McLaughlin was born on September 27, 1982 in Anderson, Indiana. Playing piano since early childhood, he was always finding ways to get out of piano lessons. While attending Highland High School, he shattered both wrists in an accident that interrupted his musical education. Nevertheless, McLaughlin attended Anderson University to study music. He released an independent album entitled Up until Now in 2003. This quickly led to McLaughlin becoming the first artist to sign on with the school's record label, Orangehaus Records. His self-titled album was released in 2004 to local and regional praise. He began touring, travelling throughout the U.S. Midwest, and working up a grassroots following.
He released Indiana in 2007, preceded earlier in the same year by the EP Industry, also known as Jon McL. In 2008, McLaughlin returned with lead single "Beating My Heart" from his album OK Now released in the same year. He gained fame with his cameo appearance in Disney's Enchanted. Released in early September 2011 in the U.S. Forever If Ever was McLaughlin's third major-label release. 2012's lead single "Summer Is Over" featured fellow singer-songwriter-pianist Sara Bareilles from Promising Promises which was a slightly reworked version of his 2011 album. There were no other singles released from the album. Jon released Holding My Breath on his website and iTunes on September 24, 2013. The mp3 version of the album is also available at Amazon.
I'll Follow You
Jon McLaughlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When your heart and mine will grow cold
No more staring at the evening sky
Low replaces high when you're old
As long as you're around I'll follow you
You won't ever be alone
As long as you're around I'll follow you
They say the future is our enemy
Time eventually will set the sun
But I believe in you and you believe in me
How can we ever go wrong?
As long as you're around I'll follow you
You won't ever be alone
As long as you're around I'll follow you
I will be wherever you go
So be patient baby
Hold me close
I hope you understand
You're a beautiful woman
And I'm just a man
So in the hours of the darkest kind
When it's hard to find who we are
One can stare into the other's eyes
Be each other's light in the dark
As long as you're around I'll follow you
You won't ever be alone
As long as you're around I'll follow you
And I will be wherever you go
At its core, Jon McLaughlin‘s “I’ll Follow You” is about devotion and lasting love. The lyrics suggest that as individuals grow older, their passions will dim and their enthusiasm for one another may wane, but the singer is steadfast in his commitment to his lover. Despite the daunting prospect that in time their love may fade, he promises to stick by her side no matter what. He believes that he and his partner can defeat time and grow old together. This sentiment is mirrored in the repeating lyric, “As long as you're around/I'll follow you/You won't ever be alone/As long as you're around/I'll follow you/And I will be wherever you go.” It highlights the idea that as long as the singer’s lover is alive, he will be with her, no matter how difficult the journey may be.
The song is also about appreciation and acceptance, and this becomes clear in the second and third verses. McLaughlin, in stating that the future is their enemy and time will eventually set the sun, emphasizes the finite nature of life, and thus the importance of treasuring the present moment. He encourages his lover to be patient, declares that she’s a beautiful woman, and states, “I’m just a man,” expressing vulnerability whilst honoring his adoration for her. He assures her that he believes in her, and she believes in him; thus, they can never go wrong. This tone of deep understanding, nurturing, and home-making reflects the comforting aspects of long-term relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
People tell me there will come a time
People have warned me that eventually, things will change
When your heart and mine will grow cold
Our love may lose its warmth and passion over time
No more staring at the evening sky
We may lose interest in the little things that once amazed us
Low replaces high when you're old
As we age, we may not feel the same excitement or enthusiasm for life
As long as you're around I'll follow you
I will always be by your side, no matter what happens
You won't ever be alone
You will always have my love and support
And I will be wherever you go
I will follow you wherever life takes us
They say the future is our enemy
Some people believe that the future is uncertain and will bring trouble
Time eventually will set the sun
Time will bring an end to everything, even the things we hold dear
But I believe in you and you believe in me
Despite this, we have faith in each other and our love
How can we ever go wrong?
With our love for each other, we can overcome anything
So be patient baby
We need to take things slow and be understanding of each other
Hold me close
Let's hold onto each other and never let go
I hope you understand
I want you to know how much I care and am committed to you
You're a beautiful woman
I am in awe of your beauty and everything you are
And I'm just a man
I may not be perfect, but I will always love and cherish you
So in the hours of the darkest kind
During the toughest times, when everything seems bleak
When it's hard to find who we are
When we're feeling lost and unsure of ourselves
One can stare into the other's eyes
We can find comfort and strength in each other
Be each other's light in the dark
We can be the guiding light for each other when everything else seems dark
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind