In 2003, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the 2002 single "Your Body Is a Wonderland" from the album Room for Squares.
In February 2005, he was awarded the Song of the Year Grammy for his song Daughters, which he composed while in the shower, from the album Heavier Things. In winning the award, he beat out such contenders as Alicia Keys, and Kanye West. He dedicated this award to his grandmother, Annie Hoffman, who died in May 2004. He also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, for which Elvis Costello, Prince and Seal were also nominated. In 2007, John won 2 Grammys, one for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, for the song "Waiting On The World To Change," and also Best Pop Vocal Album for his album Continuum.
To date, Mayer has toured with many groups, including Maroon 5, Guster, Counting Crows, The Wallflowers, Teitur, Ben Folds, and Sheryl Crow.
In 2004, Mayer worked with hip hop artist and producer Kanye West, appearing both on Go and Kanye West's Bittersweet (released in the summer of 2007 as an iTunes pre-order bonus track to the album Graduation) and received praise from rap heavyweights like Jay-Z and Nelly. When asked about his ubiquitous presence in the hip hop community, he said, "It's not music out there right now. That's why, to me, hip-hop is where rock used to be."
It was around this time that he began hinting at a change in his musical interests, announcing that he was "closing up shop on acoustic sensitivity." In 2005, he began a string of collaborations with various blues artists, including Buddy Guy, BB King, Eric Clapton and jazz artist John Scofield. He also toured with the legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, which included a show at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.
Although Mayer has maintained a reputation for being a sensitive singer-songwriter, he is also an accomplished guitarist influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Freddie King and B.B. King. In this regard, he has released an album with his band The John Mayer Trio Try!, which features a blues-rock style reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix.
In September 2006, Mayer released his third studio album, Continuum. The album, written and produced exclusively by Mayer (with the help of Steve Jordan from the John Mayer Trio) is a culmination of Mayer's growth as an artist and continues with the blues-rock style that he began to flirt with on Try!.
Also notable is John Mayer's various adaptations in style. He always maintained a blues tone, he introduced a rockier edge. However, in Continuum, he adopts a calmer genre, returning to his previous styles.
On November 17, 2009, Mayer's fourth studio album, Battle Studies, was released and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. The album consists of 11 tracks with a total time of 45 minutes. The first single from the album, "Who Says", was released on September 24, 2009 in advance of album, and was followed on October 19 by the single "Heartbreak Warfare" and the single "Half of My Heart" released on June 21, 2010. Despite the album's commercial success, critics were mixed with their praise; while some reviews were glowing, calling it his "most adventurous", others called the album "safe" and noted that "Mayer the singer-songwriter and Mayer the man about town sometimes seem disconnected, like they don't even belong in the same body.
Following his recovery from vocal surgery, Mayer returned to the studio. On June 18, 2013, Mayer announced from his Facebook page that his sixth album, Paradise Valley, would be released on August 13, 2013. On the same day, he released a lyric video for the new album's first single, "Paper Doll", on his YouTube page. The release date was later changed to August 20, 2013. "Who You Love" featuring Katy Perry followed as the album's third single and a music video was released on December 17, 2013 for the song. The album, which also includes a collaboration with Frank Ocean, was met with positive reviews from music critics. Mayer embarked on a tour, his first in three years, in support of Born and Raised and Paradise Valley. The American leg of the tour ran from July to December 2013 with Interscope recording artist Phillip Phillips serving as support act. The tour will visit Australia in April 2014.
City Love
John Mayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It always seemed too big to touch
I can't remember how I found
My way before she came around
I tell everyone
I smile just because
I've got a city love
I found it in Lydia
And I can't remember life before her name
She keeps a toothbrush at my place
As if I had the extra space
She steals my clothes to wear to work
I know, her hairs are on my shirts
I tell everyone
I smile just because
I've got a city love
I found it in Lydia
And I can't remember life before
The day
She called up and came to me
Covered in rain
And dinnertime shadowing
And as her clothes spun, we spooned
And I knew I was through
When I said "I love you"
Friday evening, we've been drinking
2 AM, I swear I might propose
But we close the tab
Split a cab
And call each other up when we get home
Falling asleep to the sound
Of sirens
I've got a city love
I found it in Lydia
From the battery
To the gallery
It's the kind of thing you only see
In scented, glossy magazines
And I can't remember life before her name
The song City Love by John Mayer is an ode to the city of New York and a woman named Lydia who he met there. In the first verse, Mayer sings about feeling disconnected before he met Lydia, using the metaphor of an apple that was too big to touch. He sings, "I tell everyone, I smile just because, I've got a city love, I found it in Lydia, and I can't remember life before her name." Mayer found a sense of purpose and belonging in the city when he met Lydia, and he is grateful for her presence in his life.
In the second verse, Mayer talks about the small details of their relationship that make it special, like Lydia keeping a toothbrush at his place and stealing his clothes to wear to work. He sings, "And as her clothes spun, we spooned, and I knew I was through when I said 'I love you'." The song ends with a scene of a typical Friday night for Mayer and Lydia, where they close the tab at the bar, split a cab, and call each other when they get home. The lyrics paint a picture of a fun, carefree relationship in the city, where Mayer and Lydia have found a kind of love that is unique to their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I never liked this apple much
I never really cared for anything in particular.
It always seemed too big to touch
Anything that felt too great would intimidate me.
I can't remember how I found
I'm not sure how I managed to live my life beforehand.
My way before she came around
Before I met Lydia, I wasn't sure what my path was.
I tell everyone
I make sure to let everyone know.
I smile just because
I always feel happy.
I've got a city love
I have been struck by love in the city.
I found it in Lydia
I found my love in Lydia.
And I can't remember life before her name
I am no longer the same since I met Lydia.
She keeps a toothbrush at my place
Lydia has a toothbrush at my home.
As if I had the extra space
There ain't a lot of space for two toothbrushes.
She steals my clothes to wear to work
Lydia borrows my clothes for work sometimes.
I know, her hairs are on my shirts
I forgive her hair being on my clothes because I love her.
The day
I remember the exact moment.
She called up and came to me
Lydia called me and arrived at my doorstep.
Covered in rain
She was soaked from the rain.
And dinnertime shadowing
It was getting dark outside.
And as her clothes spun, we spooned
We stayed close and cuddled as her clothes dried.
And I knew I was through
I realized my search for love was over.
When I said "I love you"
My true feelings for Lydia were revealed.
Friday evening, we've been drinking
On Friday nights, we enjoy having some drinks together.
2 AM, I swear I might propose
In the wee hours of the morning, I contemplate proposing to her.
But we close the tab
We finish our drinks and settle the bill.
Split a cab
We share a taxi ride.
And call each other up when we get home
We keep in touch even after reaching our own homes.
Falling asleep to the sound
We drift off to sleep hearing
Of sirens
The sirens of emergency vehicles around us.
From the battery
Starting from the Battery Park neighbourhood
To the gallery
To the places we visit together for leisure and culture.
It's the kind of thing you only see
Lydia and I have the kind of romance that rarely exists.
In scented, glossy magazines
Our love is almost magazine-worthy and full of romantic scents.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOHN CLAYTON MAYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xton2388
I never liked this apple much
It always seemed too big to touch
I can't remember how I found
My way before she came around
I tell everyone
I smile just because
I've got a city love
I found it in Lydia
And I can't remember life before her name
She keeps a toothbrush at my place
As if I had the extra space
She steals my clothes to wear to work
I know her hairs are on my shirts
I tell everyone
I smile just because
I've got a city love
I found it in Lydia
And I can't remember life before
The day
She called up and came to me
Covered in rain
And dinner time shadowing
And as her clothes spun, we spooned
And I knew I was through
When I said "I love you"
Friday evening, we've been drinking
2 AM, I swear I might propose
But we close the tab
Split a cab
And call each other up when we get home
Falling asleep to the sound
Of sirens
I've got a city love
I found it in Lydia
From the battery
To the gallery
It's the kind of thing you only see
In scented, glossy magazines
And I can't remember life before her name
@lukaskasdan6628
Many consider 'Continuum' his artistic best, but 'Room for Squares' has taken on an irreplaceable nostalgia that has a special place in my heart now.
@whereismyblunt
LuKas Kasdan Agreed, there are few albums where every single song flows and connects, and could be a radio release.
@jpedroteodosio
I love this album. It has a huge creativity. My favorite still is "Back To You". Amazing artist.
@eduardorafael5596
Dude, I can't agree with you more. I bought this record 2 days ago at record store for 5 bucks. It brings me such good memories of the old days. It makes me wanna cry sometimes. I have no words to describe how Mayer's music touches my life as a whole. I wish I could go back and relive those days
@ezekwu
Room for Squares > Continuum...
@noahbarnes9770
Same
@magnifyvideoco
"She keeps her tooth brush at my place, as if I have the extra space". That's so New York right there. Lol. Love that line.
@CuratedVibes
My ex convinced me to leave Houston to start a life together in Baltimore. I was so lonely, no friends and I would just wander around the city listening to this song on my iPod. It was 2005...and there's just something so soothing about this song even now. I'm listening now laying in bed alone, feeling grateful for the music therapy. Thanks John 🙏🏾🙏🏾💎💎
@tristanmilliere179
Where are you at today my friend?
@jan279
As great a guitarist John Mayer is, I think he might be an even greater songwriter. The way he seamlessly blends well-thought-out lyrics with complex chords each of which serving a purpose is something I think only a genius could do.