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.
That's When I Find You
Kenny Loggins Lyrics
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That's when I find you
Beaten down, besieged, bereft
That's when I find you
On shaky ground and stripped of pride
That's when I find you
Only emptiness inside
That's when I find you
When everything I knew is wrong
"N everything I had is gone
When I know I can't go on
That's when I find you
Take me down to the river of tears
That's when I find you
Gonna wash me in the water and drown my fears
That's when I find you
Done runnin' away, done turnin' around
That's when I find you
Cause pain and trouble is sacred ground
That's when I find you
When everything I knew is wrong
"N everything I had is gone
When I know I can't go on
That's when I find you
Every trial, every tear
Brings my life closer into view
In the center of the truth
That's when I find you
It hurts so much
It hurts so much
But I ain't alone
I'm just goin' home
"N that's when I find you
Got nothin' to hide, got nothin' to lose
That's when I find you
�N the worst kind of karma is comin' on through
That's when I find you
When I've taken more than I can take
That's when I find you
I say no ‘n no 'n no….till the damn breaks
Every trial, every tear
Brings my life closer into view
In the center of the truth
That's when I find you
The lyrics to Kenny Loggins’s song "That's When I Find You" convey the idea that when life seems to have no direction, and you are lost, that’s when you find the person or the thing that gives you hope, love or comfort. The phrase “That’s when I find you” is repeated throughout the song and reinforces this idea. The song's opening lines describe the singer's feeling of exhaustion, loneliness and despair, which highlights the desperation in the singer’s voice. The line “On shaky ground and stripped of pride, That's when I find you, Only emptiness inside, That's when I find you” suggests that when you reach rock bottom – lonely, broken and with nothing to lose – it is then when you find something or someone to hold on to, someone to lift you up and give you new hope.
The chorus serves as a sort of declaration, a recognition that the person being addressed is always there for the singer, not just when things are good, but even more so when they're not. The line “Take me down to the river of tears, That's when I find you, Gonna wash me in the water and drown my fears, That's when I find you” conjures up imagery of the singer being cleansed, as if all his troubles and worries are being washed away. The overall message of the song is that we can find love and hope in times of darkness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when I got nothin' left
At the point where I have nothing left to give
Beaten down, besieged, bereft
Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and lacking in something
On shaky ground and stripped of pride
Feeling insecure and undermined, with no self-respect
Only emptiness inside
Feeling lonely and hollow deep within
Take me down to the river of tears
Bring me to a place of sadness and pain
Gonna wash me in the water and drown my fears
Cleansing me of my fears by submerging myself in sorrow
Done runnin' away, done turnin' around
No more running away or changing direction from my problems
Cause pain and trouble is sacred ground
The place where pain and trouble exists is a fertile ground to learn, grow, and discover myself
Every trial, every tear
The experience of every hardship and pain I face
Brings my life closer into view
Brings me closer to understanding and seeing my life more clearly
In the center of the truth
In the place of honesty and authenticity
It hurts so much
The pain is unbearable
But I ain't alone
But I am not alone
I'm just goin' home
I am returning to where I belong
Got nothin' to hide, got nothin' to lose
I have nothing to conceal, nothing to gamble
The worst kind of karma is comin' on through
The consequences of my actions are coming to fruition
When I've taken more than I can take
When I am at my breaking point
I say no ‘n no 'n no….till the damn breaks
I persistently resist and say no until something changes.
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.