and cried
Rosie approached the Marshall and wept in front of him.
Oh Lord
An exclamation that can be interpreted as a plea for mercy, guidance or a request for divine intervention.
Oh will you ever see
A question that could imply a lack of faith or trust in a higher power or an individual.
Oh what you mean to me
An expression of romantic, platonic or familial sentiment towards an individual.
And will we always be together
A question about the stability of a romantic, platonic or familial relationship.
Oh together
An affirmation about the importance of being together in difficult times.
Showdown in town
A repeat of the previous line, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Lord what have they done
A statement of incredulity and judgment directed at the violent individuals or the situation itself.
Cause in the end
A commentary on the outcome of the violent confrontation that occurred.
No one really won
The conflict did not result in any clear victory for either party.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMON REINAGLE, DAVID HARRIS, TOBY GAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
guitarslave
Love that little vocal nuance at about 2:13 or so.
WHOLE WORLD
Live version (1980 )👉 https://youtu.be/dDVKxqEgryQ