Gorka was born in Edison, New Jersey. He received his first guitar as a Christmas gift, though Gorka alleges that his older brother stole it from him shortly thereafter. He eventually learned, instead, to play the banjo, and began performing in a folk music group at his church.
Gorka attended Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and joined the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band which would also include guitarist Richard Shindell. He later began performing solo at the Godfrey Daniels coffee house as the opening act for various musicians that toured there. These included Nanci Griffith, Bill Morrissey, Claudia Schmidt and Jack Hardy.
In 1984, Gorka took first place at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Since then he has toured with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Michael Manring, Christine Lavin, Dave Van Ronk, Cliff Eberhardt, David Massengill, Frank Christian and Lucy Kaplansky.
As of 2005, he was residing in the St. Croix Valley area near Saint Paul, Minnesota.
In 2008, Gorka decided to return to Europe for the first time in fourteen years. In October that year, he played four times in the Netherlands, he played live on VPRO radio and he did a session for the John Gorka video site.
In 2009, Gorka toured in the USA and also in Ireland and the Netherlands. In October that year, Red House Records released the CD "So Dark You See". This is considered a more intimate, vocal and guitar-centered record than the last two albums.
Always
John Gorka Lyrics
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Nothing's ever gonna change that
It's the way that I'm wired
It's the way that I'm set back
From the man in the mainstream
From the crown in the highway
I will always be lonely
I was born in this city
I grew up in this country
Used to work in a factory
Didn't like it exactly
When the road gets bumpy
Try not to get too jumpy
Or your head'll get lumpy
End up looking like me
I will always be lonely
A blue crack in a spare part
A red line through a head start
A round world with a square heart
I will always be lonely
It's so low-powered
No cables, no towers
No kilowatt-hours
I will always be lonely
It's what I'm going on about
Love is hope without doubt
Hate is fear turned out
I will always be lonely
It's a chronic fever
That burns the achiever
Bring on the reliever
I will always be lonely
Nothing's ever gonna change that
It's the way that I'm wired
It's the way that I'm set back
From the main in the mainstream
From a crown in the highway
I will always be lonely
It's the way that I am
You know the ones that I'm proud of
Are the ones who allow love
Many lost in a crowd of
People gone by
I will always be lonely
A blue crack in a spare part
A red line through a head start
A round world with a square heart
I will always be lonely
Nothing's ever gonna change that
It's the way that I'm wired
It's the way that I'm set back
From the man in the mainstream
From a crown in the highway
I will always be lonely
It's the way that I am
I will always be lonely
It's the way that I am
The lyrics to John Gorka's song "Always" explore the theme of loneliness and acceptance. The singer accepts that he will always be lonely, and he acknowledges that it is part of his nature. He likens his loneliness to a chronic fever, something that burns the achiever, and brings on the reliever. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song- the singer states that he will always be lonely, and that nothing will ever change that. He believes that his loneliness is inherent, and that it is the way he is wired and set back. The repetition of this statement throughout the song emphasizes it's truth, as if to say that to pretend otherwise would be futile.
The singer then goes on to list various ways that his loneliness shows up in his life. He compares himself to the man in the mainstream and the crown in the highway, suggesting that he is always on the periphery, never fully a part of anything. He also speaks about his work in a factory, which he didn't enjoy, but did because he had to. The lines "When the road gets bumpy, try not to get too jumpy, or your head'll get lumpy, end up looking like me" suggest that the singer has experienced hardship, but has learnt to deal with it in his own way. The chorus repeats the opening lines, once again emphasizing the singer's acceptance of his loneliness.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the singer sees loneliness as a way to stand out and be unique. He states that he is proud of those who allow love, and that many are lost in a crowd of people gone by. He also refers to himself as a blue crack in a spare part, a red line through a head start, and a round world with a square heart. These images suggest that while he may be lonely, he is also special and different from others. Alternatively, the song can be seen as a meditation on the human condition- that we are all inherently lonely, and that acknowledging this fact can lead to greater understanding and empathy for others.
Line by Line Meaning
I will always be lonely
The artist has accepted that loneliness is a part of his life and will always remain so.
Nothing's ever gonna change that
Despite trying, nothing will ever change his natural inclination towards loneliness.
It's the way that I'm wired
The artist is inherently predisposed to being lonely.
It's the way that I'm set back
Because he is wired to be lonely, he feels that he is at a disadvantage in life.
From the man in the mainstream
He feels disconnected from other people who are part of mainstream society.
From the crown in the highway
He is separate from those who have achieved success and recognition but who are also lonely.
I was born in this city
He was born and raised in an urban environment.
I grew up in this country
Despite living in a city, he still feels a connection to rural life.
Used to work in a factory
He has worked in a job that he did not enjoy.
When the road gets bumpy
During difficult times, it's important not to panic.
Try not to get too jumpy
One should remain calm in the face of adversity.
Or your head'll get lumpy
Otherwise, stress will weigh heavily on one's mind.
End up looking like me
The artist has been through tough times and it shows in his appearance.
A blue crack in a spare part
He feels like something insignificant that's barely holding together and can break at any moment.
A red line through a head start
He sees that there might have been opportunities for him in the past, but he has missed them.
A round world with a square heart
The mismatch between how he feels inside and the world outside causes him pain.
It's so low-powered
His loneliness is not a powerful or desirable trait.
No cables, no towers
His loneliness is not something that can be easily fixed with technology or modern conveniences.
No kilowatt-hours
His loneliness cannot be measured in terms of energy or power.
It's what I'm going on about
The topic of loneliness is what he focuses on in his art.
Love is hope without doubt
Love provides hope and dispels uncertainty in life.
Hate is fear turned out
Hate is the manifestation of underlying fear and anxiety.
It's a chronic fever
His loneliness is a persistent and recurring condition.
That burns the achiever
Loneliness can even impact those who have achieved great things in life.
Bring on the reliever
He seeks relief from his sense of loneliness.
You know the ones that I'm proud of
He is proud of people who are able to love and connect with others.
Are the ones who allow love
People who are open to love are worthy of admiration.
Many lost in a crowd of
Despite many individuals being lost in a crowd, it's important to maintain relationships and connections.
People gone by
People who are no longer in our lives represent the passage of time and the importance of cherishing those you have in your life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jon Bon Jovi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind