John Coffey was formed in 2002 in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Begin 20… Read Full Bio ↴John Coffey was formed in 2002 in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Begin 2012 John Coffey tore down a small pub somewhere in Groningen during the Eurosonic
Festival. 30 minutes of sheer guitar loudness left the audience in awe with ringing ears and renewed punkrock hope. It got them a record deal on German based Redfield Records. Distribution in the
Benelux will be done by Suburban Records and bookings are done by Rock ‘n Roll
Highschool in the Netherlands and Sparta Bookings in Europe.

Recap

After a year of hard work, rehearsal space fights, torn cymbals and moulted amps John
Coffey travelled up north to Sweden in November 2011 to cooperate with producer
Pelle Gunnerfeldt (The Hives, Refused) and Jag Jago (ex-guitar player The Ghost Of a
Thousand). Surrounded by Grammy Awards, they recorded their album in the legendary
Gröndahl Studio.

Being flat broke, John Coffey was massively supported by their fans who, through
Sellaband, donated their money like it was going out of fashion. All to get the band to
Sweden.

The Result is ‘Bright Companions’. A raw punk/rock n’ roll record written during an
intense year the band had while making it. A year in which part of the band travelled to
Asia to work on the record on desolate roads, in a hospital and in a Phnom Penh slum,
while the other half laboured endlessly in dark Utrecht rehearsal spaces. A conversation
between five friends about fear of change, vultures, Romans and The Bomb. Musically a
mixture of punkrock, screamo, metal and modern hardcore. Presented with a big shot of
rock n’ roll bravery.

In October 2009 John Coffey released its debut album VANITY on Sally Forth Records
while touring with bands like Underoath, Cancer Bats, Architects, The Chariot and Ghost
Of A Thousand. Besides Holland, the band toured through Great-Brittan, Germany,
Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

On march 3rd 2023 the band announced their come-back. They dropped a new single and announced a upcoming album and a mini-tour with free entry shows in four clubs around the Netherlands.

Son
John Coffey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The smoke of my own breath, my respiration and inspire
The beating of my heart
The passing of blood and air through my lungs
A few light kisses
The road is ours, it's easy now
But stout as a horse
You can't kiss death this day
I'm death and when I love

When I love you it's forever
If you could be looking in my heart
You'll be seeing a child as well how could I answer the child I do not
Know any more than he
And I perceive they do not come from roofs of mouths for nothing
I'm death and when I love
When I love you it's forever
If you could be looking in my heart

You'll be seeing a child as well
How could I answer this child I do not know more than he

Overall Meaning

John Coffey's song "Son" is a powerful and reflective piece that explores the themes of love and death. The opening lines "The smoke of my own breath, my respiration and inspire, the beating of my heart, the passing of blood and air through my lungs," represent human life and its delicate yet persistent nature. The singer acknowledges that we are all mortal beings, constantly relying on the basic biological functions to survive, but also celebrates the beauty and complexity of life.

The next lines of the song "A few light kisses, the road is ours, it's easy now, but stout as a horse, you can't kiss death this day," speak to the power that love and companionship can provide. The singer acknowledges that, despite the inevitability of death, he is celebrating life, love and companionship and is enjoying the journey along the way.

Line by Line Meaning

The smoke of my own breath, my respiration and inspire
I am alive and breathing, and my breath represents the vitality and inspiration of life.

The beating of my heart
My heart is beating strongly and provides the rhythm of my existence.

The passing of blood and air through my lungs
The circulation of my blood and the inhaling and exhaling of air through my lungs is the essence of my being.

A few light kisses
Love is a gentle and tender connection between people.

The road is ours, it's easy now
Life is a journey and it is meant to be enjoyed and savored with ease and grace.

But stout as a horse
Despite any obstacles or challenges, I am as strong and resilient as a horse.

You can't kiss death this day
Death is inevitable, but we can enjoy life and love while we have it.

I'm death and when I love
Even in the face of death, love is eternal and transcendent.

When I love you it's forever
Love endures beyond the limitations of time and space.

If you could be looking in my heart
If you could see into my innermost being,

You'll be seeing a child as well how could I answer the child I do not
You would see the innocence and purity of a child within me, and I cannot provide an answer or explanation beyond that.

Know any more than he
I am limited in my understanding, just as a child is limited in their knowledge.

And I perceive they do not come from roofs of mouths for nothing
I believe that our words carry meaning and significance beyond just their literal expression.

Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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