Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, and educated at Shrivenham School in Berkshire and the Commonweal School in Swindon. He was playing in several bands as early as age 15 when he bought his Gibson 335, a guitar that appears on nearly all of his records throughout his career, and a Vox AC30 amplifier. All previous guitars were "unsatisfactory" and required modification. He performed with local Swindon groups in clubs and dance halls playing mostly Buddy Holly songs. One of Hayward's early groups was All Things Bright, which opened for The Hollies and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. At age 17, he signed an eight-year publishing contract as a songwriter with the skiffle artist and record producer Lonnie Donegan, a move Hayward later regretted, as it meant the rights to all his songs written before 1974 would always be owned by Donegan's Tyler Music. In 1965 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker and auditioned as guitarist for Marty Wilde and he went on to work with Wilde and his wife in The Wilde Three.
For the most part, Hayward has used a red Gibson ES-335, though he also uses other guitars in both performing and recording, including a 1955 Martin D-28 "Dreadnought", a James Olson six-string acoustic, a black Guild acoustic, a Squier Stratocaster (essentially an inexpensive Fender Stratocaster, as Squier is a subsidiary of Fender), a Fender Telecaster, a blonde Guild 12-string acoustic (tuned to "open C" for "Question"), and in 1967 a black Gibson Les Paul. Between 1965 and 1968, he was without his Gibson 335 and relied on other instruments, most notably a 1964 Fender Telecaster and a hand-built 12-string guitar he had renovated for Donegan (he eventually bought this guitar from Donegan's widow). However, in an interview included on the Lovely to See You concert DVD (2005), Hayward says the 1963 Gibson 335 has been with him since 1967. Recently, he has played a Collings D3 on stage and on recordings. Among other instruments, Hayward also played mandolin on A Question of Balance and sitar on In Search of the Lost Chord.
Written at the end of one love affair and the beginning of another, the song "Nights in White Satin" was, according to Hayward, "in adoration of all women". Hayward married model Ann Marie Guirron on 19 December 1970. His daughter Doremi, who sings on the track "Raised on Love" on Hayward's 1977 album Songwriter, was born on 3 December 1972.
In 2013, Hayward spoke of his learning Transcendental Meditation in 1967, along with other members of the Moody Blues.
I'm sorry
Justin Hayward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call me on the phone
Send Western Union
You can find me home
I said I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry
Led you on a lie (Led me on a lie)
You say I fooled you
Who's' the fool tonight
I said I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry
High love in motion
Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Round turn the tables
Lost I am a man with no tomorrow
You know lop-sided lovin'
It got me in the end (Got me in the end)
Looks like I'm done for
Now there's no pretending that I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry
High love in motion
Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Around turn the tables
Lost I am a man with no tomorrow
I said why don't you write me
Call me on the phone (Call me on the phone)
Send Western Union
You can find me home
I said I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry
The song "I'm Sorry" by Justin Hayward is a melancholic reflection on a failed relationship. The song is sung from the perspective of someone who has hurt their partner with lies and unwanted advances. The opening lyrics of the song express a desire to reconnect with the hurt partner. The singer of the song asks why their partner doesn't try to communicate with them through writing or calling, and implores them to send a Western Union telegram. The lyrics of the song also include an admission of guilt on the singer’s part. They confess to leading their partner on with lies and intentionally hurting them. This admission is followed by a sincerity-filled apology.
The song's refrain— "I said I'm sorry"— serves to highlight the somber tone and establish the mood of contrition. The song's third verse; “High love in motion/Walking on the ocean of your sorrow/Round turn the tables/Lost I am a man with no tomorrow,” is a poignant imagery that captures the sense of being lost and desolate that characterizes the subject of the song. This verse communicates the singer's despair and sense of hopelessness. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lyrics, a plea for the hurt partner to reach out and renew communication.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you write me
Asking why the person hasn't reached out to him.
Call me on the phone
Requesting the person to phone him.
Send Western Union
Asking for the person to send him a telegram.
You can find me home
Letting the person know he is at home and can be reached there.
I said I'm sorry
Apologizing for his actions.
You know I bled you
Admitting to causing harm to the person.
Led you on a lie (Led me on a lie)
Confessing that he lied to the person.
You say I fooled you
Acknowledging that he deceived the person.
Who's' the fool tonight
Asking rhetorically who is at fault.
High love in motion
Describing the intense emotions of their relationship.
Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Using a metaphor to express the depth of the person's emotional pain.
Round turn the tables
Turning the situation around.
Lost I am a man with no tomorrow
Feeling lost and alone without the person.
You know lop-sided lovin'
Admitting that his love was one-sided.
It got me in the end (Got me in the end)
Accepting that his actions had consequences.
Looks like I'm done for
Suggesting that the relationship is over.
Now there's no pretending that I'm sorry
Admitting that he truly feels sorry for his actions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOM BELL, WILLIAM HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edwards - Aracaju, Brasil
Fantastic Hall & Oates 70's song... beautiful cover!
Matt Dwyer
Awesome, see The Spirit in all the songs he 'covers'! 💙
Sharon Kelley
Yep, Justin can rock out with the best of them!
Nathan Wolfson
Not one of his better efforts.