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.
Fly Boy
John Wesley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holes right through me when I walk by them
How do I offend?
They make me wanna hide
Sometimes I turn my head away and try
Yet I cannot disappear
They don't shine the way that you do
This world ain't good enough for the likes of you
You got to get away
You got to fly boy, find your powers and a cape
You got to make your escape, and get away
These years have not been kind
Each new day brings a struggle of a different kind
But hell I don't mind
A busy man looks through me
His money'd eyes blind to what he will not see
He don't know the secrets I keep
Well I am happier than he,
'Cause I'm gonna fly boy, gonna find powers and a cape
I'm gonna make my escape, gonna get outta here
I know about it, I know about it. The world has lost all its dreams
I know about it. The world won't let us breathe. Won't set us free
Each day we run this race
Consumed by self we miss the brave face
Or we look away
But not me. I'm gonna rise above this caste you made for me
Gonna be everything you dream but will never be. I'm gonna fly...
'Cause I am Flyboy, got my powers and a cape
Gonna make my escape, gonna get outta here
The lyrics to John Wesley's song Fly Boy seem to be about a person who feels out of place in the world, unwanted, and misunderstood. They feel like they offend people without really knowing how or why. The singer describes walking past people who stare at them with eyes that burn "holes right through" them. They feel like they want to hide and disappear.
But then the singer's mother tells them that they are special and that the rest of the world isn't good enough for them. She tells them that they need to "get away" and find their own power and leadership qualities. The singer then decides that they will find their own cape and escape, and they will rise above the world and be everything that everyone else dreams of being.
The singer seems to be struggling with feelings of inadequacy and tries to find their place in the world. They want to rise above their current circumstances and become something greater, something that will make them feel more alive and fulfilled. The song is about finding power and strength in oneself, breaking free from societal norms, and finding one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama their eyes burn
The way those people look at me hurts me inside.
Holes right through me when I walk by them
Their looks are digging a hole deep inside of me when I'm near them.
How do I offend?
I do not understand what I did to make them hate me so much.
They make me wanna hide
I feel so embarrassed and humiliated that I want to avoid them.
Sometimes I turn my head away and try
I try my best to ignore their looks, but it's not easy.
Yet I cannot disappear
I wish I could become invisible and disappear from their sight, but it's impossible.
She said they don't know you
Someone tried to console me by saying that those people do not know me well enough to judge me.
They don't shine the way that you do
That person also made me feel better by saying that I'm special and unique and those people cannot compare to me.
This world ain't good enough for the likes of you
That person also told me that I deserve better than this world because I'm exceptional.
You got to get away
That person advised me to escape from this world and find a place where I can be happy.
You got to fly boy, find your powers and a cape
That person encouraged me to be strong and fearless like a superhero to overcome my problems and find my true self.
You got to make your escape, and get away
That person urged me to leave this world and find a better place where I can be myself.
These years have not been kind
Life has not been easy for me in these past years.
Each new day brings a struggle of a different kind
Every day, I face new challenges and difficulties that make my life harder.
But hell I don't mind
Despite all that, I do not give up and still have hope for a better future.
A busy man looks through me
People do not see me for who I truly am, but instead ignore me and my feelings.
His money'd eyes blind to what he will not see
Some people are blinded by their wealth and refuse to see the truth or care about others.
He don't know the secrets I keep
Those people do not know me or what I'm going through, so they cannot judge me.
Well I am happier than he,
I am still happy despite my hardships compared to that busy man who is rich, but not content.
'Cause I'm gonna fly boy, gonna find powers and a cape
I will become stronger and more confident in myself like a superhero and find my true identity.
I'm gonna make my escape, gonna get outta here
I will leave this world and find a better one where I can be happy and fulfilled.
I know about it, I know about it. The world has lost all its dreams
I have come to realize that this world is no longer a place of dreams and hopes, but of despair and fear.
I know about it. The world won't let us breathe. Won't set us free
This world is suffocating us with its rules and restrictions, and it's hard to find true freedom.
Each day we run this race
Every day, we are competing with others in this world to have a better life.
Consumed by self we miss the brave face
We are so obsessed with ourselves that we cannot even show our brave faces to others.
Or we look away
We pretend to ignore others to avoid facing the truth about ourselves and our world.
But not me. I'm gonna rise above this caste you made for me
I will not let anyone define me or put me into a box, but instead, I will rise above their expectations and limitations.
Gonna be everything you dream but will never be. I'm gonna fly...
I will become my own person and live my dream, which those people could not even imagine. I will fly like a superhero.
'Cause I am Flyboy, got my powers and a cape
I have become stronger and fearless like a superhero, and I'm ready to face my problems with confidence.
Gonna make my escape, gonna get outta here
I will leave this world and find a better one where I can be myself and live my dreams.
Contributed by Chase E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.