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.)
Waves
Michael Tomlinson Lyrics
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Full of power and direction too
As if I had a job to do
Don't I know coldness in this gale?
And don't I need to get my mind off you
Or lose myself in ocean blue
Without measuring my pace
While this crescent of a moon is surely calling
For the power of my faith
Sing to me another siren song
With a melody from in this sea
The wind and waves for harmony
You don't know me yet you call my name
I can hear it on the ocean breeze
If ever it was meant for me
To sail around this ocean in a circle
Without measuring my pace
While crescent of a moon is surely calling
For the power of my faith
And the waves, oh they spray me down
As if water was the only sound
And I was meant to drown in their song
I can hear your flute, as I gaze into the water blue
But I will not go down for long
Years ago or in another life
There was something of the sea in me
Ever flowing, ever free
Anyway, I should have known by now
That it's time for me to change my ways
Or seek my truth beneath the waves
And sail around this ocean in a circle
Without measuring my pace
Oh to never know the answer to my question
Would not be a lonely fate
And the waves, oh they spray me down
As if water was the only sound
And I was meant to drown in their song
I can hear your flute, as I gaze into the water blue
But I will not go down for long
I will not go down for long
The song "Waves" by Michael Tomlinson is a song about sailing on the sea, feeling the wind in your sails, and overcoming the challenges that come with it. The song speaks to the power of the ocean and the call of the sea, while also acknowledging the need to move on from past experiences and emotions. The lyrics also exhibit a sense of determination and strength to keep moving and not give up in the face of adversity. The chorus of the song emphasizes this sentiment, repeating the line "And the waves, oh they spray me down/As if water was the only sound/And I was meant to drown in their song/I can hear your flute, as I gaze into the water blue/But I will not go down for long". The song showcases Tomlinson's talent for songwriting with its vivid imagery and poetic language.
Line by Line Meaning
Sea in motion, wind has filled my sails
The sea is calm and the wind has picked up, giving direction and speed to the sailing vessel
Full of power and direction too
The wind is providing a significant push and the vessel is moving along a set course
As if I had a job to do
The sense of direction and purpose that comes with being out at sea
Don't I know coldness in this gale?
The harsh and bitter conditions of being out at sea in a strong wind
And don't I need to get my mind off you
Being out at sea is a way to escape from problems or emotions that the sailor might be dealing with
Or lose myself in ocean blue
The deep blue color of the ocean can be relaxing and soothing
And sail around this ocean in a circle
The sailor wants to circumnavigate the ocean, traveling around and around without stopping
Without measuring my pace
The sailor is not in a rush to complete the journey, preferring to enjoy the journey itself rather than racing to the finish
While this crescent of a moon is surely calling
The sight of the moon in the night sky is mesmerizing and draws the sailor's attention
For the power of my faith
The sailor is inspired to continue on this journey by their faith
Sing to me another siren song
The sailor is asking for another song that will lure them in and captivate their attention
With a melody from in this sea
The sailor wants a song that is inspired by the sounds and rhythms of the ocean
The wind and waves for harmony
The sailor wants to hear a song that is accompanied by the natural sounds of the sea
You don't know me yet you call my name
The sailor feels a connection to the ocean, even though it is an entity that cannot know them personally
I can hear it on the ocean breeze
The sailor feels the cool breeze blowing over the open sea, which seems to whisper their name
If ever it was meant for me
The sailor is wondering if their destiny is tied to the ocean, and whether they were meant to be a sailor
To sail around this ocean in a circle
The sailor still desires to circumnavigate the ocean, feeling called to do so
Without measuring my pace
The focus is on the journey and not the destination, preferring to savor the experience and not rush through it
While crescent of a moon is surely calling
The beauty of the moon is still captivating the sailor, urging them to continue on this journey
And the waves, oh they spray me down
The waves are splashing onto the deck, showering the sailor with cool water
As if water was the only sound
The sound of the waves crashing against the hull is the only sound that can be heard
And I was meant to drown in their song
The sound of the waves could be hypnotizing and draw the sailor in, leading to a dangerous situation
I can hear your flute, as I gaze into the water blue
The sailor can hear a melody, perhaps played by someone on the shore, even as they stare into the depths of the ocean
But I will not go down for long
The sailor is determined not to be drawn in by the hypnotic pull of the waves, and will be able to resist their call
Years ago or in another life
The sailor is reflecting on past experiences that may have shaped their love for the ocean
There was something of the sea in me
The sailor feels a deep connection with the ocean, as if it is a part of their soul
Ever flowing, ever free
The ocean's vastness and unpredictability are part of its allure, a symbol of freedom and escape
Anyway, I should have known by now
The sailor is acknowledging that their love for the ocean is a part of who they are, and they should not be surprised by it
That it's time for me to change my ways
The sailor realizes that, as much as they love the ocean, it may be time to move on to a new chapter in their life
Or seek my truth beneath the waves
The sailor may need to explore the deeper, more introspective aspects of their personality before they can move on from the ocean
Oh to never know the answer to my question
The sailor is acknowledging that there may never be a clear reason for their love of the ocean, and that some things will always remain mysterious
Would not be a lonely fate
Even if the sailor cannot fully understand their connection to the ocean, they know that it will always be a part of their life and bring them comfort
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AXEL RONDEAU, VINCENT TEOULE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind