Most recently, Wesley has performed as sideman, guitarist/vocalist for critically acclaimed Atlantic/Roadrunner Records U.K.-based recording act Porcupine Tree, during the In Absentia, Deadwing, Fear of a Blank Planet, and The Incident world tours. Wesley's versatility shows from his diverse touring background. In recent years he has performed lead guitars and background vocals for White Lion front man Mike Tramp, subbed on lead guitar and bass for Gainsville's Sister Hazel, and as lead guitarist for Scottish neo-prog band Fish on many lengthy European, American and South American Tours and on several U.S. and European Solo dates.
In 2005, Wesley produced and recorded his fifth studio release, Shiver, co-produced by Mark Prator, and mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree.
He has an official fan website at http://www.john-wesley.com where fans can read lyrics, view photos and preview album clips.
On the 24th August 2007, John Wesley announced that he was making the majority of his solo material available for free download on his website http://www.john-wesley.com, in what he called his "Share the Wes" policy. He will still be offering certain CDs and new releases for purchase at gigs and online.
2. John Wesley was an American soul singer of the 1960s, who released most of his music on the Melic record label. Most of his recordings were credited to John Wesley & The Four Tees, except for a 1966 single called 'Love Is Such a Funny Thing', which was recorded with The Four Tees but credited to Wesley alone.
Days That Won't Let Go
John Wesley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but that would only make
a martyr of the truth
I chose to see only the
beauty in your eyes
never the shame
never the lives
I never seem to be the chosen one
just a glimpse and you were gone
this place without you seems all wrong
Wish I could call you on the phone
wish you happiness
wherever you call home
wish this night wasn't so dark and mean
I wish you'd see me
when you dream
These are the days
that won't let go
this is the shame
we're not allowed to show
this is the anger from inside
these are the days that will not die
I wish these thoughts of you would end
I wish that someday you could learn to be my friend
I wish I'd never kissed your face
I wish these thoughts to be erased
I wish that someday you might find
a little love
a little peace of mind
I wish that I don't fall apart
I wish that you'd still hold me
in your heart
The lyrics of John Wesley’s song “Days That Won’t Let Go” deal with the lingering pain and regret felt after a failed relationship. The singer wishes he could blame the cause of the relationship’s failure on his partner’s youth, but he knows that would be dishonest. Instead, he takes responsibility for his own shortcomings, acknowledging that he chose to focus only on the positive qualities of his partner and ignored the warning signs.
The second verse contains a poignant juxtaposition between the idea of blaming the sun for his misfortune and the realization that his partner simply did not choose him. He laments the feeling of being left behind and the feeling that the world is now off-kilter without his partner’s presence. Moving on to the third verse, he expresses a desire to reach out to his former partner, to wish them well and to let them know he still thinks of them.
The chorus is the most raw and emotional part of the song, acknowledging that hurt, anger, and shame are all bound up in this experience. The singer wishes he could shake these feelings, that they would let go of him and he could move on. But he also acknowledges that these days will never truly be gone. Even if he manages to forget his former partner, the memories and feelings associated with this relationship will always be a part of him.
Overall, “Days That Won’t Let Go” is a powerful and relatable song about the emotional aftermath of a relationship that ended in heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish I could blame this on your youth
I wish I could blame the mistakes you made on your youthful inexperience, but that would be a lie and only justify the truth.
but that would only make
Taking the easy way out and ignoring the truth would be a cheap solution not worth doing.
a martyr of the truth
The truth must be acknowledged and treated fairly, not covered up or ignored, even if it has negative consequences.
I chose to see only the
I made a conscious decision to only focus on the good and ignore the bad in an attempt to see you in the best light.
beauty in your eyes
I only saw the attractive qualities that you possessed and ignored the undesirable traits.
never the shame
I ignored the guilt and embarrassment that you carried with you.
never the lives
I turned a blind eye and failed to recognize the impact that your actions had on others.
Wish i could blame this on the sun
I wish I could blame external factors like the sun or fate for my loneliness, but I know that it's my own doing.
I never seem to be the chosen one
I always feel left out and overlooked by the people I care about.
just a glimpse and you were gone
You entered my life briefly, leaving me with a sense of loss and longing when you departed.
this place without you seems all wrong
In your absence, everything feels off-kilter and incomplete.
Wish I could call you on the phone
I wish I could reach out to you and talk to you, but I know that it's not wise or feasible.
wish you happiness
I hope that you find joy and contentment in your life, even if it's without me.
wherever you call home
No matter where you go or what you do, I hope that you can find a sense of belonging and safety in your surroundings.
wish this night wasn't so dark and mean
I wish that the present moment wasn't so bleak and foreboding.
I wish you'd see me
I wish that you would acknowledge my existence and consider me as a potential partner or friend.
when you dream
I wish that I could occupy a space in your subconscious thoughts, even if just for a moment.
These are the days
These current times feel insurmountable and refuse to go away.
that won't let go
The feelings and experiences of the present moment seem to cling to you and refuse to let you move on.
this is the shame
The present moment is filled with regret and dissatisfaction.
we're not allowed to show
The expression of these negative emotions is discouraged by society and those around us.
this is the anger from inside
A deep-seated rage and frustration is brewing within me, manifesting itself in unfavorable ways.
these are the days that will not die
The negative times that we are experiencing seem to drag on and refuse to come to an end.
I wish these thoughts of you would end
I hope that I can stop thinking about you and move on from this situation.
I wish that someday you could learn to be my friend
I hope that, eventually, we can have a positive relationship as friends and put the past behind us.
I wish I'd never kissed your face
I regret the intimate moment that we shared and wished that it never happened.
I wish these thoughts to be erased
I want to forget this whole experience and never revisit these thoughts again.
I wish that someday you might find
I hope that you can find happiness and peace in your life, regardless of whether or not we are in it.
a little love
I hope that you can experience affection and companionship in your life.
a little peace of mind
I hope that you can find a sense of calm and tranquility in your mind and surroundings.
I wish that I don't fall apart
I hope that I can maintain my composure and strength through these difficult times.
I wish that you'd still hold me
I wish that you still cared for me and held affection towards me.
in your heart
I hope that you still hold a place for me in your heart, even if we are not together.
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.