During the 1990's, he would join a country-rock group, the Sky Kings, working on their debut album for release in 1997. The project was dropped by the label and did not see (private) release until 2000. While Cowan could often be found touring with other acts, most notably Sam Bush, he would later form his own group, The John Cowan Band, and would continue to tour extensively, attracting a small, but very devoted, following.
The John Cowan Band repertoire often featured covers of New Grass Revival material and other pop, rock, and country acts, but the majority of the set-lists were comprised of original songs composed by Cowan and the members of the band as well as covers of songs by many composers not familiar to most listeners. The style of music performed by the group has been described as or termed "new grass," "Americana," or simply "eclectic," but none of these terms quite cover the entirety of Cowan's or the band's repertoire. Indeed, the repertoire might often include tunes that were well outside the bluegrass and Americana canons: Jackson Brown's "These Days" and Yes' "Long Distance Runaround" were, for a short time, both on the set-lists. Similarly, many of Nashville's and modern country music's finest young players have found at least a temporary home and laboratory with Cowan's band and each has influenced the chemistry of the unit while they were a member. The John Cowan Band lineup has included in turn a trap-kit player, a hand-drummer, a MIDI banjo-ist, traditional banjo-ists, fiddlers, a jazz guitarist, flat-pickers, mandolinists, and other acoustic instruments often found in bluegrass line-ups. If there was any one constant element in the band, it was the phenomenal harmony vocals that each member contributed.
Additionally, Cowan occasionally fronts a traditional R&B group, Grooveyard, comprised of Nashville session players, including keyboardist Reese Wynans and guitarist Pat Buchanan among others.
As a stage-bassist, Cowan is accurate, capable of playing in the multi-meters found in bluegrass and Irish music, and has the uncanny ablility to sing syncopated vocal parts and play the downbeat on the bass without error. His style is powerful and drives the band, despite the instrumentation. As a vocalist, his range is strongly in the tenor but stretches well above. His voice is powerful and strongly reminiscent of his idol, Mavis Staples. Cowan's ability to sing most any song with conviction and emotion separates him from other capable singers (one terrific example is his version of "The Battle Cry of Freedom" found here on last.fm). His ability to sing harmony is often requested and has resulted in his numerous appearances on dozens of recordings that frequently make the top 100 in the country genre. His songwriting often deals with rural topics, childhood memories, or relationships (both positive and negative aspects), and, while most pieces are sweet or bittersweet, other examples of his songwriting discuss much more difficult topics like immortality ("6 Redbirds in a Joshua Tree" -- written with Darrell Scott) or, perhaps one of the most difficult topics to broach, sexual abuse, as he did in "Drown" (also written with Darrell Scott). "Drown" is probably one of the most dark, difficult, and explicit treatments of the topic ever recorded and unusual for its candor among the songs in Cowan's catalogue.
John has released several albums since the breakup of the New Grass Revival: Soul'd Out (1990, Sugar Hill), From Out of the Blue: The Sky Kings (2000, Rhino/Warner Archives), John Cowan (2000, Sugar Hill), Always Take Me Back (2002, Sugar Hill), 8,745 ft.: Recorded Live at Telluride (2005, Cowvox Records), New Tattoo (2006, Pinecastle), Lost Weekend (a limited edition recording of Grooveyard by Bose), and Come, Messiah, Come (Light).
I Found A Love
John Cowan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a childhood sweetheart
We were always hand in hand
I was hightop shoes and shirt tails
Suzy was in pig tails
I know I loved her even then
You know my papa disapproved it
My mama boohooed it
"Don't you know I was made to love her
Built a world all around her"
Yah! Hey, hey, hey
She's been my inspiration
Showed appreciation
For the love I gave her through the years
Like a sweet magnolia tree
My love blossomed tenderly
My life grew sweeter through the years
I know that my baby loves me
My baby needs me
That's why we made it through the years
I was made to love her
Worship and adore her
Hey, hey, hey
All through thick and thin
Our love just won't end
'Cause I love my baby, love my baby. Ah!
My baby loves me
My baby needs me
And I know I ain't going nowhere
I was knee high to a chicken
When that love bug bit me
I had the fever with each passing year
Oh, even if the mountain tumbles
If this whole world crumbles
By her side I'll still be standing there
'Cause I was made to love her
I was made to live for her, yeah!
