Henry was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but grew up in the Detroit area where he met Melanie Ciccone, Madonna's sister, whom he married in 1987. In 1985 he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he played at small clubs. His debut album Talk of Heaven came out in 1986. He signed to A&M Records and released two albums, Murder of Crows (1989) and Shuffletown (1990)
After Henry and his wife moved to Los Angeles in 1990, he left A&M in 1992 to join the independent label Mammoth, located in North Carolina. He released Short Man's Room and Kindness of the World, on which members of the Jayhawks provided instrumental backing.
In the mid-1990s Henry decided "to do something decidedly more eclectic" instead of continuing with country-rock. He turned to producer Patrick McCarthy, in making his next album Trampoline (1996). Trampoline also employed metal guitarist Page Hamilton, who demonstrated his own eagerness to stretch by collaborating on the album.
Asked to contribute a song to a benefit album for singer Vic Chesnutt in 1996, Henry also collaborated with his famous sister-in-law on a cover of Chesnutt's "Guilty by Association" (Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, The Songs of Vic Chesnutt, 1996).
In 1999 Henry released the experimental album Fuse with trip hop shadings. His eighth album, Scar, followed in 2001. The band on the record consisted mainly of jazz musicians (Marc Ribot, Brian Blade and Brad Mehldau among others) and Jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman guesting on the track "Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation".
In 2001, Henry sang on the song "Alleluia" from Julia Fordham's album, Concrete Love. His self-produced album Tiny Voices appeared on Epitaph's Anti label in 2003.
Henry produced Teddy Thompson's 2000 album Teddy Thompson, a critically acclaimed album from the son of British folk legends, Linda Thompson and Richard Thompson. Henry also produced Solomon Burke's 2002 album Don't Give Up On Me, which won Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2003 Grammy Awards. 2005 releases produced by Henry include Ani DiFranco's Knuckle Down, Aimee Mann's 1970s concept album The Forgotten Arm, and Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell to Raise.
He also produced the multi-artist album I Believe to My Soul, which featured Allen Toussaint, Mavis Staples, Ann Peebles, Irma Thomas and Billy Preston.
In 2006, Henry teamed with Toussaint, producing his collaborative album with Elvis Costello, The River in Reverse.
In September of 2006, Henry and his longtime hero Loudon Wainwright III began composing the music for the Judd Apatow movie Knocked Up. Snippets of instrumentals were used as background score for the film, but the full versions of the songs make up Wainwright's 2007 album Strange Weirdos. Henry produced Mary Gauthier's 2007 album Between Daylight and Dark.
Henry's 10th album, "Civilians," was released in 2007 on the Anti label. His 11th album, Blood From Stars, followed in 2009, and his 12th, Reverie, was released in 2011.
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King
Joe Henry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes you can never tell
Where a story will unwind
How deep is the shallow ground
Sometimes you would never guess
Who's all talk and who just might
Find a way or lose themselves
I am just like many more
Who lie in bed, still and numb
Waking up and I can see
Just how dark it has become
Who knows no better angels now
Who knows none but earthly light
Who is waiting for a stranger
On the king's highway tonight
It wasn't how I had it planned
When it finally came around
I took a man with my own hands
But I held him close when he went down
He hadn't time to be afraid
His look was only of surprise
Staring up from where he lay
On the king's highway tonight
I took the little that he had
Only as an afterthought
He wouldn't have to feel so bad
To think I killed him just because
He was passing through this town
Only 'cause he looked about right
He stopped when I flagged him down
On the king's highway tonight
I might just change my mind
Sometimes you can never tell
The song King's Highway by Joe Henry talks about unexpected events that occur in life and how things don't always go according to plan. The song suggests that the singer is considering changing his mind about something, and he seems uncertain about where things are headed. The lyrics raise important questions about perception and understanding, showing that sometimes it is impossible to know how things will end up or what kind of people we will meet along the way. The line "How deep is the shallow ground" highlights the contradictions and complexities of life, and the ambiguity suggests that we don't always know what we are getting ourselves into.
