Johnson was born in the small town of Alamosa, Colorado, in the south-central part of the state; he grew up in Denver. He started playing the guitar at 13. In 1963, he began attending Colorado State University to study music but his college career was truncated when he won an international talent contest two years later. First prize included a deal with Epic Records. Epic released the song "Hills", written and sung by Johnson, as a single. Johnson began extensive touring of clubs and colleges, finding a receptive audience everywhere he went.
Wishing to hone his instrumental skills, in 1966 he set off for Barcelona, Spain, to the Liceu Conservatory, studying with the eminent classical guitarists, Graciano Tarragó and Renata Tarragó. Upon his return to the States, he joined Randy Sparks in a group called the New Society and did a tour of the Orient. When the band dissolved in 1967, he signed on with the Chad Mitchell Trio for a year, spending some of that time co-writing with another member, John Denver. The group was renamed Denver, Boise & Johnson. When the trio came to an end, Johnson made a radical departure from everything he had done previously by taking on a major supporting role in the off-Broadway production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." The show visited New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago over the next year; by then, Johnson was ready to return to creating and performing his own music.
In 1971, Johnson signed with Atco Records to release his first album, There Is A Breeze, which was released in 1973 and produced by Johnson, Chris Dedrick, Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone in New York and Toronto, Canada. Feeling this first effort wasn't a true reflection of his music (despite being a huge best seller in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area), Johnson self-produced his next LP in 1975, For All You Mad Musicians, relying more on his voice and guitar for a folk feel. He followed this up with Ain't Dis Da Life, where he added a rhythm section. With each new recording and his continued touring, his popularity was increasing. It was time to make a move on the national market.
Teaming up with Brent Maher and Steve Gibson in Nashville, Tennessee, Johnson created a two-song demo consisting of "Bluer Than Blue" and "Almost Like Being in Love" (the latter song from the Broadway musical Brigadoon). EMI America took one listen and wasted no time in signing him, quickly getting The Michael Johnson Album out in 1978. The first single, "Bluer Than Blue", became Johnson's first Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1978; the song became a chart-topping single on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Almost Like Being in Love" went to No. 91 on the R&B chart while hitting the Top 5 on the AC chart and the Top 40 on the pop chart. His next EMI album, Dialogue, provided his third big hit, "This Night Won't Last Forever" and a Gold Record for European sales of "I'll Always Love You."
Johnson recorded five albums in all for EMI and in 1985 moved over to RCA Records, where he adopted a contemporary country style that stayed compatible with his soft, mellow leanings; this shift was evident in his choice of duet partners country-pop singers Juice Newton and Sylvia. Johnson's change proved successful, as he scored five Top Ten country hits from 1986 to 1989, including the chart-toppers "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder." After two country albums on RCA (plus two greatest hits collections), Johnson moved over to Atlantic Records in 1991, which effectively halted his commercial momentum. He recorded sporadically in the 1990s for smaller labels. In 1995, the country music group 4 Runner scored a minor hit with the single "Cain's Blood", for which Johnson co-wrote an updated version with Jack Sundrud of Poco. Johnson also proved to be a successful writer of print when he wrote "The Solo Performer" columns for the magazine Performing Songwriter from 1993 through 1998.
In August 2007, Johnson underwent successful quadruple bypass heart surgery. A charitable organization, "Friends of Michael Johnson," was temporarily set up to help defray medical expenses.
Johnson died July 2017, at his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 72.
She Put The Sad In All His Songs
Michael Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only until she came along
Gave up his women and his liquor
She put the sad in all his songs
Something about her made him sorry
She was homely in his eyes
She had him bound and hypnotized
She put the sad in all his songs
She put the blue in his guitar
She took what he had and the dreams are gone
She put the sad in all his songs
She was the rattlesnake that bit him
It was a blow from out behind
She thought the tear in his eye just might fit him
He was the last thing on her mind
She put the sad in all his songs
She put the blue in his guitar
She took what he had and the dreams are gone
She put the sad in all his songs
The lyrics to Michael Johnson's "She Put The Sad In All His Songs" tell the story of a man who was once carefree and enjoyed playing music in beer bars. However, everything changed when he met a woman who had a profound effect on him. He gave up his previous lifestyle- his women and his alcohol- and became completely devoted to her. Despite this, something about her made him feel sadness and sorrow.
The lyrics suggest that the woman is not conventionally attractive- "homely in his eyes"- but she had a hypnotic hold over him that he couldn't resist. She was like a snake that bit him unexpectedly, and although she didn't care about his feelings, she was the only thing on his mind. The chorus repeats the haunting refrain, "She put the sad in all his songs," suggesting that the woman's influence had crept into every aspect of his life, leaving him feeling "blue" and drained of his creative energy.
The lyrics are a vivid portrayal of the painful side of love, where one person can have a profound effect on another's emotions and ability to create. The melancholic melody and reflective lyrics create a mournful mood that underscores the emotional impact of the story.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a good time beer bar picker
He used to enjoy going to bars and having a good time before he met her.
Only until she came along
But everything changed when he met her.
Gave up his women and his liquor
He stopped seeing other women and drinking alcohol after starting a relationship with her.
She put the sad in all his songs
Her presence in his life made him feel melancholic and inspired him to write sad songs.
Something about her made him sorry
There was something about her that made him feel regretful or remorseful.
She was homely in his eyes
Although others may have found her attractive, he didn't find her physically appealing.
She had him bound and hypnotized
He was enchanted and captivated by her.
She put the blue in his guitar
Her influence on him made him feel downhearted and caused him to play sad music.
She took what he had and the dreams are gone
Her presence in his life caused him to lose what he once had, including his aspirations and goals.
She was the rattlesnake that bit him
She was like a venomous snake that harmed him.
It was a blow from out behind
She hurt him unexpectedly, from behind his back.
She thought the tear in his eye just might fit him
She believed that his sadness was a good look for him and suited him well.
He was the last thing on her mind
She was not preoccupied with him or his feelings.
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JGold
on Dialogue
first time i heard this song, i teared up. there's something about this song's melody & lyrics that grip my heart. in a beautiful way. & i still tear up when i hear this song