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.
Hung Up
John Martyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put me down, in action and word
Taking me for granted, I finally knew
I called you last night, I could not get through.
Just hung up, hung up on you
Just Hung up, hung up on you
I'm hung up, hung up on you
I run a check on your behaviour, got to check the bar
Trying to forget what people tell me you are
All I want to remember, is the diamonds in your eyes
The same precious memories I've come to despise.
I'm just hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you
Mmm Hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you.
Hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you.
Nothing lasts forever, I know, nothing at all
I know you won't answer me when I start calling
That busy line is just a weapon you use
Just an empty sign in the mind of the man you want to lose.
I'm just hung up, hung up on you
Just hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you.
Hung up, hung up on you
Just hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you
Hung up, hung up on you
"Hung Up" is a song by British singer-songwriter John Martyn, released in 1982. The lyrics of the song revolve around the feelings of the singer towards his lover, who he seems to be at odds with. The song opens with a sensitive plea for privacy as the singer pleads with his lover to avoid eavesdropping on him. It's clear that the relationship has been rocky and the singer feels taken for granted. He tries to reach out to his lover but receives no response, leaving him feeling hung up on her.
The second verse has the singer going on a quest to investigate his lover's behavior, trying to erase any negative influence other people may have had on his perception of her. He wants to focus on the good times and the memories they shared, but the bitterness of the recent past clouds his judgment, making him despise the very things he once loved about her.
The final verse ends on a note of bitter acceptance that nothing lasts forever with the singer resigned to the fact that his lover is no longer interested in him. The busy line he receives is just a weapon she uses to avoid him, making him feel like a man she wants to lose, hung up on her.
Overall, the song is a deeply personal exploration of the struggles of love and the difficult realization that sometimes these things don't work out. John Martyn's soulful delivery and emotive guitar playing capture the heart-wrenching nature of these emotions, making for a powerful and moving track.
Line by Line Meaning
No eavesdropping darling, I overheard
I didn't mean to hear, but I couldn't help it.
Put me down, in action and word
You constantly belittle me with your words and actions.
Taking me for granted, I finally knew
I realized you never appreciated me or what I did for you.
I called you last night, I could not get through.
I tried to call you last night, but you didn't answer.
Just hung up, hung up on you
I'm still obsessed with you, even though you don't care about me.
I run a check on your behaviour, got to check the bar
I tried to investigate your actions, even going to places you frequent.
Trying to forget what people tell me you are
I tried to ignore the rumors and gossip about you.
All I want to remember, is the diamonds in your eyes
Despite your flaws, I still want to remember the good times we had together.
The same precious memories I've come to despise.
But those memories are now tainted, and I hate them for making me feel this way.
Nothing lasts forever, I know, nothing at all
I'm aware that everything eventually comes to an end, even this obsession I have for you.
I know you won't answer me when I start calling
I know you won't pick up the phone when I call you because you don't want to talk to me.
That busy line is just a weapon you use
You use the excuse of being busy as a way to avoid me and my calls.
Just an empty sign in the mind of the man you want to lose.
But I'm still hopeful that you secretly want me to pursue you, even though that's probably not true.
Contributed by Kayla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.