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.
Richmond
Joe Bonamassa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I do, I wish I was back home
You know I wish I was in Richmond
The land I was r0aised, the place I've always known
And now I'm waiting in New York City
The rain is falling, no one seems to see
And all the salesman, they take notice
You know I wish I was in Richmond
You know I do, I wish I was back home
She sidn't change me, she forgave me
So now it's time, time for me to leave
Like broken glass in my broken hands
I'm broken down, this I do believe
You know I wish I was in Richmond
You know I do I wish I was back home
You know I wish I was in Richmond
The land I was raised, the place I've always known
As a frost comes, I've learned some
Not to make the same mistakes again
Laws are learned, as rule books burn
But what I do know, leads to still my friend
I'm going back, back to Richmond
You know I am, you know I'm going home
I'm going back, back to Richmond
The land I was raised, the place that I call home
The lyrics to Joe Bonamassa's song "Richmond" express the singer's longing to return to his hometown. He wishes he could just go back to Richmond, the place he was raised, and where he has always felt at home. He is currently waiting in New York City, where the rain falls and no one seems to notice or care. The salesman in the city rush around, focused on their jobs and the weddings they are planning, oblivious to the world around them.
The lyrics also touch upon the singer's personal struggles, suggesting that he has made some mistakes that he regrets but has been forgiven for. He feels broken like shattered glass in his hands but has learned from his experiences and hopes not to make the same mistakes again. Despite any hardships he may have faced, he is determined to go back to Richmond, the place where he belongs and feels most at peace. In this way, the song captures the universal feeling of homesickness and the desire to return to a simpler time and place.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I wish I was in Richmond
The singer wishes to return to his hometown of Richmond
You know I do, I wish I was back home
The singer longs to go back to where he was raised
The land I was raised, the place I've always known
Richmond is the place that the singer has lived and knows best
And now I'm waiting in New York City
The artist is currently in New York City
The rain is falling, no one seems to see
It is raining and the people around the artist are oblivious
And all the salesman, they take notice
Salesmen are paying attention to their surroundings
Forget the rushing lives, for the rushing brides to be
Salesmen take a break to watch brides hurrying around
She didn't change me, she forgave me
Someone important in the artist's life forgave him instead of attempting to change him
So now it's time, time for me to leave
The artist knows it's time to move on from wherever he is now
Like broken glass in my broken hands
The situation that the artist is in is fragile, much like broken glass in his hands
I'm broken down, this I do believe
The singer is feeling broken and defeated
As a frost comes, I've learned some
The artist has learned some things as time passes, like how frost comes with the changing seasons
Not to make the same mistakes again
The singer has learned from past mistakes
Laws are learned, as rule books burn
The singer has learned about laws and rules through experience, rather than reading about them
But what I do know, leads to still my friend
The singer knows something that brings peace to his mind
You know I am, you know I'm going home
The artist is going back to Richmond, which he considers home
The land I was raised, the place that I call home
Richmond is where the artist grew up and where he feels he belongs
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Arthur Fudtucker
Retired ol man..can't go to his concerts but have his DVD's..best player in the world..Thanks JB..you make an ole mans day.. how can people not love this mans work...put Beth, aka best blues singer and you have the best group ever....stay with this band JB..they compliment you perfectly !!!!
peepsk771
GREAT, great song from a master!!! Just saw him a few days ago and simply AMAZING!! :)
omegalast800
...one of the best nights of my life... thank you Joe!
Joe Schmoe
I hate you. I mean that in the best possible way.
bearhouse34
You are SO lucky. I would give anything to have witnessed such greatness.
peepsk771
Mine too!! Will never forget Joe's concert!! He is a master!!!
Frieda Buchanan
I have the DVD and I never get tired of listening and watching.
Ryan Cosgrove
i watch it every weekend
Eric Kamov
Joe is my personal favorite blues-rock performer bar none! - Would LOVE to shake his hand . . . . . . . .
Eric Kamov
@Fred Edwards Lucky you . . . . 😉