Johnson was raised in Montgomery, Alabama. From an early age, he was influenced by country acts such as Alabama and Alan Jackson, the latter of whom he claims is the first act that he saw in concert. Johnson, after graduating high school, attended Jacksonville State University, the same university from which Alabama lead singer Randy Owen graduated.
Johnson then quit college after two years and served in the the Marine Corps Reserves for eight years. After exiting the Marines, he began playing country music in various bars throughout Montgomery; one of his first gigs was opening for David Allan Coe. By 2000, Johnson had moved to Nashville, Tennessee in pursuit of a career in country music. One of his first connections was with Greg Perkins, a fiddler who had played for Tanya Tucker and other artists. Perkins invited Johnson to sing as a duet partner on a demo tape; the other duet partner with whom he sang was Gretchen Wilson. Songs for which Johnson sang demos include "Songs About Me" (cut by Trace Adkins) and "That's How They Do It in Dixie" (cut by Hank Williams, Jr. with Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Van Zant).
In addition, Johnson had made connections with producer and songwriter Buddy Cannon, who helped him land a songwriting contract. Among Johnson's first cuts as a songwriter was "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk", which Adkins cut for his 2005 album Songs About Me and released as a single.
In Color
Jamey Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all black and white
It ain't real clear is that you there?"
He said "Yeah, I was eleven
Times were tough back in '35
That's me and uncle Joe just tryin' to survive
A cotton farm, in a great depression
If it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
Oh and this one here was taken over seas
In the middle of hell in 1943
In the winter time, you can almost see my breath
That was my tail gunner ole Johnny Magee
He was a high school teacher from New Orleans
And he had my back right through the day we left
If it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
A picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should've seen it in color
This one is my favorite one
This is me and grandma in the summer sun
All dressed up the day we said our vows
You can't tell it here but it was hot that June
And that rose was red and her eyes were blue
And just look at that smile I was so proud
That's the story of my life right there in black and white
And if it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
A picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should have seen it in color
You should have seen it in color
Yeah, a picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should have seen it in color"
Jamey Johnson's song "In Color" explores the idea that our memories and experiences are more vivid and lifelike when seen through the lenses of colors rather than black and white. The opening lines of the lyrics see an old picture that's all black and white, indistinct and not real clear, it is portraying his grandfather when he was only eleven years old. His grandfather tells him that it was taken in 1935, and it is a picture of him and his uncle Joe on a cotton farm during the Great Depression. Through the lyrics, one can sense the hardships and troubles his grandfather faced, the tumultuous and challenging times, but also the bond between the two young children, fighting to survive.
The second verse of the song describes a picture of his grandfather during his time in the war, fighting overseas. He talks of his tail gunner ole Johnny Magee, from New Orleans, who had his back and helped him survive during a tough time. The song's theme is around the idea that even though the pictures are in black and white, the experiences captured in them were just as real and full of life as if they were in color, if not more. The final verse shows a picture of his grandparents on their wedding day, dressed elegantly and celebrating their love on a hot June day. Johnson beautifully captures the essence of each picture, adding colors and life, for the listener to paint their picture with each verse.
Line by Line Meaning
I said "Grandpa what's this picture here
I asked my grandpa about an old photograph I found
It's all black and white
The photograph was in black and white
It ain't real clear is that you there?"
I was not sure if the person in the photograph was my grandpa
He said "Yeah, I was eleven
My grandpa confirmed that he was the person in the photograph
Times were tough back in '35
The year was 1935 and it was a difficult time
That's me and uncle Joe just tryin' to survive
The person next to my grandpa in the photograph was his uncle Joe, and they were struggling to make ends meet
A cotton farm, in a great depression
They were on a cotton farm during the Great Depression
If it looks like we were scared to death
Although they were young, they were scared and struggling to survive
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
They relied on each other to get through tough times
You should've seen it in color
The photograph would have been more impactful in color
Oh and this one here was taken over seas
My grandpa was referencing another photograph, this time taken overseas
In the middle of hell in 1943
The photograph was taken during a difficult time while they were at war in 1943
In the winter time, you can almost see my breath
It was a cold winter day when the photograph was taken
That was my tail gunner ole Johnny Magee
The person in the photograph was my grandpa's tail gunner, Johnny Magee
He was a high school teacher from New Orleans
Johnny Magee was a high school teacher from New Orleans
And he had my back right through the day we left
Johnny Magee was a loyal and supportive friend to my grandpa
This one is my favorite one
My grandpa was talking about another photograph that was his favorite
This is me and grandma in the summer sun
The photograph was of my grandpa and his wife (my grandma) on a sunny summer day
All dressed up the day we said our vows
They were dressed up on their wedding day
You can't tell it here but it was hot that June
Although they looked happy, it was actually very hot on their wedding day
And that rose was red and her eyes were blue
My grandma had blue eyes and was holding a red rose in the photograph
And just look at that smile I was so proud
My grandpa was proud and happy on his wedding day
That's the story of my life right there in black and white
The photographs were a representation of my grandpa's life
Yeah, a picture's worth a thousand words
Photographs can be very powerful and tell a story
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
Black and white photographs don't show the full picture
You should have seen it in color
The photographs would be even more impactful in color
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@purplenipples535
Anyone in here in 2024 ?
@amadaypatino8
Yes
@keyonamilne9980
This was my army buddy's and my song while we were in during the global war on terror. Unfortunately he took his own life when he came back, this song makes me tear up with sorrow and pride. R.i.p
Spc. Simmons. He was just a good ol boy from Kentucky
@DanDanders
2024 & still listening
@user-zr8pl7bi8c
Meeee 🙌
@andysigmon5522
I’m here.
@ClanOfStonemasons
Hey Jamie, thank you for this song and thank you for walking on stage with Oliver Anthony. Both mean a lot to all of us. God bless you and your family and your future.
@mickhurley7305
Olivier Anthony brought me here...life is so amazing.
@amysharma4972
Me too Chris-Oliver has opened my eyes
@orionlawrence210
Jamey*