He grew up in Glasgow and attended Shawlands Academy. John Martyn moved to London from Glasgow in the mid 1960s. He made his initial recorded impact in 1967, at the age of 19, with his debut album London Conversation. He then quickly became an integral part of the British music scene, incorporating Folk, Blues, and Jazz into his unique sound.
In the late 60s to early 70s he was close friends with Nick Drake, for whom he wrote the song Solid Air. The album of the same name remains an extremely moving album, as does the later Grace and Danger which documents his divorce from his wife Beverley with whom he recorded several albums (as John & Beverley Martyn).
During the 70s John lived in Hastings on the South Coast of England. Whilst in Hastings he released, amongst others, the Live At Leeds album which he sold from his own house. Also during his time in Hastings John tried to help Paul Kossoff put his life back together.
A long held alcohol problem didn't prevent Martyn from releasing twenty-two albums. In 2003 he contracted an infection that resulted in the amputation of part of a leg, an episode documented in the 2004 BBC documentary "Johnny Too Bad". He recovered, however, and continued to play, record and tour. In 2008, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards. He has influenced many songwriters and guitarists and is an artist whose stature only grows with time. He worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, David Gilmour and Levon Helm.
Sadly, he passed away on 29th January 2009.
A tribute album entitled Johnny Boy Would Love this…a Tribute to John Martyn was released on 15 August 2011, comprising cover versions of his songs by various artists who he had worked with or influenced.
Baby Please Come Home
John Martyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, please come home
Baby baby, please, come home
I'll try to put the things we've done
Back where they belong
And that's in the past
I need our love to last.
For the way our love has changed
But please believe me
I just can't stand to see you go
And I swear that I don't know
Just what made me hurt you so
What made you want to go.
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home
Baby baby please, baby please, baby please, come home
Try to put the things I said
Right out of your head
I didn't mean a single one
Now you see what words have done.
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home
Baby please, baby please, baby please, baby please come home
Try to put the things we've done
Back where they belong
That's in the past
I need our love to last.
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home
Baby baby, please come home, please come home
The lyrics of John Martyn's song "Baby Please Come Home" are about someone pleading with their lover to come back to them. The singer acknowledges that they may be to blame for the current state of their relationship, but they vow to do whatever it takes to make things right. The first verse sets the stage for the rest of the song: the singer wants to undo the mistakes they've made in the past and keep their love alive. They realize that they need their lover in their life and can't stand the idea of them leaving.
In the second verse, the singer takes responsibility for their actions and apologizes for the hurt they've caused. They ask their lover to forget the hurtful things they said and to see that they didn't mean them. The chorus repeats the plea for their lover to come home, emphasizing how much they need them in their life. The final verse repeats the sentiment of the first, with the singer pledging to do whatever it takes to make their love last.
Overall, "Baby Please Come Home" is a classic love song about reconciling after a fight or disagreement. It's a raw and honest plea for forgiveness and a chance to start over.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, please come home
The singer is begging their lover to come back to them.
Baby baby, please, come home
The singer is pleading with their lover to return home and to show them mercy and kindness.
I'll try to put the things we've done Back where they belong And that's in the past I need our love to last.
The singer acknowledges the errors they made that led to the end of the relationship, but are willing to put it behind them in order to salvage what remains of their love.
But I feel somehow to blame For the way our love has changed But please believe me I just can't stand to see you go And I swear that I don't know Just what made me hurt you so What made you want to go.
The artist takes responsibility for the breakdown of the relationship and is remorseful for their actions. They're unable to fathom why they caused their lover to leave.
Try to put the things I said Right out of your head I didn't mean a single one Now you see what words have done.
The artist regrets the hurtful things they've said in the past and are apologetic, hoping their lover comes back to them despite their past mistakes.
Try to put the things we've done Back where they belong That's in the past I need our love to last.
The singer wants to put everything that has happened behind them so that they can move forward, hoping that their love can be rekindled and sustained.
Baby please, baby please, baby please, baby please come home
The singer is desperate for their lover to come back home, repeating their plea with more and more urgency, hoping to convince them to return.
Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.