In late 1970 Jim Messina, formerly of Poco and Buffalo Springfield, was working as an independent contract record producer for Columbia Records. It was then that he met a little-known studio artist who had written a few songs of his own, Kenny Loggins. Loggins was working as contract songwriter for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Messina decided to produce Loggins' debut album. By the time all was said and done, Messina had contributed so much to the album, both instrumentally and vocally, that the effort was more of a Kenny Loggins album with Jim Messina sitting in. Thus an accidental duo was born. Their harmonies meshed so well that what was begun as a one-off album became an entity unto itself. So rather than simply producing Kenny Loggins as a solo act, in 1971 they both decided to form a duo, Loggins and Messina.
Over the course of the next four to five years they produced five original material albums, one album of covers of other artists' material and two live albums. One compilation album, a "best of", would be released after the duo had separated.
As is natural in most mentor type relationships, Loggins outgrew the duo over time. Within a few years he would feel the need to spread his wings and fly by his own right, and by 1976 the pair separated and pursued successful solo careers, with Loggins soon achieving the super-star status that he sought.
They reunited in 2005 for a compilation album of their greatest hits, which proved so successful that they decided to tour as a group again. The "Sittin' In Again" tour was launched in mid-2005 and played out the remainder of the year, proving that they hadn't lost the magic that made them famous in the first place.
Their backing band changed from album to album. Many albums featured backing members who were well know in their own right, such as Stephen Stills who contributed to their self-titled second album. Bryan Adams played guitar on the album Full Sail. John Townsend and Ed Sanford, later of the Sanford Townsend Band (Smoke from a Distant Fire) contributed vocals and songwriting to the Native Sons album.
Changes
Loggins & Messina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're eager to seek
A way to let the world
Know what you think
The lesson learned
Is not taught in a school
You have to start out first
By being the fool
[Chorus:]
But I see changes
They happen every day
And I see change
Coming your way
You give your life away
For what in return
A chance to see your name
In lights, while you learn
Your manager is home
And working a way
To keep you on the road
And moving day to day
[Chorus]
You work yourself to death
So you can have a home
You put your money aside
To call it all your own
You finally save enough
And you think you're gonna advance
Turn around, there's Uncle Sam
He's got his hand down your pants
[Chorus 2x]
Maybe some change
Is all that we need
Change is coming to help us succeed
Change happens every day
Change happens every day
Change happens every day
The song "Changes" by Loggins & Messina talks about the struggles and sacrifices one has to make in order to succeed. The opening verse talks about being a young man with new ideas and opinions, but realizing that the learning experience of life cannot be taught in school, and that to make your mark you have to take risks and be willing to make mistakes. The chorus is a message of hope and comfort that change is something that is always happening and that, whether or not it is apparent to us, we are always changing, growing and moving forward.
The second verse talks about the music industry and how many musicians, despite their talent and hard work, end up being exploited by greedy managers who only care about making money. The lyrics highlight the struggles of life on the road and how a lot of the sacrifices made don't always translate to material gains, but rather the satisfaction of having your name in lights. The final verse talks about the pursuit of the American dream: working hard to buy a house and eventually own it, only to have the government swoop in and take everything away in the form of taxes.
Overall, the message of the song is about the inevitability of change and how it is important to adapt and stay positive in the face of adversity. The lyrics suggest that while change may not always come in the form of an immediate reward, it is still happening and that growth and success will come with enough hard work and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
You are a young man
You are a person trying to find their way in life, probably in their youth.
And you're eager to seek
You are enthusiastic about finding your way in the world.
A way to let the world
You want a chance to let your voice be heard in the world.
Know what you think
You want to share your opinions and beliefs with others.
The lesson learned
The most important teachings and experiences in life often come from unexpected places.
Is not taught in a school
You won't always find the best life lessons in formal education.
You have to start out first
To grow and learn, you must be humble enough to begin at the bottom.
By being the fool
Sometimes, the best way to learn and develop is to allow yourself to be vulnerable and to make mistakes.
[Chorus:]
The chorus emphasizes the inevitability of change in our lives.
But I see changes
Although change can be difficult, it can also bring growth and progress.
They happen every day
Change occurs constantly, providing opportunities for personal and societal transformation.
And I see change
The artist is optimistic about the potential for positive change.
Coming your way
The listener can expect changes to impact their own life.
You give your life away
You may sacrifice a lot in order to pursue your passions and ambitions.
For what in return
Sometimes, the rewards for pursuing your dreams may be uncertain or intangible.
A chance to see your name
One of the potential rewards for pursuing your passions or career may be recognition or fame.
In lights, while you learn
As you pursue your goals, you may also have to continually learn and grow.
Your manager is home
The pursuit of fame or success in a particular career may require the guidance and support of others.
And working a way
Your manager may spend a great deal of time strategizing and planning to help you succeed.
To keep you on the road
Your coach or manager may prioritize keeping you focused and on track toward your goals.
And moving day to day
The journey toward success may involve constant activity and change.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats, stressing once again the inevitability of change.
You work yourself to death
The cost of pursuing your dreams may involve great personal sacrifice and hard work.
So you can have a home
One of the rewards for success may be the ability to own a home.
You put your money aside
Financial planning and careful saving may be necessary to achieve financial stability and success.
To call it all your own
The dream of owning your own home or property may motivate you to work hard and make sacrifices.
You finally save enough
Accumulating the resources necessary to achieve your goals may take a long time.
And you think you're gonna advance
Achieving a significant goal can feel like a major step forward.
Turn around, there's Uncle Sam
Unexpected barriers and complications can arise, potentially derailing your progress.
He's got his hand down your pants
The government or other external forces may threaten to take away or limit the rewards of your hard work.
[Chorus 2x]
The chorus repeats twice more as a reminder of the constant, universal truth of change.
Maybe some change
The song ends optimistically, suggesting that even modest changes can have big impacts.
Is all that we need
Even small adjustments and improvements can help drive progress and growth.
Change is coming to help us succeed
Ultimately, change can be an important catalyst for personal and societal progress.
Change happens every day
Once again, the repetition of the chorus emphasizes that change is always happening, whether we are aware of it or not.
Lyrics © DistroKid, CTM Publishing
Written by: JIM MESSINA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Miglore
on Wasting Our Time
You are the life (?) and I love you
And I'll never, ever, love by myself i think should be
You are my life and I love you
And I'll never, ever, walk by myself
Anthony Miglore
on Wasting Our Time
Chocolate (?), don't you be afraid of wasting our time s/b Try tryin', don't you be afraid of wasting our time
Anthony Miglore
on Wasting Our Time
Wanna turn around and listen to me? s/b Woman turn around and listen to me
Anthony Miglore
on Wasting Our Time
devil or ranger? (?) s/b devil or angel
Anthony Miglore
on Wasting Our Time
Or begin trying to change it? s/b Or begin trying to change ya'