John Martyn OBE, born Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2… Read Full Bio ↴John Martyn OBE, born Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums.

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.

Some People Are Crazy
John Martyn Lyrics

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Some people are crazy about him
Some people can't stand his face
Some people, they smile when they know he's coming
Some people chase him out of the place

But this loving kind of business
Might make your poor heart glad
Yes, this loving kind of business

Might be the best find you ever had
The best find you ever had

Some people are crazy
Some people are just plain good
Some people talk wouldness and couldness
Some people don't do as they should

But this loving kind of business
Might make your poor heart glad
Yes, this loving kind of business
Might be the best thing that you ever had
The best find you ever had

Some people got a glass eye
Some people got a window to watch
Some people draw conclusions like curtains
Don't they draw them tight

Don't they, draw them tight
Don't they, draw them tight
Don't they, draw them tight

Some people are crazy about him
Some people, they can't stand his face
Some people, they laugh when they know he's coming
Some people chase him out of the place

Some people are crazy
Some people are just like me

Some people are crazy
Some people are just like me

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Some People Are Crazy" demonstrate the contrast between extreme opinions regarding a person or situation. In this case, the lyrics depict polarizing opinions toward an unnamed “him.” Some people are crazy about him, while some others cannot stand his face, and some even chase him out of the place. The song emphasizes how emotions and attitudes about a person or situation affect the behavior of the people around him, generating divergent attitudes that reflect on the people themselves.

Despite the diversity of opinions delineated, the song offers hope in the form of “loving kind of business.” The bridge points out that loving someone can make our hearts glad, and love may be the best thing we ever had. The song suggests that love is the antidote to the craziness and negativity that lurks within us, and the act of loving others can lead to greater understanding and compromise. The song also indirectly refers to how people's backgrounds, inclinations, personalities, and experiences shape their emotional and cognitive processes.

Overall, the lyrics of "Some People Are Crazy" urge us to be a bit more compassionate and understanding of others, even if their opinions and actions differ from ours. Rather than chase people out of the place (or our lives) because they do not see things our way, we should try to be loving and kind toward them.

Line by Line Meaning

Some people are crazy about him
Some people are infatuated with him

Some people can't stand his face
Some people have a strong aversion towards him

Some people, they smile when they know he's coming
Some people are happy when he's around

Some people chase him out of the place
Some people forcefully make him leave

But this loving kind of business
However, this type of affection

Might make your poor heart glad
Could bring immense happiness

Yes, this loving kind of business
Truly, this affectionate relationship

Might be the best find you ever had
Could be the best discovery of your life

Some people are crazy
Some people are irrational

Some people are just plain good
Some people are simply decent

Some people talk wouldness and couldness
Some people talk about hypothetical situations