The second verse contains vivid imagery that further explores the themes of the song, painting a bleak picture of the world we live in. The singer reveals that he can see "how dark it has become," and he seems to suggest that he knows no "better angels" or higher powers that can guide him. The repetition of the line "On the king's highway tonight" creates a sense of foreboding and danger, emphasizing the idea that anything can happen when we venture out into the unknown. The final verse tells a story about a murder that was unplanned and unexpected, further emphasizing the idea that things can spiral out of control quickly.
Joe Henry's King's Highway is a powerful and thought-provoking song that deals with themes of uncertainty, danger, and the unpredictability of life. The lyrics are open to multiple interpretations, and the song can be read as a commentary on the state of society or as a personal expression of the singer's own journey. Overall, the song is a testament to the power of music to convey complex emotions and ideas.
Line by Line Meaning
I might just change my mind
I am acknowledging the fluidity of my thoughts and the possibility of changing my stance on something.
Sometimes you can never tell
Situations can be unpredictable, and it can be impossible to accurately anticipate their outcomes.
Where a story will unwind
It is difficult to predict the turns and twists of life and how they will shape our stories.
How deep is the shallow ground
Things that may appear simple or shallow on the surface can actually have deeper, complex meanings and consequences.
Sometimes you would never guess
In some situations, the people who appear the least likely to succeed or take action may end up surprising us.
Who's all talk and who just might
It can be hard to differentiate those who only talk about their dreams and those who have the potential to make them a reality.
Find a way or lose themselves
People are either able to accomplish their goals or become lost in the journey of pursuing them.
On the king's highway tonight
This line is repeated throughout the song and represents the setting of the story - the same highway where the artist will commit a murder and confront the consequences.
I am just like many more
The artist identifies themselves as one among many who may be struggling in their own lives.
Who lie in bed, still and numb
Some people may feel stuck in their own lives or unable to make a change, which can lead to feelings of numbness and disconnection.
Waking up and I can see
The singer has had a realization or epiphany about their life and the darkness that they are existing in.
Just how dark it has become
The artist has come to terms with the bleakness of their current situation and can no longer ignore it.
Who knows no better angels now
The singer may feel as if they have no guidance or support from good, helpful forces in their life.
Who knows none but earthly light
The singer may only be able to see the mundane or materialistic aspects of life, without any spiritual or enlightened perspective.
Who is waiting for a stranger
The singer may be seeking out someone new or different who can offer them a change in their circumstances or mindset.
It wasn't how I had it planned
The artist is acknowledging that they did not intend for things to turn out the way they did and may feel remorseful about their actions.
When it finally came around
The killing may have been a long time coming, or the artist may have been anticipating the moment for a while.
I took a man with my own hands
The singer is admitting to committing a murder in a violent manner.
But I held him close when he went down
Despite their violent act, the singer may still feel some sense of connection or intimacy with their victim.
He hadn't time to be afraid
The victim did not have sufficient warning or time to fully process what was happening before their death.
His look was only of surprise
The victim's final expression was one of shock and disbelief at what was happening to them.
Staring up from where he lay
The victim's final position on the ground, looking up at the sky, is described in a way that emphasizes the finality and irreversibility of his death.
I took the little that he had
The singer stole from the man they killed after the fact, suggesting a lack of remorse or empathy.
Only as an afterthought
The theft may not have been planned or intentional, but rather a spontaneous decision made afterwards.
He wouldn't have to feel so bad
The singer may have taken the man's possessions in order to justify or lessen the guilt of their actions.
To think I killed him just because
The singer is acknowledging that there was no good reason for the murder, and it was an unjustified, senseless act of violence.
He was passing through this town
The victim was a stranger or outsider passing through the area, making them an easy target for the singer.
Only 'cause he looked about right
The artist may have judged the victim's appearance or demeanor as fitting the criteria for someone they wanted to kill or victimize.
He stopped when I flagged him down
The victim may have innocently approached the artist, unaware of their intent to do harm.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOE HENRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind