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.
In Sight Of The Rainbow
John Wesley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glimmers little shards
Of what was once to be
The air in here simmers
With the fallout
And the dissipating heat
Here we live in sight...
You give it all away
You turn it all to waste
This alleged good life
Seems to vanish
Just as one of us does reach
A bullet
The only honesty
The only entity that will not deceive
Here we live in sight of the rainbow
Here we live in sight...
Here we live in sight of the rainbow
Here we live in sight...
You give it all away
Then turn it to waste...
In John Wesley's song In Sight Of The Rainbow, the lyrics express a sense of despair and disillusionment with life. The opening lyrics, "Through this haze, Glimmers little shards, Of what was once to be," suggests that the singer is looking back on a time when they once had hope and optimism for the future. However, now they see only fragments of that dream, and the world around them is characterized by fallout and dissipating heat. The imagery of the "shards" and "haze" conveys a sense of confusion and disorientation, as if the singer is struggling to make sense of their surroundings.
The chorus of the song, "Here we live in sight of the rainbow, You give it all away, You turn it all to waste," is a reflection on the transience of life and the way that our dreams and aspirations can be easily dashed. The rainbow, which is an ancient symbol of hope and promise, is within sight but always just out of reach. The line "You give it all away, You turn it all to waste," suggests a sense of resignation and defeat, as if the singer has accepted that their efforts are ultimately futile.
The final verse takes a more nihilistic turn, as the singer suggests that the only honest thing in the world is violence - embodied in the bullet. The line "The only entity that will not deceive" suggests that the singer sees the act of violence as a kind of brutal honesty, a way of cutting through the illusions and falsehoods of life. Overall, the song is a powerful reflection on the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that can be cruel and disillusioning.
Line by Line Meaning
Through this haze
Despite the unclear circumstances we face
Glimmers little shards
We catch a glimpse of what may have been
Of what was once to be
Of the hopes and dreams that have faded away
The air in here simmers
The atmosphere is tense and unstable
With the fallout
Due to the consequences of our actions
And the dissipating heat
As the passion and enthusiasm fades away
Here we live in sight of the rainbow
We live with the hope of better things to come
You give it all away
You put in so much effort
You turn it all to waste
Only to see it go to waste
This alleged good life
The life we thought would bring us happiness
Seems to vanish
Disappears before we can even enjoy it
Just as one of us does reach
At the moment we think we have achieved success
A bullet
A sudden tragedy that reminds us of the fragility of life
The only honesty
The only thing that cannot be hidden or sugarcoated
The only entity that will not deceive
The only truth that we cannot ignore
Here we live in sight of the rainbow
Despite the struggles, we still hope for a better tomorrow
You give it all away
We put in so much effort
Then turn it to waste...
Only to see it go to waste
Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.