Ah, I was made to love her
Built my world all around her
Hey, hey, hey
Oo baby, I was made to please her
You know Stevie ain't gonna leave her, no
Hey, hey, hey
Oo wee baby, my baby loves me
My baby needs me
Hey, hey, hey
Oo my baby loves me
The song "I Found A Love" by John Cowan tells the story of a love that has stood the test of time. The singer reminisces about his childhood sweetheart, Suzy, and how their love blossomed from a young age. Despite the disapproval from his parents, the singer knew deep down that he was meant to love Suzy. He describes her as his inspiration and the source of his happiness throughout the years. Their love is compared to a sweet magnolia tree, symbolizing its beauty and growth over time.
The lyrics also highlight the singer's unwavering commitment to Suzy. He declares that he will stand by her side no matter what challenges they face, even if the world crumbles around them. Their love is portrayed as enduring and unbreakable. The singer emphasizes that he was made to love Suzy and that she is his everything. He ends the song by affirming that his baby loves him and needs him, and he is resolute in staying by her side.
Overall, "I Found A Love" is a heartfelt tribute to a long-lasting love. It celebrates the strength and endurance of a relationship that has stood the test of time, despite obstacles and disapproval.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Lil' Rock
I entered this world in a small town called Lil' Rock
Had a childhood sweetheart
During my early years, I had a beloved partner
We were always hand in hand
We were always together, inseparable
I was hightop shoes and shirt tails
In my youth, I wore stylish hightop shoes and shirts
Suzy was in pig tails
My sweetheart, Suzy, wore adorable pigtails
I know I loved her even then
Even at that young age, I knew I deeply loved her
You know my papa disapproved it
My father did not approve of our relationship
My mama boohooed it
My mother cried and lamented about it
But I told them time and time again
Nevertheless, I repeatedly reassured them
"Don't you know I was made to love her
Can't you understand that I was destined to love her
Built a world all around her"
I constructed my whole existence centered around her
Yah! Hey, hey, hey
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
She's been my inspiration
She has consistently inspired me
Showed appreciation
She acknowledged and valued my love
For the love I gave her through the years
All the love I poured into our relationship over time
Like a sweet magnolia tree
Similar to the beauty and fragility of a magnolia tree
My love blossomed tenderly
My love for her grew with gentle care
My life grew sweeter through the years
My life became more joyful and fulfilling as time passed
I know that my baby loves me
I am confident that my darling loves me
My baby needs me
I am essential to my baby's happiness and well-being
That's why we made it through the years
That's why our relationship has endured over time
I was made to love her
My purpose was to love and cherish her
Worship and adore her
I idolize and deeply love her
Hey, hey, hey
An expression of jubilation and joy
All through thick and thin
Despite challenges and hardships
Our love just won't end
Our love for each other is unending
'Cause I love my baby, love my baby. Ah!
Because I truly love and adore my darling
My baby loves me
My darling has affection for me
My baby needs me
I am necessary and important to my darling
And I know I ain't going nowhere
And I am certain that I will never leave
I was knee high to a chicken
I was extremely young, just a small child
When that love bug bit me
When I first felt the overwhelming sensation of love
I had the fever with each passing year
My love continued to grow stronger as time went by
Oh, even if the mountain tumbles
Even if everything falls apart
If this whole world crumbles
If the entire world collapses
By her side I'll still be standing there
I will remain steadfastly beside her
'Cause I was made to love her
Because I was created to love and cherish her
I was made to live for her, yeah!
My existence is dedicated to living for her
Ah, I was made to love her
Ah, it is my purpose to love her
Built my world all around her
I constructed my entire world centered around her
Hey, hey, hey
An expression of jubilation and joy
Oo baby, I was made to please her
Oh baby, I was created to bring her pleasure
You know Stevie ain't gonna leave her, no
You should know that I, Stevie, will never abandon her
Hey, hey, hey
An expression of jubilation and joy
Oo wee baby, my baby loves me
Oh wow, my darling deeply loves me
My baby needs me
My darling relies on me
Hey, hey, hey
An expression of jubilation and joy
Oo my baby loves me
Oh, my darling loves me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Cosby, Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind