After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
I Concentrate On You
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And trouble begins to brew,
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
I concentrate on you.
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
And people declare "You're through!",
Whenever the blues become my only song,
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
When at first your kiss I decline.
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
And once again our arms intertwine
And so, when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true,
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I concentrate on you.
The lyrics to John McDermott's song "I Concentrate On You" express the ability to find inner strength and solace in a loved one's presence during difficult times. The singer describes how their troubles and worries disappear when they turn their attention to their partner. The opening lines portray a sense of gloom with grey skies and brewing trouble, but the singer is able to find a source of comfort in their beloved. Similarly, when faced with rejection and failure, the singer is able to overcome these adversities by focusing on their partner.
The lyrics also touch on the power of love and how it can provide sanctuary from the stresses of life. The singer's focus on their partner's "smile so sweet, so tender" and "the light in [their] eyes" conveys the idea that love can bring happiness and peace, even in the darkest of times. The closing lines challenge the idea that love cannot endure, as the singer chooses to concentrate on their partner as a way of proving that "even wise men can be wrong."
Overall, the song's lyrics emphasize the restorative power of love and the importance of having someone to rely on during difficult moments in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever skies look gray to me
When I face problems or difficulties that make me feel unhappy
And trouble begins to brew,
And when things don't seem to be going well
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
When hardships become unbearable
I concentrate on you.
I focus my thoughts on you to feel better and find strength
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
When luck is not on my side
And people declare "You're through!",
And when others doubt me and say I will fail
Whenever the blues become my only song,
When sadness and depression become my only feelings
I concentrate on you.
I think of you to lift my mood and find comfort
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
I think of your loving smile that is gentle and dear
When at first your kiss I decline.
When I initially refuse your kiss
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
I think of the spark of happiness in your eyes when I give in to my feelings
And once again our arms intertwine
And we embrace each other again
And so, when wise men say to me
And when others try to discourage me
That love's young dream never comes true,
That dreams of love are unrealistic or foolish
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
To show that even knowledgeable people can make mistakes
I concentrate on you.
I think of you to prove that love can be real and worthwhile
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind