Dutton, born in Philadelphia, began playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the 9th grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. Dutton credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schooly D as influences.
Dutton, still in high school at Germantown Friends School, began playing solo on the streets of Philadelphia. After a year of college, he relocated to Boston, working as a fundraiser for Peace Action and playing wherever and whenever he could. One of his few indoor gigs at this time was a Boston bar called The Tam O'Shanter, where he met drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens in January 1993. Dutton and Clemens began working as a duo, they were joined a few months later by bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott and became the house band on Mondays at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The name G. Love doesn't really have that much of a story to it. The 'G' stands for Good as said in many radio interviews. He said in an interview that the 'Love' was just there because it sounded right.
G. Love featured Jack Johnson on his 1999 LP Philadelphonic playing an early version of Jack Johnson's "Rodeo Clowns" when Jack was an unknown artist. Jack later featured the song on his 2003 LP On and On.
Known nowadays for his excellent live shows, he is often seen touring with Jack Johnson, who signed G. Love to his record label Brushfire Records. He has made appearances on the records of artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Donavon Frankenreiter.
Angel
G. Love Lyrics
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Keep my demons on the floor
The only ones that I can trust in
When everybody scheming on the low
If you a snake you gotta go
If you a rat I gotta go
I seen my homie die for nothing
My brother went down for the most
Every time that we cry
We grind
You know that I stay 'bout it
Think Iβm already a veteran
When it's foggy I can't see right
No I don't even sleep right
These nights
That we were lost and now we found it
And now life is much better than that
I know
I gotta prove it
The way I been movin'
Feels like I been foolish
I won't go
To the way I used to do shit
No I ain't gon' lie I was on that bullshit
I might've turned some friends to enemies and took it personal
But when you not part of the vision man that hurts, you know
And when it comes to
Impostor syndrome I'm the worst you know
Yeah I think I've been cursed you know
Just please be merciful
I done left my girl, left my 9 to 5
Seen my people die, seen my mama cry
I don't wanna put no beam on my life, no no
But all you gotta do is see it through my eyes
And youβll know just why I
Pray my angels stay above me
Keep my demons on the floor
The only ones that I can trust in
When everybody scheming on the low
If you a snake you gotta go
If you a rat I gotta go
I seen my homie die for nothing
My brother went down for the most
So I don't wanna rewind
Every time that we cry
We grind
You know that I stay 'bout it
Think Iβm already a veteran
When it's foggy I can't see right
No I don't even sleep right
These nights
That we were lost and now we found it
And now life is much better than that
In "Angel," G. Love reflects on the struggles he has faced in life while trying to find trust and maintain his sense of self. He opens by asking his angels to stay above him and his demons to stay below him, indicating his desire to surround himself with positive influences and keep negativity far away. He explains that in a world where everyone is scheming, he can only trust a select few, and those who act against him must be cut out of his life without a second thought. G. Love has experienced significant losses, including the death of a friend and the imprisonment of a brother, which have understandably left him feeling lost and in need of direction. However, he has found solace and purpose in grinding and working hard to move forward with his life. He acknowledges that he may have made mistakes along the way, perhaps damaging relationships and creating enemies, but he chooses to focus on the positive changes he has made in his life and the gratitude he feels for being able to come out the other side.
Line by Line Meaning
Pray my angels stay above me
I hope that the good forces in my life stay with me and protect me from harm
Keep my demons on the floor
I want to keep my negative thoughts and influences under control and not let them take over my life
The only ones that I can trust in
I feel that my angels are the only ones I can rely on completely and trust to guide me in the right direction
When everybody scheming on the low
I am aware that there are people around me trying to deceive and manipulate me, even when I can't see it outright
If you a snake you gotta go
I will not tolerate deceitful and untrustworthy people in my life, and will cut them out if necessary
If you a rat I gotta go
I refuse to associate with anyone who would betray me or turn against me when it matters most
I seen my homie die for nothing
I have witnessed the tragic consequences of senseless violence and loss in my community
My brother went down for the most
I have personally experienced the devastating impact that unjust punishment and systemized discrimination can have
So I don't wanna rewind
I don't want to go back to those dark times or relive those painful memories
Every time that we cry
Every time we face hardship or emotional distress
We grind
We keep pushing forward with determination and persistence
You know that I stay 'bout it
I am committed to staying true to myself and my beliefs, even when faced with challenges or obstacles
Think Iβm already a veteran
I've been through so much already that I feel like I have the life experience and wisdom of someone much older
When it's foggy I can't see right
When my thoughts and emotions become clouded or unclear, it's difficult to make good decisions or see things clearly
No I don't even sleep right
My anxieties and worries keep me up at night and make it hard to rest or relax
These nights
These difficult and uncertain times
That we were lost and now we found it
Despite the challenges we've faced, we've managed to find our way and discover a sense of purpose or direction
And now life is much better than that
Things have improved and I am in a better place than I once was
Lyrics Β© DistroKid
Written by: Huruy Zeratsion, Ross Domingo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind