In 1997, at the age of 15, he released his major-label debut, 'Lie to Me'. Though it picked up mixed critical reviews, the album served as a commercial breakthrough, with single "Lie to Me" particularly receiving much airplay and earning the #12 slot on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. That blues rock track continues to be beloved by Lang's fan-base.
Lang followed with 'Wander This World', released on October 20, 1998. Broadening his sound somewhat with influences from classic soul and modern rock, the release experienced widespread success. His singles, "Wander This World" and "Still Rainin'", did particularly well, the latter tune reaching the #8 slot on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.
Several releases and constant touring later, Lang's latest work is 'Fight For My Soul', released on September 2, 2013. The album has received critical acclaim from publications such has Allmusic, with the reviewers remarking that Lang "dives headfirst into classic soul and R&B, its elastic, funky grooves allowing the guitarist plenty of space to solo". It also hit the #20 slot on Billboard's 'Top Rock Albums' chart, selling extremely well.
Part of his success has been due to a voice that sounds somewhat like that of a 40-year-old blues veteran, containing what fans have seen as a harshness tempered by a fine falsetto that has taken prominence in his newest albums. Another part of his success is his scorching, electrifying guitar solos, which display a prodigious natural talent honed by years of practice and playing. Whatever the secret to his success, the youngster has quickly become a fixture in the blues world, drawing crowds wherever he goes.
Lang has drawn deeply from the wellspring of influences from the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Luther Allison, and Albert Collins. Many blues artists have also been encouraged to pick up the guitar from his example. As he becomes more confident in his role as a musical veteran instead of a boy wonder, one can see the possibilities he has yet to share with his fans.
Goodbye Letter
Jonny Lang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That ain't right baby
I always thought we'd stand the test of time
I was wrong baby
When the lights in the house all go out
I get lonely, how 'bout you
There's a letter on the table
I don't have to read it
'Cause I already know
It's been a long time coming
And I've been awake for days
I know we can make it
But things have to change
Your words say it's hopeless
But I know there's more between the lines
Goodbye
is this how you want it
I'll leave but I don't want to go
And I'll wait but I can't wait forever
For you to say goodbye
Well maybe I'm just dreaming
But I know dreams come true
And I'm still here believing
That God made me for you
If we could just start over
Get back where we began
We're better off together
It doesn't have to end
Goodbye
is this how you want it
I'll leave but I don't want to go
And I'll wait but I can't wait forever
For you to say goodbye
Goodbye
is this how you want it
I'll leave but I don't want to go
And I'll wait but I can't wait forever
For you to say goodbye
(Oh, goodbye)
The lyrics of Goodbye Letter by Jonny Lang express the emotions of a man who has gone through a painful breakup with his partner. The singer describes how they both walked away before saying goodbye, which he feels was not the right thing to do. He admits that he always thought their love would endure, but he realizes now that he was wrong. The loneliness he feels is palpable, especially when the house lights go out, and he imagines his partner is experiencing the same sense of loss.
He discovers a letter on the table that he has never seen before, but he doesn't need to read it to know what it says since he senses that the relationship is coming to an end. He expresses his desire to make it work, but acknowledges things need to change for them to stay together. The singer believes that there is more to the situation than just a hopeless end, but he feels his partner's words tell a different story. Despite his yearning for reconciliation, he understands that he can't wait forever for her to say goodbye, and he is left with no choice but to walk away.
In summary, the song Goodbye Letter by Jonny Lang is a poignant expression of the emotional turmoil one experiences in the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics convey the regret, hope, and resignation that are part of the healing process. The song's message is universal, and many people can relate to the feeling of wanting to reconcile with a partner after a breakup.
Line by Line Meaning
We walked away before we said goodbye
We ended things without saying the proper farewell that we should have, it was wrong.
That ain't right baby
That was not the right way to handle our relationship, it was a bad decision.
I always thought we'd stand the test of time
I believed our love would last forever, I was confident in our relationship.
I was wrong baby
Unfortunately, I was mistaken about our love, and it turns out we were not meant to be together forever.
When the lights in the house all go out
When it's dark and there's silence, I feel lonely and miss you.
I get lonely, how 'bout you
I feel alone, and I wonder if you have the same feelings or if you are moving on easily.
There's a letter on the table
I see a letter, and I wonder about its content or purpose.
I've never seen it there before
It's unusual for me to see a letter in that position, or from that person.
I don't have to read it
Even if I don't know the contents, I have a feeling that it's a goodbye letter, and that we are ending things.
'Cause I already know
My intuition tells me what's inside the letter, or what's going on between us.
It's been a long time coming
Our relationship has been facing problems for a while, and it took time for us to reach this point.
And I've been awake for days
My mind has been preoccupied with our situation, and I've had trouble sleeping.
I know we can make it
I'm still optimistic about our relationship, and despite the problems, I think we can overcome them.
But things have to change
We need to modify our behavior or approach, or else our relationship will not improve.
Your words say it's hopeless
You express a sense of defeat, or that you don't think our relationship will succeed.
But I know there's more between the lines
Despite your words, I sense that there is still hope for us, or that you might not mean what you say.
Goodbye, is this how you want it
Are you completely sure about ending things? Is this what you really want?
I'll leave but I don't want to go
Even if I have to accept the end of our relationship, I still don't want to let you go.
And I'll wait but I can't wait forever
I'm willing to give you time to think or to change your mind, but I can't wait forever for you to decide.
For you to say goodbye
I want to hear the words from you, rather than just guessing or interpreting the situation.
Well maybe I'm just dreaming
Perhaps I'm being unrealistic, or holding onto an idea that can't come true.
But I know dreams come true
Despite the doubts, I believe that if our love is strong enough, we can make it work.
And I'm still here believing
I haven't given up on us yet, I still have faith in our love.
That God made me for you
I feel that fate has brought us together, and that we're meant to be together forever.
If we could just start over
Maybe if we could forget about the past and begin anew, our relationship could work.
Get back where we began
To rekindle our love, we need to go back to the place where we first fell in love and find what we lost.
We're better off together
When we're together, we're stronger, and we have a better chance of overcoming our problems.
It doesn't have to end
Our relationship does not have to be over, we can still fight for our love and work to overcome our problems.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARTIN FREDERIKSEN, JONNY LANG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LizAndrsn
on Red Light
To me Red Light speaks of someone at the crossroads of taking their own life, questioning their life decisions and future.