Singer-Songwriter ~ Michael Tomlinson
With h… Read Full Bio ↴Biography 2009
Singer-Songwriter ~ Michael Tomlinson
With his honey-warm voice and earthy, uplifting lyrics, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Michael Tomlinson’s songs comfort the weary soul. Drawing upon folk, smooth jazz, and Americana, Tomlinson’s songs unfold with an easygoing charm and crystalline clarity, driven by his moving, poetic narratives. Tomlinson’s latest album, The Way Out West, finds him reflecting on his life, how the experiences of his past have taught him compassion and helped him appreciate the stunning beauty of his beloved Pacific Northwest.
The Way Out West could be seen as a journal of the two decades of his life since Tomlinson left his home in Austin, Texas, and made Seattle his home. On the cover, Tomlinson is seen in silhouette holding his guitar as he walks among bold outlines of trees; the brilliant blue of the sky lending a sense that he is embarked on a new beginning. The title track describes the grief of leaving all he knew behind, while the wind-swept strains of “Seattle Skies” conveys his life long love of changing seasons and natural elements.
Tomlinson moved to Washington State after a homemade cassette of his song, “The Climb,” became the most-requested track of all time on popular Seattle FM radio station, KEZX. The station had developed its own progressive music format that would eventually become known as Adult Album Alternative (AAA), and Tomlinson’s friendly hybrid of folk and rock, with a jazz-inflected vocal delivery, was greeted with wide enthusiasm. Inspired by the smashing reception from KEZX and its listeners, Tomlinson recorded and self-released his debut LP, Run This Way Forever. Made available through his Desert Rain label, the record sold 15,000 copies in its first month in Seattle. It eventually moved over 100,000 units nationally as other independent radio stations began adding cuts from the album in high rotation.
By his second LP, Tomlinson had signed with a new L.A. record company. The album, Still Believe, earned Tomlinson his first Top-10 Adult Contemporary hit, “Dawning On a New Day,” and he headlined major theaters across the country as a result of its success. However, an amicable relationship with the label was short-lived. By his fourth record, Tomlinson had grown disenchanted with the company, and when he discovered that the label was secretly shifting his contract to a larger, international company, he rebelled, eventually regaining all of the rights to his previous work. Tomlinson then revived his Desert Rain label, freeing himself from corporate obligations and creative interference.
In addition to writing and recording music, Tomlinson has hosted nearly a decade of weekend retreats called, A Gathering of Friends, on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, offering his music as a means to bring people together in friendship and goodwill. This spirit of this humanhood is very much alive in his music today.
(NOTE: Bio obtained from Michael Tomlinson, March 2009 by fan request and permission given to post verbatim.)
Sunlight
Michael Tomlinson Lyrics
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Why do I need answers to love's surprise
Fell in love easy, when did we start
Well I don't know you but I know your heart
I walk beside you, I brush your arm
The sun makes us sleepy like early, early wine
Drinking your kisses, breathing your hair
When I wake from the dream will you still be there
As love grows
We both know the world has changed
Somehow we've been rearranged
I knew love would come if we just let go
But love like this I've never known
Sunlight will find a way
Sunlight will find a way
Moments are passing shadows on skin
I hear you laughing, will you call me in
Looking out windows, where is this dream
Does it feel good to you like love again
It's a little bit magic, something like smoke
I'm a little bit lonely every time you go
Colors from rainbows scatter like wind
When I wake from the dream will you come again?
All of your mysteries I look in your eyes
Why do I need answers to love's surprise
Fell in love easy when did we start
Well I don't know you but I know your heart
The lyrics of Michael Tomlinson's song "Sunlight" express the unpredictability and mystery of falling in love. The song describes the singer's fascination with the person they have fallen for and their willingness to let go of control and embrace the mystery of love. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been brought to a place of uncertainty but is willing to trust in the power of love to guide them through the unknown.
The opening lines of the song, "All of your mysteries, I look in your eyes, Why do I need answers to love's surprise", imply that the singer is struggling to understand their feelings and the object of their affection. They recognize that there is something beyond their comprehension about this person, but at the same time, they are willing to trust their heart and take a chance on love. The chorus, "Sunlight will find a way," suggests that even in the midst of uncertainty and doubt, there is still hope for love to grow and find a way.
The lyrics touch on the challenges that come with falling in love, including the fear of losing the other person and the vulnerability that comes with opening up to someone else. The line "When I wake from the dream will you still be there" captures the insecurity that people feel in new relationships, wondering if the other person will continue to love and support them as time goes by. Nevertheless, the song ultimately expresses a sense of hope and optimism, demonstrating that even in the face of uncertainty, love can still find a way to prevail.
Line by Line Meaning
All of your mysteries, I look in your eyes
I'm trying to understand you fully by looking into your eyes and discovering all of the things that make you who you are.
Why do I need answers to love's surprise
I don't need to understand love or why it happens, I just need to let myself be surprised by it and enjoy the journey.
Fell in love easy, when did we start
Our love began quickly and it's hard to pinpoint exactly when it started, but it's clear that we're deeply in love.
Well I don't know you but I know your heart
Even though I don't know every detail about you, I understand your heart and know what makes you tick.
I walk beside you, I brush your arm
I'm physically close to you and enjoy the small moments, like brushing your arm with mine.
The sun makes us sleepy like early, early wine
The warmth of the sun is lulling us into a relaxed state, like the feeling of drinking wine in the early hours of the day.
Drinking your kisses, breathing your hair
I'm savoring the experience of kissing you and breathing in your scent.
When I wake from the dream will you still be there
I'm not sure if what we're experiencing is real or a dream, but I hope that you'll still be by my side when it's over.
As love grows
As our love for each other becomes stronger and deeper.
We both know the world has changed
We're aware that things outside of our relationship have shifted and that the world is different now.
Somehow we've been rearranged
Our relationship has been affected by these changes and we've had to adjust to a new normal.
I knew love would come if we just let go
I had faith that love would come to us if we allowed ourselves to surrender to our feelings.
But love like this I've never known
This kind of intense and profound love is new and unique to me.
Sunlight will find a way
Even when things seem dark, there's always the hope that sunlight will eventually shine through and make things better.
Moments are passing shadows on skin
Life is fleeting and moments slip by quickly, leaving behind only memories and the sensation of the passing time on our skin.
I hear you laughing, will you call me in
I hear you enjoying yourself and wonder if you'll invite me to share in the moment with you.
Looking out windows, where is this dream
I'm gazing out the window and questioning whether or not what's happening is real or just a dream.
Does it feel good to you like love again
I'm wondering if you're also feeling the same joy and warmth that comes with falling in love again.
It's a little bit magic, something like smoke
Our love is like a magical and elusive thing - it's intangible and difficult to grasp, like smoke in the air.
I'm a little bit lonely every time you go
I feel a sense of loneliness and longing whenever we're apart.
Colors from rainbows scatter like wind
Like the colors from a rainbow blown away by the wind, moments and memories can quickly slip away and become distant memories.
When I wake from the dream will you come again?
I hope that when the dream ends and reality sets back in, our love will still be strong and you'll be there by my side.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL BLACK, JACK GLASS, CHRIS STRACEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind