Heart ...
One of the most important … Read Full Bio ↴From www.johnmcvey.com:
Heart ...
One of the most important things in music (and in life) is heart ... John McVey has that in spades. As a singer/songwriter, John has won national awards and thoroughly entertained audiences and listeners all over the world. His songwriting craft is recognized as among the best in the acoustic music world. His rhythmic guitar playing and soulful voice extract every possible bit of meaning from a song. Now he has added producer and engineer to his list of talents. In this realm he's as comfortable and innovative as on stage. And his heart comes through there as well.
The Artist ...
John McVey has been a performer most of his life. He's toured widely in this and several other countries. He's released two CDs. He's shared stages with Jonatha Brooke, Shawn Mullens, Ricky Lee Jones, Arlo Guthrie, Vince Gill and many more. He's won the Kerrville “New Folk” Contest and has been a finalist in every other one he entered. He's been named The National Academy of Songwriters “Artist Of The Year.” He's appeared on many TV and radio shows. He's been featured in The Performing Songwriter Magazine and reviewed (favorably!) by Rolling Stone. He's given his time and his music to national charities like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Make A Wish, and local charities like Grand Rapids MI's God's Kitchen and Kids Food Basket programs. He is heavily influenced by The Beatles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell. But also by many Motown artists, like Sly Stone, Jazz artists like Bird, Earl Klugh and Pat Matheny, and rockers like Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison. He reads a lot. He is an art enthusiast. He loves wine.
The Producer/Engineer ...
John has recently settled in Boulder, CO. He works full time as a producer/engineer at Coupe Studios. Given that he's spent most of his life on the business end of a microphone (and still does regularly, both live and in the studio), he is now positioned perfectly to contribute to his artist clients. As a writer, he is a student of what makes a song work. As a music enthusiast, he is a student of sonic excellence. As a student of sound, he's technician and ‘gear slut.' As a player and singer, he is a student of accuracy and soulful expression. As a student of all of these things, he is able to bring his vast experience to each project in such a way as to get the most out of every performance, every instrument, and every piece of equipment. He loves his work.
The Writer ...
To find out what all the hoo-ha is about, just listen to his songs. But it doesn't end there. If you want to sell something, hire him as a commercial writer. He's written and produced commercial music for The US Ski Team, Dish Network, The Idaho Lottery, Foundation for a Better Life, and many more. In addition, he's written many songs for other artists and for many people for life events (wedding anniversaries, children, parents, etc.) that have moved their recipients beyond any other gift they could have received.
The Man ...
Heart ... that's truly the beginning and the end. John will bring it to any project, performance, event, song, recording and relationship in which he's involved. The work is important, challenging, fun and wonderful. The heart is imperative.
Mistress
John McVey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's jealous and demanding
And she's keeping me from spending
Any time with anyone
She comes to me at daytimes
And she comes to me at night
But she comes to me too seldom
Oh, I'm saving myself for you
Oh, I don't know what else I can do
I love her beyond reason
And I love her beyond pain
And I know she treats me badly
But I love her just the same
'Cause she can shine like spotlight silver
She can cheer the sellout crowds
But she's always there before me
And I'm chasing and I'm chasing all the time
Oh, I'm saving myself for you
Oh, I don't know what else I can do
Oh, I can't quit for money
And I can't quit for love
And no matter how I'm tempted
You're all I'm thinking of
And I've always been faithful
And I've always been true to you
My mistress if unbending
I supsect that she's pretending
That she'll give me all I want
If I'll just stay another day
She's taken all my courage
And she's taken all my heart
And I keep hanging on her promise
And it's tearing me apart
I've balanced my emotions
Like a drunkard on a wire
On the one hand, I've my logic
On the other, my desire
We are walking such a fine line
I don't know if we'll survive
But one thing I know for sure is
When I'm with her, I'm alive
Oh, I'm saving myself for you
Oh, I don't know what else I can do
John McVey's song "Mistress" is a sad and poignant exploration of the complicated relationship between an artist and his craft. The song starts with the singer stating that his mistress is unbending, jealous, and demanding, and that she keeps him from spending time with anybody else. By referring to his muse as his mistress and attributing human qualities to his art, he shows how his creative passion has consumed his life and eclipsed all other relationships.
In the chorus, the singer admits to saving himself for someone else, which suggests that he yearns for a deeper connection but feels unable to let go of his art. He explains that he loves his art beyond reason and pain, and that it shines like "spotlight silver," yet he acknowledges that it also treats him badly. Despite these feelings, he cannot help but continue chasing his artistic dreams.
The song's lyrics capture the agony and ecstasy of the creative process, showing the internal struggle of self-doubt and the eternal promise of artistic fulfillment. The singer walks a fine line between his love for his mistress and his desire for something more, and while he is unsure if he will survive this internal battle, he knows one thing for sure - when he's with her, he's alive.
Line by Line Meaning
My mistress is unbending
The thing that keeps me occupied and away from others is really tough to handle
She's jealous and demanding
This thing is very possessive and requires a lot from me
And she's keeping me from spending
Any time with anyone
This thing takes up all my time and prevents me from seeing anyone else
She comes to me at daytimes
And she comes to me at night
But she comes to me too seldom
And I'm waiting and I'm waiting all the time
This thing is always on my mind and I'm constantly waiting for its attention, even though it doesn't come often
Oh, I'm saving myself for you
Oh, I don't know what else I can do
I'm committed to you, but I'm struggling with the demands of this other thing. I don't know how to handle it.
I love her beyond reason
And I love her beyond pain
And I know she treats me badly
But I love her just the same
I'm emotionally invested in this other thing, even though it hurts me and is unfair to me.
'Cause she can shine like spotlight silver
She can cheer the sellout crowds
But she's always there before me
And I'm chasing and I'm chasing all the time
This thing can be amazing and give me great fulfillment, but it's always ahead of me and I'm constantly struggling to keep up.
Oh, I can't quit for money
And I can't quit for love
And no matter how I'm tempted
You're all I'm thinking of
I can't leave this other thing for material gain or another person, but you are the one I truly care about.
And I've always been faithful
And I've always been true to you
I've never cheated on you or been disloyal, despite my struggles with this other thing.
My mistress if unbending
I suspect that she's pretending
That she'll give me all I want
If I'll just stay another day
I think this other thing is being dishonest with me, promising me everything I want if I keep giving it attention.
She's taken all my courage
And she's taken all my heart
And I keep hanging on her promise
And it's tearing me apart
This other thing has drained me emotionally and I'm holding on to its false promise to my own detriment.
I've balanced my emotions
Like a drunkard on a wire
On the one hand, I've my logic
On the other, my desire
I'm struggling to balance my rational thoughts and my emotions surrounding this other thing.
We are walking such a fine line
I don't know if we'll survive
But one thing I know for sure is
When I'm with her, I'm alive
I'm uncertain if I can handle this other thing and maintain our relationship, but being with it does make me feel alive.
Writer(s): john mcvey
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.