1) Paul Hamilton Wil… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists named Paul Williams;
1) Paul Hamilton Williams Jr. (born September 19, 1940) is an American composer, singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for writing popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s, including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song" and "Out in the Country," Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World," David Bowie's "Fill Your Heart" and the Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays."
Williams is also known for his musical contributions to films, including the Academy Award-nominated song "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie, and penning the lyrics to the #1 chart-topping song "Evergreen," the love theme from the Barbra Streisand vehicle A Star Is Born, for which he won a Grammy for Song of the Year and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He wrote the lyrics to the opening theme for the television show The Love Boat, with music previously composed by Charles Fox, which was originally sung by Jack Jones and, later, by Dionne Warwick.
Williams had a variety of high-profile acting roles, such as "Little Enos Burdette" in the action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and the villainous Swan in Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise (1974), which Williams also co-scored, receiving an Oscar nomination in the process.
Williams was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Paul Hamilton Williams, an architectural engineer, and his wife, Bertha Mae (née Burnside), a homemaker.
His father died in a car accident in 1953, when Williams was 13 years old, after which Williams grew up living with his aunt. As a result, Williams moved to Long Beach, California with his family and attended Woodrow Wilson Classical High School.
One of his brothers was John J. Williams, a NASA rocket scientist, who participated in the Mercury and Apollo programs and was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, their highest honor, in 1969. His other brother was Mentor Williams, a songwriter as well who penned Dobie Gray's 1973 hit "Drift Away".
2) Paul Williams (born August 7, 1992 in Nelson, New Zealand) is a musician, singer, rapper and comedian. He has released three albums - Songs About Girls, Jungle River Adventures, and Surf Music. His music videos often feature other members of the New Zealand comedy scene, include Chris Parker, Rose Matafeo and Brynley Stent. Outside of his music, Paul is best known for being the Taskmaster's Assistant in Taskmaster NZ. His musical influences include Kanye West, The Strokes, Drake, Animal Collective, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi, and MGMT.
3) Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams (July 13, 1915 – September 14, 2002) was an American rhythm and blues bandleader, songwriter and saxophonist. He composed "The Hucklebuck", a twelve-bar blues that also spawned the dance craze of the same name.
4) Paul Williams is a British guitarist and Gospel artist.
5) Paul Williams is a Canadian electronic artist.
Driftwood
Paul Williams Lyrics
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Too far from the sea
I'm homesick when I'm home
But I don't know where it is I'd like to be
I am driftwood
Washed upon the shore
Once a lover of the tides
But I don't think I can take that anymore
I am becalmed by too many years of dissonance and solitude
But harmony and love can move my soul
It moves my soul
We are footprints
Quickly washed away
So the man has come and gone
But the love and light we feel is left to stay
Yes the man has come and gone
But the love and light he felt is left to stay
We are becalmed by too many years of dissonance and solitude
But harmony and love can move our souls
It moves our souls
Like a sailor
Too far from the sea
I'm homesick when I'm home
But I don't know where it is I'd like to be
I am driftwood
The song "Driftwood" by Paul Williams is a poignant reflection on the sense of displacement and disconnection that can come with the passing of time. The central metaphor of the song is that of "driftwood," a piece of wood floating aimlessly on the ocean, washed up onshore and unable to find its way back to the waves. Like this driftwood, the singer of the song feels lost and disconnected from his sense of purpose or home. He is "homesick when [he's] home" and unable to identify where he wants to be. The imagery of the sailor serves to underscore this sense of dislocation, as the sailor is someone whose life is defined by his connection to the sea, and yet the singer of the song feels like he is too far away from that defining element.
The chorus of the song offers a glimpse of hope amid this sense of disconnection. The singer acknowledges that he has been "becalmed" by too many years of dissonance and solitude, but that "harmony and love can move [his] soul." The implication here is that it's possible for the singer to find a sense of direction and purpose again, if only he is able to connect with others and experience love and harmony in his life. The final verse of the song brings in a third-person perspective, describing how "the man" (presumably someone who has passed away or is otherwise gone) has left behind a legacy of "love and light" that endures even after he is no longer present. This serves as a reminder that even in the face of change and loss, there are things that can provide a sense of stability and continuity.
Overall, "Driftwood" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the complex emotions that can arise when we find ourselves feeling disconnected from our sense of home and purpose. The imagery of the driftwood and the sailor are particularly potent, serving to underscore the sense of displacement and longing that permeates the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a sailor
Similar to a sailor
Too far from the sea
Living a life far from the one desired
I'm homesick when I'm home
Feeling out of place even in familiar surroundings
But I don't know where it is I'd like to be
Not sure where the desired place is
I am driftwood
Feeling aimless and tossed around by life
Washed upon the shore
Left alone, unwanted and unneeded
Once a lover of the tides
Once energized and inspired by life
But I don't think I can take that anymore
But now feeling exhausted and unable to cope
I am becalmed by too many years of dissonance and solitude
Feeling stuck and unable to move on due to past experience and loneliness
But harmony and love can move my soul
However, positive feelings can still uplift the soul
It moves my soul
These positive feelings bring energy and inspiration
We are footprints
Just like footprints in sand or mud
Quickly washed away
Readily forgotten or discarded
So the man has come and gone
People come and go in our lives
But the love and light we feel is left to stay
However, positive emotions persist and leave an impact
Yes the man has come and gone
Again, acknowledging that people drift in and out of life
But the love and light he felt is left to stay
But positive feeling remains even after that person has left
We are becalmed by too many years of dissonance and solitude
Again, feeling stuck and alone due to past struggles
But harmony and love can move our souls
But still finding positivity that can uplift us
It moves our souls
This positivity brings inspiration and motivation
Like a sailor
Repeating the opening line to bring it full circle
Too far from the sea
Still feeling far from one's desired life
I'm homesick when I'm home
Still feeling out of place even in one's own environment
But I don't know where it is I'd like to be
Still unsure of the desired destination
I am driftwood
Still feeling aimless
Contributed by Connor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.