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.
Lately My Love
Loggins & Messina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As someone, who's calling your name
Listen, the loner, the man on the corner
Is singing you songs at the end of the day
Lady be good, lady be kind
Lately the things that cross my mind
Are somehow the same links in a chain
Oh lady, my love, lady I run, lady I fly
To come to your door and open wide
I'll wait for you there, forever I swear
My lady, my love
He gulps and he chances it
Dances his way cross the floor
To the place where you stand
He's walking, he's flying
The poor boy is trying to be by your side
When the waltzing begins
Lady be good, lady be kind
Lately the things that cross my mind
Are somehow the same links in a chain
Oh lady, my love, lady I run, lady I fly
To come to your door and open wide
I'll wait for you there, forever I swear
My lady, my love
Lady be good, lady be kind
Lately the things that cross my mind
Are somehow the same links in a chain
Oh lady, my love, lady I run, lady I fly
To come to your door and open wide
I'll wait for you there, forever I swear
My lady, my love
My lady, my love
My lady, my love
The song "Lately My Love" by Loggins & Messina is a romantic ballad that explores the themes of loneliness, longing, and unrequited love. The verses of the song paint a picture of a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman, and is desperately trying to win her affections.
The song begins with the man offering the woman two dozen roses and asking her a question, suggesting that he is trying to start a conversation with her. The chorus then emphasizes the man's devotion to her, as he declares that he will do anything to be with her, including running and flying to her door.
Throughout the song, the man is depicted as a loner who spends his time singing songs on street corners, perhaps as a way to express his feelings for the woman. The bridge of the song describes him as "walking" and "flying" as he tries to make his way to the woman, highlighting his determination to win her over.
Overall, "Lately My Love" is a heartfelt declaration of love, full of romantic imagery and longing emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Two dozen roses, a question that poses
He offers you two dozen roses, and his question is will you be his?
As someone, who's calling your name
He's calling your name, hoping you'll respond to his affection
Listen, the loner, the man on the corner
Even when feeling lonely and desperate, he still sings love songs to you
Is singing you songs at the end of the day
He's singing to you, his love, at the end of every day
Lady be good, lady be kind
He pleads for you to be good-hearted and gentle with him
Lately the things that cross my mind
Recently, he's been constantly thinking about his love for you
Are somehow the same links in a chain
His thoughts are unbreakably tied to his love for you
Oh lady, my love, lady I run, lady I fly
He'll do anything to be with you, running or flying to your door
To come to your door and open wide
He comes to your door, ready to open and let you into his life
I'll wait for you there, forever I swear
He promises to wait for you at your door, for eternity if need be
Lady be good, lady be kind
Again, his plea for you to treat him with kindness and goodness
My lady, my love
He affectionately addresses you as his lady and his love, hoping to win your heart
Contributed by Bella R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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'