Bonamassa was born in Utica, New York. He started playing guitar at age four, encouraged by his father, who was an avid music fan and exposed him to British blues rock records by Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, greatly inspiring him. At 11 years old Joe was mentored and trained by American guitar legend, Danny Gatton. When he was 12 years old, he had his own band called Smokin' Joe Bonamassa, which gigged around western New York and Pennsylvania, including cities such as Scranton and Buffalo, but only on weekends since Joe had school on weekdays. Bonamassa played a crimson 1972 Fender Stratocaster he called "Rosie", which his father had bought in Utica, New York.
When he was 12 years old, Bonamassa opened for B.B. King. In the last 13 years Bonamassa has put out 15 solo albums through his independent record label J&R Adventures, of which 11 have reached number 1 on the Billboard Blues charts. Bonamassa has played alongside such artists as Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, Blondie Chaplin, Foreigner, Buddy Guy, Steve Winwood, Warren Haynes, Solomon Hicks,and Derek Trucks among others.[4] His career highlights include performances at the Royal Albert Hall and has had three Grammy Award nominations in 2013, for his collaboration album with Beth Hart "Seesaw", in 2016 for the album "Live at the Greek Theatre" and 2022 for the album "Royal Tea". In addition to his music career, Joe Bonamassa runs a nonprofit organisation called the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, whose mission is to further music education by funding scholarships and providing music education resources to schools in need. in 2020, he added an extension to the foundation. Called Fuelling Musicians, it provides $1500 cheques to struggling musicians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
in 2021, he broke his own record for having more #1 Billboard blues albums than anyone in history. The album "Time Clocks" clocked up his 25th #1 album.
He is also known for his enormous collection of vintage guitars and related gear.
Asking Around for You
Joe Bonamassa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The first thing I'll do
Before I met my maker
I'm gonna ask around for you
All of heaven's got to know
The beauty of the truth
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
I'm sure you've found a place up there
Where we could all sit & talk a while
Play some cards & drink black coffee
How I'd love to see you smile
If I get to heaven, now
Oh, I'm prayin now it'll,
It'll be the first thing I do
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
And I'll be asking around for you
I'm sure you've found a place up there
Where we could all sit & talk a while
Play some cards & drink black coffee
How I'd love to see you smile
If I get to heaven now, oh I'm prayin' now
It'll, it'll be the first thing I do
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
And I'll be asking around for you
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
And I'll be coming home to you
The lyrics to Joe Bonamassa's song "Asking Around for You" depict the singer's longing for a loved one who has passed away. The singer contemplates his own mortality and expresses a desire to reunite with the lost loved one in heaven. The first thing he plans to do upon entering heaven is to ask about the loved one's whereabouts, affirming the importance of the bond and the void it has left in his life.
As the singer networks with the angels in search for his loved one, the song also highlights the value of relationships and how they continue to shape who we are even after people are no longer with us. The singer wishes for a chance to catch up and enjoy simple pleasures with the missing loved one like playing cards and drinking coffee. The final line "And I'll be coming home to you" shows his sense of hope that they will be reunited again once he too passes away.
Overall, the song showcases a deep sense of nostalgia, regret and a longing for the comforts of home that can be found in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
If I get to heaven
In the event that I make it to Heaven
The first thing I'll do
My initial plan is to
Before I met my maker
Prior to meeting with God
I'm gonna ask around for you
I intend to inquire about your whereabouts
All of heaven's got to know
Everyone in Heaven should be aware
The beauty of the truth
The beauty and wonder of the truth
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
I'll find an angel who is not occupied and speak with them privately
And I'll be asking around for you
I will proceed to ask about your location and activities
I'm sure you've found a place up there
I reckon you've already located a suitable spot in Heaven
Where we could all sit & talk a while
A place where we can gather and converse for some time
Play some cards & drink black coffee
Potentially engage in leisure activities such as card games while drinking coffee
How I'd love to see you smile
It would give me great pleasure to catch a glimpse of your grin
Oh, I'm prayin now it'll
I'm currently hoping that
It'll be the first thing I do
As soon as I arrive in Heaven, it'll be my top priority
And I'll be coming home to you
My eventual aim is to be reunited with you
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: JOE BONAMASSA, MIKE HIMELSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-js6el7vn2r
If i get to heaven
the first thing i'll do
Fore' I meet my maker
I'm gonna ask around for you
all of heaven gotta know
your beauty all too true
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
and I'll be asking around for you
She found a place up there
where we all can sit and talk a while
play some cards and drink black coffee
How I'd love to see you smile
If I get to heaven now
Oh, I'm praying that I do
It'll be the first thing I do
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
and I'll be asking around for you
I'm sure you found a place up there
where we all can sit and talk a while
play some cards and drink black coffee
I'd love to see you smile
If I get to heaven now
oh I'm praying that I do
I'll be the first thing I do
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
and I'll be asking around for you
I'll tap an angel on the shoulder
and I'll be coming home to you
@deeanntuckett8764
I lost my husband four months ago and this was the song he wanted for our sons to play when his ashes are scattered in the mountains.
@user-dd7vp2qn6g
Lost my parents 54 and 49 years ago. My husband 16 years ago. I listen to this and think of them. Always in my heart❤️
@k.s.7104
Hardest working man there is. Hails from Utica NY (Upstate NY), good hardworking people up that way, and this musician has worked for it all.
@M._Lou
This song plays to the heart of anyone
Who has ever lost another…..
Thank you, Joe.
@alansmith7626
it never gets old...
@shepdgc.og.soldier7732
This was one of my favorite songs for a long time. When my wife passed away last year it became so much more relevant.Saw Joe in Pennsylvania in 12’ and at Red Rocks in 15’.No better live musician and person to look up to than this man..Between this song and Mountain Time I don’t know which is better.They all have a place in my heart and soul. Thanks Joe ✌️
@marycarroll9294
I only discovered Joe Bonamassa in 2014 on a Sky Arts special .He was mesmerizing I was hooked .Would love to see him live.maybe someday.
@solomonkane223
Single greatest blues performance ever recorded on film.
@elinachtigall
🌹🌹🎸🎸🎹🎹🎷🎷🎺🎺🎸🎸🌹🌹What a super beautiful song, what a wonderful voice, what kind of heavenly, musical sounds ... I find "Asking Around For You" simply unique🌹🌹🎸🎸🎹🎹🎷🎷🎺🎺🎹🎹🎸🎸🌹🌹
@dianacrow7509
Sir I sure do appreciate your gentle demeanor...you are one Classy Performer and your choice of Musicians are pure taste...I am honored to listen...thank you.