With a booming baritone voice and an opera background, singer and songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴With a booming baritone voice and an opera background, singer and songwriter Joshua Payne brings an unique set of skills to the pop table. Payne was born almost completely deaf, although an operation while he was still a toddler managed to restore most of his hearing, and music became a big factor in his rehabilitation to a world full of sounds. Payne's early childhood was spent in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, but when he was eight, he moved with his family to rural Arkansas. Both his parents had strong musical backgrounds -- his mother as a classical singer, his father as a preacher and choir director -- and the home was full of music, from James Taylor to Prokofiev, but Payne preferred sports, although his strong singing voice was already apparent. He graduated high school in 1991, attending Ouchita College on a football scholarship, but a serious knee injury turned his attention back to music, and he began studying voice with the tenor Nicolai Gedda, and soon was winning opera competitions. Payne enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program in vocal music at the University of Memphis, and began touring with Opera Memphis, where his strong baritone won him several title roles.

Following graduation, he relocated to Nashville, which was where pianist Jim Brickman heard Payne sing in 2002, quickly offering him a spot on his package tour. At tour's end, Payne was introduced to noted producer Michael Omartian, who was impressed by this kid from Arkansas with the big booming baritone and a trunk full of songs. The two put together a demo and were shopping it to labels when Ron Goldstein at Verve Music Group heard it and signed Payne to a deal. Payne's debut album on Verve, Your Love, My Home was produced by Omartian and released in 2004.

The Moon
Joshua Payne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love the moon and all his phases
Smiling down on me, no matter what the place is
I find myself stargazing
Mostly finding you amazing by the moon

Oh, no one seems to understand this waning
Condition of our friendship
What's this we are contemplating?

No one ever will

But still I feel a kinship with the moon
Oh, I was lost to lose you
And so my eyes would seem
To be crying, to be lying

I couldn't hide the dream
But somehow I seem fulfilled
And I always will
Because you've got the view

And the clouds don't blind your way
But for all I've seen
This could be our day
I find myself stargazing

Mostly finding you amazing by the moon
And oh, I was lost to lose you
And so my eyes would seem
To be crying, to be lying

I couldn't hide the dream
But somehow I seem fulfilled
And I always will
Because you've got the view

And the clouds don't blind your way
But for all I've seen
This could be our day
I find myself stargazing

Mostly finding you amazing by the moon

I find myself stargazing
Mostly finding you amazing by the moon

Overall Meaning

The song "The Moon" by Joshua Payne is a heartfelt tribute to the moon and its many phases. The writer expresses his love for the moon in how he continuously gazes and finds himself awe-struck by the beauty and all-encompassing light of the moon. This powerful imagery is symbolic of a deeper emotional connection, as he connects his feelings towards the person he's singing to with the visual of the moon. The chorus repeats the idea of the writer finding himself "stargazing" by the moon, which is reminiscent of deep introspection and soul-searching. He implies that he is not searching for answers from the stars, but rather searching for a connection with someone.

Furthermore, the song touches on the difficulties and confusion that come with a tumultuous friendship. The writer sings, "Oh, no one seems to understand this waning condition of our friendship" which highlights his struggle to maintain the close bond shared with this individual. From the lyrics’ mention of tears, lying, and fulfilling dreams, it can be inferred that the writer is yearning for a deeper connection with the person, but is also struggling to reconcile what that entails. This also highlights the moon's role as a constant guide, shining down and illuminating the writer's thoughts in this difficult moment.

Overall, "The Moon" is a beautiful ode to a complex friendship and the writer's individual journey to find meaning and guidance through connecting with a higher power.

Line by Line Meaning

I love the moon and all his phases
I have a deep appreciation for the moon and enjoy observing its cyclical changes

Smiling down on me, no matter what the place is
The moon has a constant presence in my life, providing comfort and light regardless of my physical location

I find myself stargazing
I often spend time observing the night sky and feeling a sense of wonder and awe

Mostly finding you amazing by the moon
My admiration for the moon often leads me to think about and appreciate the person I am with

Oh, no one seems to understand this waning
Others do not comprehend the gradual weakening of a relationship that is occurring

Condition of our friendship
The status or state of our relationship as friends

What's this we are contemplating?
What are we thinking about or considering regarding our friendship?

No one ever will
It is unlikely that anyone will fully understand or appreciate our relationship

But still I feel a kinship with the moon
Despite the difficulties in our relationship, I still feel a strong connection to the moon and its symbolism

Oh, I was lost to lose you
I feared the possibility of losing you and felt overwhelmed by that prospect

And so my eyes would seem
My reactions or emotions may appear a certain way to others

To be crying, to be lying
Others may perceive me as either emotional or dishonest

I couldn't hide the dream
I was unable to conceal my desire or hope for our relationship

But somehow I seem fulfilled
Despite the challenges, I still feel a sense of contentment or satisfaction with my life

And I always will
This feeling of fulfillment will remain with me indefinitely

Because you've got the view
My sense of contentment is partially due to your perspective and outlook

And the clouds don't blind your way
You are able to navigate difficulties or obstacles without letting them interfere with your goals or vision

But for all I've seen
Despite my observations and experiences, there is still much that is unknown

This could be our day
There is still hope that our relationship may improve or flourish in the future

I find myself stargazing
I still spend time taking in the beauty of the night sky

Mostly finding you amazing by the moon
My admiration for the moon continues to inspire appreciation for you

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GEOFF DOWNES, JOHN TIMOTHY PAYNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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