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.
Glory Box
John Martyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing with this bow and arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Leave it to the other boys to play
Been tempted for too long
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna your man
Give me a reason if you can
From this time, unchained
We're all looking at a different picture
Through this new frame of mind
A thousand flowers could bloom
Move over, move over, and give us some room
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Reason
Don't you stop looking like some woman
Take a little look from the outside if you can
Saw a little tenderness
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to want to be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Oh please, give me a reason if you can
This is the beginning of forever and ever, ever, ever
I'm so tired of playing
Of playing with this bow and this arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Gonna leave ti to the other boys to play
I've been tempted too long
Too long
I've been tempted every day
Tempted too long
Oh please
Give me a reason too love you
Give me a reason to want to love you
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason every day
Reason every day
The lyrics of John Martyn's song Glory Box express a sense of weariness and impatience with the game of love. The singer is tired of playing with their emotions like a bow and arrow and wants to give their heart away to someone who will not play games with them. They are looking for a reason to truly love someone, but they have been tempted for too long and are now feeling impatient. They want something real and long-lasting.
The second verse suggests a change in perspective, a newfound clarity. The singer is unchained and looking at things differently. They see a new frame of mind where a thousand flowers could bloom. This suggests an openness to new experiences and a willingness to take risks. The chorus then repeats the plea for a reason to love, echoing the singer's desire for something genuine.
The song ends with a repetition of the first verse, underscoring the theme of weariness and temptation. The singer is hoping for a reason to love and to be loved, but they are tired of being tempted and playing games.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so tired, of playing
John Martyn is tired of playing around with love, and he's ready to settle down.
Playing with this bow and arrow
The 'bow and arrow' is a metaphor for playing games in love that could end up hurting someone.
Gonna give my heart away
John Martyn is committed to giving his heart to someone he truly loves.
Leave it to the other boys to play
He's done with the immature and reckless behavior of other men who play around with love.
Been tempted for too long
John Martyn has been compromising for too long and he's ready for something more meaningful.
Go on, give me a reason to love you
He's looking for a genuine reason to love someone, rather than just playing around.
Give me a reason to wanna your man
John Martyn is looking for someone who is worth dedicating himself to and calling his own.
From this time, unchained
The past is gone, John Martyn is free from any regrets or burdens that may have held him back.
We're all looking at a different picture
Everyone has their own individual perspective in life, and everyone has their own struggles and triumphs.
Through this new frame of mind
John Martyn has adopted a new way of looking at things, that is refreshing and positive.
A thousand flowers could bloom
There is great potential for new beginnings and growth in his life, just as flowers bloom in the spring time.
Move over, move over, and give us some room
He's ready to make space for new people and relationships in his life.
Don't you stop looking like some woman
He's not into appearances, he's interested in getting to know the real woman behind the exterior.
Take a little look from the outside if you can
John Martyn is asking her to take a step back and look at things from a different perspective before coming to any conclusions.
Saw a little tenderness
He's seen something genuine and caring in her that has caught his eye.
This is the beginning of forever and ever, ever, ever
John Martyn believes that a new journey of love is starting for him, and it could last forever.
Oh please, give me a reason if you can
He's eager to find someone he can truly love and give his heart to every day.
I've been tempted every day
He's been lured by the thrill of temporary flings and wants to break free from that cycle.
Give me a reason every day
He's searching for a real reason to love someone every single day and not just in the beginning of a relationship.
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gianluigisolinas1088
I'm so tired of playing
Playing with this bow and this arrow here
I'm gonna give my heart away
Leave it to the other boys out there to play
I've been tempted too long
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason if you can
From this time, unchained
We're all looking at a different picture
Through a different frame of mind
A thousand flowers may bloom
Wouldn't it be time to move over, move over, and give me some room
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Please, one reason if you can
Don't you start looking like some woman
Take a little look from the outside if you can
Move over me now, try a little tenderness
A little shabby dress, I wouldn't care Only cry for you, cry for you
Might die for you too.
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to want to be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Oh please, give me a reason if you can
Since the beginning of forever
Forever and ever, and ever, and ever
It's time to move over now
I'm so tired of playing
Of playing with this bow and this arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Gonna leave it to the other boys to play
I've been tempted too long
Too long
I've been tempted every day
Tempted too long
Oh please
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to want to be your man
Give me a reason to love you, to love you
Give me a reason if you can
A reason if you can
@andrewbrinley2974
I found John Martyn in my mid 20s, im 30 now. I think a lot of people are missing out on some good shit
@frankmoran9006
People don't cover Portishead, this is a sublime version of a truly great song, I miss John !
@gmsingh100
Mr Martyn could have made the phone book sound good.
@Tonjo.86
This Is the paradise
@stephenmcgiff8877
Me too. He was a true pioneer. A male billy holiday. 😊
@paulmoores7510
John misses you too x
@JohnMoran-mc2rh
❤
@DAM-hf4rf
Grande John, ti seguo da quando Gem ti campionava
@Shinken69
There’s something utterly magical about the zenith John reaches on this album.
A more mature voice and sensibility, but the passion!
The passion is undeniably John Martyn.
A masterpiece.
@gianluigisolinas1088
I'm so tired of playing
Playing with this bow and this arrow here
I'm gonna give my heart away
Leave it to the other boys out there to play
I've been tempted too long
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason if you can
From this time, unchained
We're all looking at a different picture
Through a different frame of mind
A thousand flowers may bloom
Wouldn't it be time to move over, move over, and give me some room
Go on, give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to wanna be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Please, one reason if you can
Don't you start looking like some woman
Take a little look from the outside if you can
Move over me now, try a little tenderness
A little shabby dress, I wouldn't care Only cry for you, cry for you
Might die for you too.
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to want to be your man
Give me a reason to love you
Oh please, give me a reason if you can
Since the beginning of forever
Forever and ever, and ever, and ever
It's time to move over now
I'm so tired of playing
Of playing with this bow and this arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Gonna leave it to the other boys to play
I've been tempted too long
Too long
I've been tempted every day
Tempted too long
Oh please
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to want to be your man
Give me a reason to love you, to love you
Give me a reason if you can
A reason if you can