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.
The Cure
John Martyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know the cure
If I come a little strong, tell me when I'm wrong
Guide me, tell me what to do
Come a little fast, please help this love to last
Pity me and take me home with you
Love is honest, love is beautiful and blue
Love is always safe and sound, love will always fool around
There's not a single thing that you can do
Don't you know that love is the only cure for your broken heart?
Telling you that love is the only cure for your broken heart
I've been too long on my own, can't stand to live alone
I've got you in my blood and in my every move
And though I've got it left in, the man in me forgets
What can happen when you're falling out of love
Love is cruel, love is kind, love is never, never blind
Love is honest, love is beautiful and true
Love is always safe and sound, love will always fool around
There's not a single thing for you to do
To know that love is the only cure for your broken heart
You know that love is the only cure for your broken heart
Love is cruel, love is kind, love is never, never blind
Love is honest, love is beautiful and blue
Love is always safe and sound, love will always fool around
There's not a single thing for you to do
Don't you know that love is the only cure for your broken heart?
Love is the only cure for your broken heart
Come a little strong, tell me when I'm wrong
Guide me, tell me what to do
Come a little fast, just help this love to last
Pity me and take me home with you
Love is cruel, love is kind, love is never, never blind
Love is honest, beautiful and blue
Love is always safe and sound, love will always fool around
There's not a single thing for you to do
You know that love is the only cure for your broken heart
I'm telling you that love is the only cure for your broken heart
Love is the only cure for your broken heart
Tell it to me, you know that love is the only cure
Tell it to the doctor [Incomprehensible]
Love is the only cure for your broken heart
Tell me, tell me sweet love, sweet love
Love is the only cure
Love is the only cure for your broken heart
The song "The Cure" by John Martyn talks about the agony of love and heartbreak. The singer starts by acknowledging that there is a cure for a broken heart, and that cure is love. He then asks for help and guidance from the person he loves. He admits that he may come on too strong, and he needs to be told when he's wrong. He is willing to do anything to make the relationship work, even if it means swallowing his pride and pleading for help. The singer believes that love, although cruel at times, is still necessary to cure a broken heart. The singer opinionates that love is always honest, beautiful, and blue. Love is also always safe and sound, but at times, it will inevitably fool around. Love is the only cure for a broken heart, and there is nothing else one can do to fix it.
Line by Line Meaning
You know the cure for a broken heart
The remedy for a broken heart is love.
You know the cure
Love is the cure.
If I come a little strong, tell me when I'm wrong
If I am too intense, let me know when I need to back off.
Guide me, tell me what to do
Show me the way to your heart.
Come a little fast, please help this love to last
Let's not waste any time in starting this relationship and work towards making it long-lasting.
Pity me and take me home with you
Have mercy on me and allow me to be with you.
Love is cruel, love is kind, love is never, never blind
Love can be both harsh and gentle, but it always sees the truth.
Love is honest, love is beautiful and blue
Love is truthful, wonderful, and melancholy at times.
Love is always safe and sound, love will always fool around
Love can be both stable and unpredictable.
There's not a single thing that you can do
You cannot control love.
Don't you know that love is the only cure for your broken heart?
Do you not realize that love is the answer to your heartache?
Telling you that love is the only cure for your broken heart
Reiterating that love is the only remedy for your emotional pain.
I've been too long on my own, can't stand to live alone
I have been lonely for too long and cannot bear to be on my own anymore.
I've got you in my blood and in my every move
You are in my thoughts and actions constantly.
And though I've got it left in, the man in me forgets
Although I still have love in me, sometimes I make mistakes and forget about it.
What can happen when you're falling out of love
The pain and confusion that comes with losing feelings for someone.
Tell me sweet love, sweet love
Express your love for me.
Tell it to the doctor
Let's get advice from the expert on love.
Contributed by Layla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.