Born in Chicago to Swedish/Italian parents, Lofgren moved to the Washington, D.C., area as a teenager. His first instrument was the accordion. He was also a competitive gymnast in high school, a skill that popped up later in his career.
Lofgren joined Neil Young's band in 1968 at age 17, playing piano on the album After the Gold Rush. Lofgren would maintain a close musical relationship with Young, appearing on his Tonight's the Night album and tour among others. He was also briefly a member of Crazy Horse, appearing on their 1971 LP and contributing songs to their catalogue.
From '71 to '74 Lofgren was active in Grin, the band he founded in '69. After landing a record deal in '71 the band released 4 critically-acclaimed albums but met with little commercial success.
In 1975 Lofgren released his a self-titled solo album featuring songs that went on to become staples of his solo performances; 'Keith Don't Go', 'Back it Up' and the cover of Carole Kings 'Goin' Back'.
Solo albums and tours followed every year through the 70s as Lofgren established himself as a top guitarist and live performer earning the respect and acclaim of his peers.
Bruce Springsteen made the call in 1984 and Lofgren joined the E-Street Band for the 'Born in the USA' tour. Lofgren was instant hit with Springsteens fans through his playing and vibrant on stage persona. Lofgren remains a stalwart of the E-Street Band to the present day.
Lofgren continues to juggle his tenure with the Springsteen Band and a solo recording career, whilst writing and performing with many other artists. His 2008 album 'Nils Sings Neil' was a project featuring Lofgren acoustically covering songs written by Neil Young, his former bandleader in Crazy Horse.
I Found You
Nils Lofgren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had so much love to give, and I didn't know it
And then you came around
Turned my world upside down
Something happened, when I found you
I was crazy, nerves all distorted
Guts like a brush fire, gone unreported
Accepted me from the start
Life has been magic, since I found you
I was clearly clueless, lost and adrift
Wasted enough to welcome death as a gift
You showed me pain's no sin
I saw how sick and stupid I'd been
Hell, I almost like me, since i found you
I found you, and a black sky cleared
I found you, my fait reappeared
I found you, and I slept at last, holding you
At my most frightening, you'd tenderly laugh
A lifetime in the dirt, and you have me a bath
You weren't scared for aminute
You climbed right on down in it
And i see colours, since I found you
Life has been magic, since I found you
Good things happened, when I found you
Hell I almost like me
Since I found you...
The song "I Found You" by Nils Lofgren is essentially about finding love after being lost and broken. The lyrics speak of a person who was lost and lonely, looking for someone to fill the void in their life. They felt like they had so much love to give but didn't know how to show it. Then they find someone who turns their world upside down, and suddenly everything changes. The person who found them showed them that pain doesn't have to control their lives and that they could move on from the things that have held them back.
The lyrics are powerful and convey a lot of emotion. They speak of being lost, feeling broken, and then finding someone who brings light and joy into their life. The part where the lyrics speak of finding colors after finding the person is particularly moving. It speaks of how love can change a person's life, bringing vibrancy and happiness into their previously dark and colorless world.
The song has a beautiful melody, and Lofgren's voice perfectly conveys the emotion behind the lyrics. The guitar and other instruments in the background add depth to the song and make it a beautiful piece of music to listen to.
Line by Line Meaning
I was hungry, and I couldn't show it
I had a deep feeling of longing, but I couldn't express it.
Had so much love to give, and I didn't know it
I had a lot of love inside of me, but I wasn't aware of it.
And then you came around
You entered into my life.
Turned my world upside down
You completely changed my perspective on life.
Something happened, when I found you
I experienced a significant change when I met you.
I was crazy, nerves all distorted
I was feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
Guts like a brush fire, gone unreported
I was feeling intense emotions deep inside, but I didn't show them to anyone.
You stepped into my heart
You became an important part of my life.
Accepted me from the start
You loved and accepted me for who I am from the very beginning.
Life has been magic, since I found you
My life has been filled with happiness and wonder ever since I met you.
I was clearly clueless, lost and adrift
I was completely unaware and directionless in life.
Wasted enough to welcome death as a gift
I was in such a bad place that I almost wanted to die.
You showed me pain's no sin
You helped me understand that it's okay to feel pain and it doesn't make me a bad person.
I saw how sick and stupid I'd been
I realized how foolish and unhealthy my previous behavior was.
Hell, I almost like me, since I found you
I'm starting to feel more positive about myself since I met you.
I found you, and a black sky cleared
Meeting you helped me overcome a dark, difficult time in my life.
I found you, my faith reappeared
After meeting you, I started to feel more hopeful and optimistic about the future.
I found you, and I slept at last, holding you
Being with you gave me a sense of comfort and security that helped me sleep better at night.
At my most frightening, you'd tenderly laugh
Even when I was feeling scared or panicky, you always provided me with comfort and support.
A lifetime in the dirt, and you gave me a bath
I had been living life in a negative and difficult way before meeting you, but you helped me clean up and start anew.
You weren't scared for a minute
Even when things got tough, you remained strong and unafraid.
You climbed right on down in it
You were always there for me, even during the darkest moments.
And I see colors, since I found you
My life has become more vibrant and joyful since you came into it.
Good things happened, when I found you
Meeting you brought a lot of positive changes and experiences into my life.
Hell, I almost like me
I'm starting to feel good about myself and who I am.
Since I found you...
Ever since I met you, my life has been transformed for the better.
Writer(s): Nils Hilmer Lofgren
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.