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.
Meditation
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're gone and I'm all by myself
And I need your caress
I just think of you
And the thought of you holding me near
Makes my loneliness soon disappear
I have only to close my eyes
And you are back to stay
I just think of you
And the sadness, that missing you brings
Soon is gone and this heart of mine sings
Yes, I love you so
And that's for me, is all I need to know
I will wait for you
Till the sun falls from out of the sky
For what else can I do
I will wait for you
Meditating how sweet life will be
When you come back to me
I will wait for you
Meditating how sweet life will be
When you come back to me
The song "Meditation" by John McDermott is a poignant ballad which speaks about longing for someone who is far away. Through its heartfelt lyrics, the song expresses the emotions that we feel when we miss someone who is dear to us. In the opening lines of the song, the singer expresses his sense of loneliness when he is without his loved one - "In my loneliness, when you're gone and I'm all by myself and I need your caress".
The next few lines of the song convey how the singer copes with his loneliness by imagining his loved one holding him close - "I just think of you, and the thought of you holding me near, makes my loneliness soon disappear". He also points out that distance does not matter, and he can simply close his eyes and imagine his loved one being with him - "Though you're far away, I have only to close my eyes, and you are back to stay". The song concludes on a hopeful note, with the singer declaring his love for his beloved and vowing to wait for them no matter how long it takes - "I will wait for you, meditating how sweet life will be when you come back to me".
Overall, "Meditation" is a touching song that captures the essence of longing and missing someone who is far away. It speaks to the emotions that many of us have felt at some point in our lives, and its simple but evocative lyrics make it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
In my loneliness
During the moments when I am all by myself
When you're gone and I'm all by myself
When you are not around and I am left in solitude
And I need your caress
When I crave for your sweet touch
I just think of you
I simply bring to mind the memory of you
And the thought of you holding me near
The mental image of you embracing me closely
Makes my loneliness soon disappear
Speedily makes my isolation fade away
Though you're far away
Even though you are physically distant
I have only to close my eyes
I simply need to shut my eyes
And you are back to stay
And once more, you are here to remain
And the sadness, that missing you brings
The sorrow that arises from yearning for you when you're away
Soon is gone and this heart of mine sings
Swiftly dissipates and my heart rejoices
Yes, I love you so
Without a doubt, I love you deeply
And that's for me, is all I need to know
For me, that is all that's necessary to understand
I will wait for you
I will stay here for you
Till the sun falls from out of the sky
Until the sun disappears from the horizon
For what else can I do
What other choice do I have
Meditating how sweet life will be
Contemplating how beautiful our life together will be
When you come back to me
When you return to me
I will wait for you
I will stay here for you
Meditating how sweet life will be
Contemplating how beautiful our life together will be
When you come back to me
When you return to me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind