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.
What You're Looking For
Jonny Lang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always walking in your own reality
Are you awake or are you living inside a dream?
Making movies in the back of your mind
Frame by Frame, line by line
You're changin' and re-arrangin' it all the time
But it always ends the same and you don't know why
If your looking for love
you're gonna find it
If your looking for faith
you're gonna find it
If your looking for hope
you're gonna find it
you're gonna finally find what you're looking for
If you looking for fear
you're gonna find it
if your looking for trouble
you're gonna find it
if you're looking for love
your finally gonna find what you're looking for
Two people could be walking in the same shoes
And at the same time hear the same news
One's laughing and the other one's crying
One is living and the other one's dying
So tell me now which ones is you
Cause in the end it's up to you
Cause the fact is that's there's only one truth
And the only difference is a point of view
And when you finally find it, there'll be no denying
That you were holding it the whole time
Tomorrow's too late, you just can't wait
To change your mind
You're gonna find it, You're gonna find it
You're gonna find it, You're gonna find it
You're gonna finally find what your looking for
You're gonna find it, You're gonna find it
You're gonna find it, You're gonna find it
You're gonna finally find what your looking for
The song What You're Looking For by Jonny Lang is a reflection on life and how people perceive reality. The opening lines state that people see only what they want to see and live in their own reality. Lang invites the listener to question whether they are awake and aware or living in a dream, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness.
The lyrics then illustrate that people have the power to shape their reality and that their focus determines what they will find. The chorus states that if you are looking for love, faith, or hope, you will find it, but if you are looking for fear or trouble, you will also find that.
Lang continues to emphasize the importance of perspective by stating that two people can be in the same situation but have different reactions to it. The lyrics encourage listeners to be mindful of which side of the spectrum they are on and to take ownership of their life.
The song concludes with the message of taking positive action and not waiting for tomorrow to make a change. The lyrics encourage the listener to find what they are looking for by taking action in the present moment.
Overall, the song's message is to focus on what you want to find and to take ownership of your life. It encourages listeners to be proactive instead of reactive in their search for happiness and success.
Line by Line Meaning
You always see only see what you wanna see
You perceive only what you desire to perceive
Always walking in your own reality
You're always moving around in your own world
Are you awake or are you living inside a dream?
Are you conscious or are you just imagining things?
Making movies in the back of your mind
Creating scenarios inside your brain
Frame by Frame, line by line
Step by step, detail by detail
You're changin' and re-arrangin' it all the time
You're continuously altering it accordingly
But it always ends the same and you don't know why
But it concludes identically every time and you're not aware of the reason
If your looking for love you're gonna find it
If you seek love, you'll eventually get it
If your looking for faith you're gonna find it
If you search for faith, you'll eventually acquire it
If your looking for hope you're gonna find it
If you strive for hope, you'll eventually attain it
you're gonna finally find what you're looking for
You'll finally find what you've been seeking
If you looking for fear you're gonna find it
If you're hunting fear, you'll eventually discover it
if your looking for trouble you're gonna find it
If you're searching for trouble, you'll eventually stumble upon it
Two people could be walking in the same shoes
Two individuals could be experiencing the same thing
And at the same time hear the same news
And at the same time, hear the same information
One's laughing and the other one's crying
One is smiling while the other is sobbing
One is living and the other one's dying
One is surviving, while the other is dying
So tell me now which ones is you
Thus, inform me which one you are now
Cause in the end it's up to you
Because in the end, it's your responsibility
Cause the fact is that's there's only one truth
The fact lies that there is only one truth
And the only difference is a point of view
And the only variation is the perspective
And when you finally find it, there'll be no denying
And when you eventually find it, there will be no rejecting
That you were holding it the whole time
That you've been holding on to it since the beginning
Tomorrow's too late, you just can't wait
Tomorrow's too late, you can't wait any longer
To change your mind
To alter your perspective
You're gonna find it, You're gonna find it
You'll discover it, You'll discover it
You're gonna finally find what your looking for
You'll finally find what you've been seeking
Writer(s): Michael Logen, Jonny Lang
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.