Loggins was born in Everett, Washington and is the youngest of three brothers. His mother was Lina (née Massie), a homemaker, and his father, Robert George Loggins, was a salesman. They lived in Detroit and Seattle before settling in Alhambra, California. Loggins attended San Gabriel Mission High School, graduating in 1966. He formed a band called the Second Helping that released three singles during 1968 and 1969 on Viva Records. Greg Shaw described the efforts as "excellent punky folk-pop records" that were written by Loggins who was likely to be the bandleader and singer as well; Shaw included "Let Me In" on both Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 2 and the Pebbles, Volume 9 CD.
Loggins had a short gig playing guitar for the New Improved Electric Prunes in 1969 before writing four songs for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which were included in their Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy album. During his early twenties, he was part of the band Gator Creek with Mike Deasy. An early version of "Danny's Song" (later recorded by Loggins and Messina and a No. 7 Hot 100 hit for Anne Murray in 1973) was included in a record on Mercury Records.
Loggins appears in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V playing himself as the host of an in-game radio station called Los Santos Rock Radio. He also lends the songs "Danger Zone" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)", and sings station jingles.
In 2014, Loggins appeared as himself in the episode "Baby Shower" of the fifth season of the animated comedy series Archer. His song "Danger Zone" had been a recurring joke in the show. At the end of the episode and during the credits, Loggins also performs a country version of "Danger Zone" as a duet with the character of Cherlene. Loggins stated in a later interview that his in-show nickname 'K-Log' is a complete creation of the show, stating, "It was always a joke. That's why it works, because it's so absurd.
If You Never Been There
Kenny Loggins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby you know I′ve tried
Girl it's been one hell of a ride
Getting′ over you
It'd be so much easier for you
If I could just make believe I've made it on through
Fast as you want me to
By the way things goIs beyond your control
Got it all figured out
From your side of the line
You can tell your story
But you can′t tell mine
You think you seen it all
But you ain′t been no where
Girl If You Never Been There
There's a fire
That′ll humble the strongest man
That will shatter all his best laid plans
When it all comes down you learn
Who we are 'n what we come to know
Darlin′ is only where we're willin′ to ggo
I'm goin' even though
It′s become crystal clear
You′ll never follow me there
Got it all figured out
From your side of the line
You can tell your story
But you can't tell mine
You ask me to say how I feel
But you don′t wanna know
You can say what you want
But there′s one thing for sure
You'll be standin′ outside
Till you've been through that door
You think you've seen it all
But you ain′t been no where
Girl If You Never Been There
Lord
Hear me calling
Help me to understand
Lord
I′m free fallin' on down
Into your hands
You ask me to say how I feel
But you don′t wanna know
And you can't really know
You think you′ve seen it all
But you ain't been no where
Girl If You Never Been There
The lyrics of Kenny Loggins' "If You Never Been There" tell the story of a man who has been trying to get over the woman he loves. He has tried and it has been one hell of a ride, but he knows that it would be easier for her if he could just make believe that he had made it through as fast as she wants him to. The woman, on her part, has got it all figured out from her side of the line. She can tell her story but she can't tell his. The singer knows that he has to move on, even though it is painful. He is going, even though it has become crystal clear that she'll never follow him there.
Loggins' lyrics are powerful and poignant, speaking to the struggles of love and the challenges of moving on from it. The song is a testament to the power of love and the impact it can have on our lives. There is an element of hope and redemption in the words, as Loggins sings of the fire that can humble the strongest man, saying that when it all comes down, we learn who we are and what we come to know. He ends by asking the Lord to help him understand, to give him the strength to let go and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
What you want
This line is a question, asking the person what they want.
Baby you know I’ve tried
The singer is saying that they have tried their best in regards to the situation.
Girl, it's been one hell of a ride
The singer is acknowledging that the situation has been tough and challenging.
Getting’ over you
The artist is trying to move on from the person they are addressing.
It'd be so much easier for you
The artist is suggesting that if they could pretend to have moved on, it would be easier for the person addressed.
If I could just make believe I've made it on through
The singer is saying that if they could pretend to have moved on, it would be easier for them as well.
Fast as you want me to
The singer is acknowledging that the other person wants them to move on quickly.
By the way things go
The artist is suggesting that things are out of their control.
Is beyond your control
The artist is implying that the other person cannot control the situation either.
Got it all figured out
The artist is referring to the other person thinking they have everything figured out.
From your side of the line
The singer is suggesting that the other person only sees one side of the situation.
You can tell your story
The artist is acknowledging that the other person has their own perspective on the situation.
But you can’t tell mine
The singer is suggesting that the other person cannot fully understand their perspective.
You think you seen it all
The singer is suggesting that the other person believes they have seen everything.
But you ain't been no where
The singer is implying that the other person has not experienced what they have.
Girl If You Never Been There
The artist is stating that unless the other person has experienced the situation firsthand, they cannot fully understand it.
There's a fire
The artist is using a metaphor to suggest that there is a strong and intense emotion involved in the situation.
That'll humble the strongest man
The singer is suggesting that this intense emotion can humble even the strongest of people.
That will shatter all his best laid plans
The singer is saying that this intense emotion can ruin even the best made plans.
When it all comes down you learn
The artist is suggesting that in the end, the situation can teach you something.
Who we are 'n what we come to know
The artist is saying that the situation can teach you about yourself and what you come to know about life.
Darlin' is only where we're willin' to ggo
The artist is saying that our experiences in life are limited to where we are willing to go.
I'm goin' even though
The singer is saying that they are willing to go where the situation takes them, even if it's uncomfortable.
It's become crystal clear
The artist is saying that the situation has become very clear to them.
You'll never follow me there
The singer is suggesting that the other person will not be able to understand or experience what they are going through.
You ask me to say how I feel
The singer is acknowledging that the other person is asking them to express their feelings.
But you don't wanna know
The singer is suggesting that even though the other person is asking, they don't really want to know the answer.
And you can't really know
The artist is suggesting that unless the other person has experienced what they have, they cannot truly understand.
You can say what you want
The artist is saying that the other person can say whatever they want about the situation.
But there's one thing for sure
The singer is suggesting that despite what the other person says, there is one true thing about the situation.
You'll be standin' outside
The singer is suggesting that the other person will be left out of the true experience.
Till you've been through that door
The artist is saying that the other person cannot understand until they have experienced the situation firsthand.
Lord
The artist is addressing a higher power.
Hear me calling
The artist is asking for divine help.
Help me to understand
The singer is asking for clarity and understanding in regards to the situation.
Lord
The artist is addressing a higher power.
I'm free fallin' on down
The singer is saying that they feel like they are falling and losing control.
Into your hands
The singer is saying that they are turning to the higher power for guidance and support.
Writer(s): Annie Leslie Roboff, Kenneth Clark Loggins
Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.