Barnes was born… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Barnes (b. 1956) is an Australian rock singer.
Barnes was born James Dixon Swan on the 28th April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to Australia with his family when he was six years old.
He first came to public attention as the lead singer with popular Australian pub-rock band Cold Chisel, which he joined in 1973 and with whom he recorded seven albums between 1978 and 1983. When the band split up in 1983 he launched a solo career almost immediately; his first album, Bodyswerve, entered the Australian charts at number one. It was the first of a remarkable run of top charting albums for Barnes, as each of his first six solo albums entered the charts at number one, a feat that no other Australian artist is likely to match.
In 1986 Barnes recorded two singles with INXS, duetting with that band's singer Michael Hutchence on a cover of The Easybeats' "Good Times", and "Laying Down the Law", which was co-written by Barnes with INXS members Andrew Farriss and Hutchence. "Good Times" was used as the theme song for the Australia Made series of concerts that toured the country in the summer of 1986-1987. Both songs later appeared on the soundtrack of the 1980s teen vampire film The Lost Boys.
Following Hutchence's death in 1997, Barnes appeared live on stage with INXS at shows throughout Australia between 1999 and 2001.
His album Double Happiness, released in July 2005, reaffirmed his popularity, entering the ARIAnet albums chart at number one, his seventh album to do so. Barnes was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on the 23rd October 2005 for his solo career efforts. Coupled with Cold Chisel's previous induction, Barnes is the only artist to be entered into the Hall of Fame twice.
Barnes is also the father of singer David Campbell, who recently starred in the Australian production of the musical Sunset Boulevard, and was a contestant on the Australian television programme Dancing with the Stars. The two perform the duet "Wichita Lineman" on Double Happiness.
Higher And Higher
Jimmy Barnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lifted me higher
Than I've ever been lifted before.
So keep it up,
Quench my desire,
And I'll be at your side forevermore.
(Chorus)
You know your love (Your love keeps lifting me, your)
Higher (lifting me)
Higher and Higher (higher and higher, higher)
I said, your love (Your love keeps lifting me, your)
Keep on (love keeps lifting me)
Lifting me (lifting me)
Higher and Higher (higher and higher, higher).
Listen:
Now once,
I was downhearted.
Disappointment was my closest friend.
But then you came,
And he soon departed,
And you know,
He never showed his face again.
(Repeat Chorus)
All right.
Ooh...
I'm so glad
I finally found you:
Yes, that one-in-a-million girl.
When I wrap my loving arms around you,
Honey,
I can stand up and face the world.
Let me tell you,
(Repeat Chorus then ad lib to fade)
The lyrics of the Jimmy Barnes song "Higher and Higher" express the power of love to lift one's spirits and transform one's life. The opening line "Your love lifted me higher than I've ever been lifted before" refers to the transformative power of being loved and supported by another person, which moves the singer beyond his previous limitations. The lines "Quench my desire, and I'll be at your side forevermore" suggests that the singer is willing to give himself fully to the person who has lifted him up, recognizing the depth of his feelings and the connection between them.
In the second verse, he describes his previous state of despair, saying that "disappointment was my closest friend." The arrival of love, however, banishes the negative feelings, and the singer feels revived and energized, as symbolized by the repeated refrain "higher and higher." The final verse affirms the importance of finding someone special, describing the love interest as "one-in-a-million" and suggesting that being held in her arms gives him the strength to face the world.
Overall, the song celebrates the emotional and transformative qualities of love, offering a vision of hope and renewal that is accessible to all who are open to receiving it.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love
Jimmy is addressing his lover and acknowledging the uplifting power of their love
Lifted me higher
Jimmy expresses how his lover's love has lifted him to new heights and brought him greater happiness
Than I've ever been lifted before.
Jimmy emphasizes that he has never experienced such a profound and unwavering love before
So keep it up,
Jimmy urges his lover to continue giving him the love and attention he needs to thrive
Quench my desire,
Jimmy wants his lover to fulfill his emotional needs and desires through their shared love
And I'll be at your side forevermore.
Jimmy promises to stay by his lover's side as long as they continue to give him the love he needs
(Chorus)
The chorus reinforces the theme that Jimmy is uplifted by his lover's love and it continues to push him higher and higher
You know your love (Your love keeps lifting me, your)
Jimmy repeats the sentiment that his lover's love is what is keeping him motivated and fulfilled
Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me)
Jimmy encourages his lover to continue to lift his spirits and heart through their love
Higher (lifting me)
Jimmy is emphasizing the ongoing progression and elevation of his emotional state through his lover's love
Higher and Higher (higher and higher, higher)
The repetition of the chorus reaffirms how Jimmy's lover's love is always taking him further and higher in his emotional journey
Listen:
Jimmy is calling attention to a story he wants to tell
Now once,
Jimmy is starting a story about a time when he was not as happy as he is now
I was downhearted.
Jimmy was feeling low and discouraged
Disappointment was my closest friend.
Jimmy personifies his negative emotions as a friend who is always with him
But then you came,
Jimmy found his lover, who changed his whole outlook and emotional state
And he soon departed,
Jimmy's negative emotions and depression left him as soon as he found love
And you know,
Jimmy is communicating to his lover that they already know how important they really are to him
He never showed his face again.
Jimmy emphasizes that since he found love, he has not felt downhearted again
(Repeat Chorus)
The chorus is repeated to highlight how Jimmy's love is continuing to keep him happy and fulfilled
All right.
Jimmy is signaling that he is moving on to a new idea in the song
Ooh...
Jimmy is using this sound to emphasize how much he cherishes his lover
I'm so glad
Jimmy is expressing gratitude for having found his lover
I finally found you:
Jimmy waited a long time but finally found the love he needed
Yes, that one-in-a-million girl.
Jimmy is praising his lover for being unique and special
When I wrap my loving arms around you,
Jimmy feels comfort and security when he holds his lover in his arms
Honey,
Jimmy is using a term of endearment to address his lover
I can stand up and face the world.
Jimmy feels empowered and invincible when he is in his lover's arms
Let me tell you,
Jimmy is signaling that he wants to emphasize something important
(Repeat Chorus then ad lib to fade)
The chorus is repeated again, leading to an ad-lib that signifies the end of the song
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