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.
Love Ain't A Love Song
Joe Bonamassa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Happiness is a woman who you love 'til she goes on and shames you
Happiness is value, happiness is a poem
Happiness is a lie for you know the calm before the storm
Ain't nobody love you better, ain't nobody but me
And all I want is a fair shake at love, get a little something for free
(Love ain't a love song) love ain't a love song
(Love ain't a love song) Tell me baby yeah (love ain't a love song)
Hip them all to the scene
Hip them all to the woman you want bringing them all to their knees
Hip them all to the badlands
Hip them all to the stars
All I know is the woman I knew didn't get me too far
Ain't nobody love you better, ain't nobody but me
All I want is a fair shake at love, get a little something for free
Ain't nobody work harder, ain't nobody love you more
All I know it's the fall of a man wearing the crown of thorns
(Love ain't a love song) love ain't a love song
(Love ain't a love song) Tell me baby yeah
(Love ain't a love song) Love ain't a love song
(Love ain't a love song)
Ain't nobody love you better, ain't nobody but me
All I want is a fair shake at love
Give a little something for free
Ain't nobody work harder ain't nobody love you more
All I know is the fall of a man wearing the crown of thorns
(Love ain't a love song) love ain't a love song
(Love ain't a love song) Tell me baby yeah
(Love ain't a love song) Love ain't a love song
(Love ain't a love song) Tell me baby yeah
(Love ain't a love song) Love ain't a love song
(Love ain't a love song)
The lyrics of Joe Bonamassa's Love Ain highlight the complexities of love and happiness. The singer starts by saying that happiness can be found in things that are often painful, such as a bottle or a woman who shames you. He talks about how happiness is subjective and can be found in different things like value, a poem, or a lie. For him, love is not necessarily a love song - it's not always easy or romantic. He wants a fair shake at love and a little something for free, but he also acknowledges that love requires hard work.
The second verse is a bit more cryptic, as the singer talks about bringing people to the city, the scene, and the woman who brings them to their knees. He also references the badlands and the stars, perhaps suggesting that love and happiness can be found in unexpected and even dangerous places. But in the end, he emphasizes that nobody loves better or works harder than him. He wears the crown of thorns, suggesting that love has brought him pain and suffering.
Overall, Love Ain is a reminder that love and happiness are complicated and often elusive. They come with a price and require hard work and sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
Happiness is a bottle, happiness is pain
Finding happiness in fleeting pleasures like alcohol and ignoring long-term pain and harm.
Happiness is a woman who you love 'til she goes on and shames you
Happiness comes from loving someone who ultimately disappoints you and brings shame.
Happiness is value, happiness is a poem
Finding happiness in things that are meaningful and intellectually stimulating.
Happiness is a lie for you know the calm before the storm
Happiness is temporary and fleeting, and often preceded by a period of calm before troubles arise.
Ain't nobody love you better, ain't nobody but me
The singer is confident in their love and devotion, believing that they are unparalleled.
And all I want is a fair shake at love, get a little something for free
The singer desires reciprocity in love, and wishes for love without any strings attached.
(Love ain't a love song) love ain't a love song
Love isn't always as beautiful and perfect as songs and movies portray it to be.
(Love ain't a love song) Tell me baby yeah (love ain't a love song)
The singer emphasizes that real love is not a romanticized fantasy, but a complex and challenging experience.
Hip them all to the city
Introduce others to the excitement and chaos of the city.
Hip them all to the scene
Expose others to a particular cultural or social environment.
Hip them all to the woman you want bringing them all to their knees
Boast about a woman's charm and beauty, suggesting that she has the power to make others submit to her will.
Hip them all to the badlands
Lead others to a dangerous or lawless place.
Hip them all to the stars
Inspire others with dreams of greatness and success.
All I know is the woman I knew didn't get me too far
The singer reflects on past failed relationships, acknowledging their lack of success.
Ain't nobody work harder, ain't nobody love you more
The singer believes that their love and devotion are unmatched.
All I know it's the fall of a man wearing the crown of thorns
The singer alludes to the biblical imagery of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, suggesting that life and love can be painful and difficult.
Lyrics Ā© Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY FLOWERS, JEFFERY STEELE, JOSEPH BONAMASSA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam Mitchell
Joe your a true inspiration. I'm 14 and doing gigs left and right thanks to you being someone I can look up to
Rosie Bray
Wonderful song, all the instrumentals are great. You always put on a great show.....thank you!
mikeymojo
so soulful, fantastic jam. Don't know what's sweeter, JB's playing or that vintage '55 hardtail strat.
Joe never disappoints. see you @Borgata, AC Aug 4 šøšøšø
Linda Ward
What can you say...I am so happy that I can find more and more of his never failing set on this venue so I can see as well as hear...I think even Eric Clapton may have competition for my heart...lol
Tom Johnson
God, I LOVE this video! Iāve listened over 50 times and it never gets old.
Perboir Moreira Filho
Joe Bonamassa. The Blues Titan is playing on every iconic venue around the world. And doing great!
Bev. Rodgers
I am SO glad that I kept going back to the PBS station & discovered such an amazing artist! (Watched it 3 times, since it was someone I'd never heard! How is that possible?!?)
Jon Tate
As usual JB burns the stage down!
Dee Archer
Joe is absolutely a inspiration absolutely amazing hard word and determination it shows.
Jason S
One of my favorites!! JB is the man!