Molly Johnson has earned her reputation as one of Canada's greatest voices.… Read Full Bio ↴Molly Johnson has earned her reputation as one of Canada's greatest voices.

She has won numerous awards and inspired many to donate their time and money to countless charities around the globe. Her accomplishments in blues, jazz and rock have moved audiences across the country. Her talents have led to collaborations, as both singer and songwriter, with internationally acclaimed artists as well as local friends and heroes.

Molly Johnson has rocked standing-room only audiences in nightclubs and bars from coast-to-coast as a pop artist, seduced the patrons of salons and lounges with her luscious interpretations of jazz and blues standards and even regaled royalty with her unique and charming presence.

However, Molly's most prized accomplishment to date is being a good mother to her two children.

I Must Have Left My Heart
Molly Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Marc Jordan / Steve MacKinnon

Mike Downes, bass
Colleen Allen, alto sax
Andrew Craig, piano
Mark McLean, drums

Tonight was black and blue

This overcoat won't do
It's falling all apart
When I left you
I must have left my heart

The walls are tumbling
My feet are stumbling
I'm all alone in the dark
When I left you
I must have left my heart

Must I always be lonely?
With my dreams at your doorway
Just one more empty dog day
Afternoon

Shall I run to your door?
And stay forever more
I don't know where to start

When I left you
I must have left my heart

Overall Meaning

"Molly Johnson's song, 'I Must Have Left My Heart' is a poignant reflection on a moment of separation that leaves the singer feeling lost and broken. The lyrics, written by Marc Jordan and Steve MacKinnon, describe a sense of dislocation and confusion, with the singer feeling as if their heart has been left behind with the person they have left. The opening lines, "Tonight was black and blue/This overcoat won't do/It's falling all apart/When I left you/I must have left my heart," set the scene for a powerful cry of regret and longing.

Throughout the song, Johnson's emotive vocals are supported by a tight and evocative band, with Mike Downes on bass, Colleen Allen on alto sax, Andrew Craig on piano, and Mark McLean on drums. The music is dynamic and soulful, with a sense of urgency and passion driving the arrangement. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a relationship in crisis, with the singer struggling to come to terms with the pain of separation.

The chorus of the song is particularly striking, with Johnson singing, "Must I always be lonely?/With my dreams at your doorway/Just one more empty dog day/Afternoon." These lines capture a sense of hopelessness, with the singer feeling as if they are trapped in a cycle of heartbreak and frustration. The final lines of the song are a poignant expression of uncertainty, with Johnson singing, "Shall I run to your door?/And stay forever more/I don't know where to start/When I left you/I must have left my heart."

Overall, 'I Must Have Left My Heart' is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the universal experience of love and loss."

Line by Line Meaning

Tonight was black and blue
Today has been rough and unsettling for me

This overcoat won't do
The clothing I'm wearing isn't what I need right now

It's falling all apart
The clothing is deteriorating and no longer usable

When I left you
The moment when I departed from you

I must have left my heart
I believe that I have misplaced my emotions and sensibilities

The walls are tumbling
Everything around me is collapsing and unstable

My feet are stumbling
I am having difficulty standing and being stable

I'm all alone in the dark
I am isolated and lost in the absence of light

Must I always be lonely?
Do I perpetually have to be by myself?

With my dreams at your doorway
My personal aspirations are reliant on being near you