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.
This Night Won't Last Forever
Michael Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have the blues.
In the corner there's a couple dancin',from the kitchen I can hear her laughin',
Oh I - wish I was celebratin' too.
I know this night won't last forever,
I know the sun's gonna shine sometime,
I need some hope for a bright tomorrow,
So pardon me for my disposition,wish I didn't have to sit and listen,
She's playin' the same old songs on the stereo,
She's been lyin' since the day I met her,I'd be better off to just forget her,
Oh I - would rather be lonesome or go.
I know this night won't last forever,
I know the sun's gonna shine sometime.
I need some hope for a bright tomorrow,
To show this heart is gonna mend just fine.
Such a ridiculous situation pretending there's nothing wrong,
She's comin' on with the invitation I wonder who is takin' her home.
I know this night won't last forever,
I know the sun's gonna shine sometime,
I need some hope for a bright tomorrow,
To show this heart is gonna mend just fine.
In Michael Johnson's song "This Night Won't Last Forever," the singer expresses his feelings of melancholy while he's attending a celebration. Everyone at the party seems to be having a good time, but he's feeling sad, and he can't shake off the blues. The lyrics describe the singer's internal struggle as he tries to cope with his situation. He looks around and sees a couple dancing, and he wishes he could join in the celebration too. He knows that he'll eventually feel better, that this night won't last forever, and that the sun will shine again soon. However, right now, he needs some hope for a brighter tomorrow to show his heart will mend just fine.
The singer's situation is a common one, and the lyrics represent feelings of heartbreak and solitude, but they also provide a sense of hope. Despite the sadness, the singer knows that this feeling won't last forever and that things will get better in time. The lyrics also reflect on the idea of pretending that everything is alright while feeling sorrowful inside. The singer knows that he's in a ridiculous situation, but he can't help himself, and he continues to sit and listen to the same old songs playing on the stereo while musing, "She's been lyin' since the day I met her, I'd be better off to just forget her."
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody likes a celebration, happy music and conversation,
People generally enjoy socializing at events filled with lively music and cheerful conversation.
But I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have the blues.
However, I must confess that I'm feeling down and distressed despite the festive ambiance.
In the corner there's a couple dancin', from the kitchen I can hear her laughin',
I notice a happy couple dancing in the corner, while I can hear her laughter emanating from the kitchen nearby.
Oh I - wish I was celebratin' too.
I wish I could also participate in the joyous event.
I know this night won't last forever,
Despite my gloomy mood, I acknowledge that this festive occasion is temporary.
I need some hope for a bright tomorrow,
To overcome my current blues, I require a positive outlook for a better future.
To show this heart is gonna mend just fine.
I am certain that my heart will eventually heal and recover from this sadness.
So pardon me for my disposition, wish I didn't have to sit and listen,
Excuse my mood, but I would rather not endure this situation and just leave.
She's playin' the same old songs on the stereo,
She keeps playing the same music repeatedly.
She's been lyin' since the day I met her, I'd be better off to just forget her,
I realized that she has been untruthful to me since the beginning of our relationship, and I would be better off to move on and forget about her.
Oh I - would rather be lonesome or go.
I would rather be alone than stay in this situation.
Such a ridiculous situation pretending there's nothing wrong,
It is absurd to pretend that everything is okay in this awkward situation.
She's comin' on with the invitation I wonder who is takin' her home.
She is acting in a flirtatious manner with me, but I am unsure who will be taking her home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL LA BOUNTY, ROY FREELAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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