He frequently works as a guest musician for other bands. He has known to have performed with Dave Matthews Band, Karl Denson, and even with the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States.
Popper also played on Pocket Full of Kryptonite, the Spin Doctors' most successful album. His harmonica music can be heard in the feature film Blues Brothers 2000 (in which Blues Traveler appears). His harmonica was also featured on "What Would You Say", the second track on the Dave Matthews Band album, Under the Table and Dreaming.
John Popper was obese for most of the band's history. After undergoing angioplasty surgery in July 1999, he continued to have health problems having weighed near 400 lbs. In 2000, he underwent gastric bypass surgery, which led to a dramatic weight reduction.
He is an outspoken supporter of the Libertarian Party .
Morning Light
John Popper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Abounds around us
Up to the same old game
To tame the aching beast without
There's nothing we can't do or take
Our appetite astounds us
Dawn, the only clock I rock
And through the morning reverie
We slip away and go to sleep
But I lay restless and awake
Fearful only of the chance I didn't take
The comedy, I don't regret
But instead forget to mention
A thousand times of taste and touch
Slightly slated not to be
Mean to make a mockery
I imply my apt intention
The devil in the details wails
For one day want of breaking free
And through the morning reverie
We slip away and go to sleep
But I lay restless and awake
Fearful only of the chance I didn't take
All fires rage with the sun going down
The ashes fall by morning
Landing safely on the ground
All fires rage with the sun going down
The ashes fall by morning
Landing safely on the ground
Make no mistake, I mean to take
Every chance that comes my way
By every turn, I've left to burn
Still another will be sought
By that thing that rings the tuning fork
For the force of night and day
The sun shines as I slumber
To earn the evening I have wrought
And through the morning reverie
We slip away and go to sleep
But I lay restless and awake
Fearful only of the chance I didn't take
And through the morning reverie
We slip away, slip away
The lyrics of "Morning Light" by John Popper describe the struggle of taming one's inner demons while experiencing life's pleasures. The opening lines paint a picture of a dark and smoky night, where the characters are playing the same old game of indulging themselves to suppress their aching desires. They have an insatiable appetite for life’s experiences, and dawn is the only clock they follow until they pass out. The morning reveals a sense of regret, where the character's fear of missed chances disrupts their peace. They have made a mockery of life, intentionally or unintentionally, but are afraid of missing out on opportunities in striving for more.
The next verse of the song presents the idea that all fires rage with the sun going down but eventually, they fall to the ground safely. It portrays the importance of living one's life to the fullest, taking every chance that comes one's way. John Popper means to take every chance that comes his way by every turn, leaving some opportunities behind but never stopping from looking for another. The lyrics continue with the mention of the tuning fork, symbolizing the force of night and day, and the sun shining as the character slumbers, earning the evening that he has brought upon himself.
Line by Line Meaning
The thick and smoky night
The atmosphere is dark and hazy, allowing us to escape from reality.
Abounds around us
The dark surroundings engulf and overwhelm us.
Up to the same old game
We continue to indulge ourselves in familiar activities.
To tame the aching beast without
We strive to control our inner demons and emotional turmoil.
There's nothing we can't do or take
We have an insatiable appetite for life and its experiences.
Our appetite astounds us
Our hunger and thirst for new things is overwhelming and impressive.
Dawn, the only clock I rock
I follow my own rhythm and schedule, which revolves around the morning.
Until I tremble and pass out
I push myself to the limit until I'm exhausted and unconscious.
And through the morning reverie
During the peaceful and dreamy morning time,
We slip away and go to sleep
We retreat into our subconsciousness and rest.
But I lay restless and awake
I can't stop thinking and worrying.
Fearful only of the chance I didn't take
I'm afraid of regretting the missed opportunities.
The comedy, I don't regret
I'm not ashamed of the humorous moments.
But instead forget to mention
I neglect to emphasize the good aspects.
A thousand times of taste and touch
I've had countless experiences and pleasures.
Slightly slated not to be
I'm a bit biased and selective about my memories.
Mean to make a mockery
I intend to make fun of myself.
I imply my apt intention
I hint at my true motives.
The devil in the details wails
The minor aspects and flaws bother me greatly.
For one day want of breaking free
I hope to escape from my limitations someday.
All fires rage with the sun going down
Everything intensifies in the evening and at night.
The ashes fall by morning
The consequences of our actions become visible in the daylight.
Landing safely on the ground
The results of our choices are ultimately manageable and controllable.
Make no mistake, I mean to take
I'm determined to seize every opportunity.
Every chance that comes my way
I won't let any opportunity pass me by.
By every turn, I've left to burn
I've let some opportunities slip past me in the past.
Still another will be sought
I will continue to pursue new chances and experiences.
By that thing that rings the tuning fork
By the moments of clarity and epiphany.
For the force of night and day
For the ebb and flow of life itself.
The sun shines as I slumber
The world keeps moving, even when I'm unaware.
To earn the evening I have wrought
To deserve and appreciate the life I've created.
And through the morning reverie
Once again, during the peaceful and dreamy morning time,
We slip away, slip away
We quietly disappear and escape from reality.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN C. POPPER, LEE JASON KIBLER, MARCUS JOHN BLEEKER, TAD KINCHLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind