Growing up in a musical household and exposed to his parents’ eclectic record collection that included the likes of Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder and Dire Straits, he was particularly drawn to the guitar – being taken by his parents to an Eric Clapton concert left the young Sayce awestruck and in no doubt about which was the instrument for him.
By the time he was 15 he was playing guitar in his first band; he was up and running. He soon became a regular fixture on the Toronto club scene, where his fluid soloing and mesmerising overall musicality turned heads an earned him many fans. With an insatiable appetite for jam sessions at the likes of Grossman's Tavern in Toronto, Sayce began rapidly distilling his own singular guitar style and tonal palette from a melting pot of influences that included such greats as Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Cray, and in particular Stevie Ray Vaughan, to whom he is, understandably, probably most often compared.
While still a teenager, Sayce was held in such high regard that, after jamming on stage with one of his heroes, guitar player and fellow Canadian Jeff Healey, he was invited to join Healey’s band. Sayce was now living the dream. He can still remember the first time he heard Healey – and the effect it had: “It was in a supermarket car park. I was 11 and my parents had gone into the store. This song, See The Light, came on and I was just overwhelmed. I literally punched the radio.”
After three-and-a-half years with Healey’s band, playing with them at the Montreux Jazz Festival and at gigs around the world, Sayce, the apprentice having learned well from the master, felt it was time to move on.
Looking to further expand his musical horizons, in 2001 he moved to Los Angeles. He joined Uncle Kracker, and was with the band when they had their massive US No.1 hit song Drift Away. He starred in and wrote the music for the short film Cockroach Blue, directed by the award-winning Robert Crossman, which received high acclaim when it was shown at the Woodstock Film Festival. Then, in 2003, Grammy and Oscar winner Melissa Etheridge came calling (“very talented – like Stevie Ray Vaughan,” she enthused), and he enjoyed an “awesome” time playing and recording with her band until 2008.
During his stint with Melissa, Sayce released his debut solo album, Peace Machine, using what he describes as Etheridge’s “shit-hot” band and producer Michael Nielsen. Recorded live in the studio in just a couple of days, it’s full of raw, high-energy, low-maintenance retro-blues delivered with startling punch and real style, and showcases Sayce as a soulful, powerfully expressive vocalist as well as a supremely talented guitarist and all-round musician. The album also includes a crunching version of the Neil Young classic Cinnamon Girl, the song often a resonant inclusion in Sayce’s thrilling live shows.
And live is where Sayce, his jam-club years in his pocket, shines brightest, he and his band performing with a potent mixture of power and finesse, the guitarist regularly pulling the trigger and unleashing visceral, mesmerising solos. And while they’re checking out the hot licks, it’s clear that many of the girls in the audience are equally taken by the good-looking guy with the swept-back blond hair and charisma to spare. If you’ve got it…
May 2010 saw the release of, INNEREVOLUTION, recorded with his live band - keyboardist Fred Mandel (Queen, Supertramp, Elton John, Alice Cooper), bassist Joel Gottschalk and drummer Ryan MacMillan (Matchbox 20). This collection of songs, some co-written with Richard Marx, busbee, Mike Bradford, Dave Cobb and Marti Frederiksen among others, further establishes Philip Sayce not only as one of the finest blues guitarists around, but also as a musician, singer and songwriter with tremendous talent and potential.
“Richard came out to a show and we immediately hit it off,” Sayce explains of how he came to write with Richard Marx. “He's a massive talent and to have the opportunity to collaborate and learn from him is something I am grateful for. Anyone I collaborate or co-write with, the goal is to be open and learn, and I've been blessed to work with some of the best of the best.”
More varied than Peace Machine, and overall more sophisticated and more polished in terms of songwriting, sonics and performance, Innerevoltuion is a stylish, engaging and thrilling album that should bring Philip Sayce to the attention of a bigger and wider audience.
With Peace Machine, Innerevolution, Ruby Electric, Silver Wheel Of Stars, and Steamroller, Philip Sayce continues to write his own chapter in the long and continuing history of popular music. And it’s clear that this gifted young musician has many more pages yet to write.
Save me from myself
Philip Sayce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With nothing but blood on your sky
Millions of miles from the dawn in your head
Caught in a river of fire
Time is running our forever
Deliver me today
Light up my way
Save me from myself
I need you today
Behind the night where i hide all my fear
Oceans are calling the storm
Scorpio sun drags me down in her weeds
Another child waits to be born
I need you right now, don't let me down
Shine your light on me
Save me from myself
Light up my way
Save me from myself
I need you today
The lyrics to Philip Sayce's song Save me from myself directly address feelings of fear, vulnerability, and hopelessness. The opening lines describe the feeling of being alone and afraid, with the metaphor of blood on the sky to show how overwhelming the feeling is. The mention of being millions of miles from the dawn in your head highlights the feeling of being lost and disconnected from oneself. The line "Caught in a river of fire" is a visceral image to convey the intensity of what the singer is experiencing.
The chorus is a plea for help- "Save me from myself, light up my way". The singer acknowledges they are struggling and need someone to help guide them out of the darkness. The repetition of "save me from myself" emphasizes that the singer feels like they are their own worst enemy, and need an external force to intervene.
The second verse reinforces the theme of feeling isolated and overwhelmed. The mention of the Scorpio sun dragging the singer down in its weeds suggests an astrological force that is beyond their control. The metaphor of oceans calling the storm adds to the sense of chaos and danger stirring within. But despite all of this, there is still a glimmer of hope- "Another child waits to be born". This line can be interpreted in different ways, but it suggests that even in the midst of struggle and suffering, there is always the potential for renewal and growth.
Overall, the lyrics to Save me from myself are a powerful expression of the human need for connection and support. The singer is honest about their struggle, but also expresses a willingness to be helped. The vivid imagery and metaphors in the lyrics make this song an evocative and emotional listen.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel all alone and afraid
What are the emotions when you are completely by yourself and scared?
With nothing but blood on your sky
When there is nothing but war and destruction around you
Millions of miles from the dawn in your head
Feeling as if you are nowhere near where you wanted to be in life
Caught in a river of fire
Stuck in a situation which is dangerous or difficult to escape from
Time is running our forever
The passage of time is irreversible and never-ending
Deliver me today
Help me right now, don't wait any longer
Save me from myself
Rescue me from my own negative thoughts and emotions
Light up my way
Show me the path forward
I need you today
I need someone to support me right now
Behind the night where I hide all my fear
Hiding away from the world and everything that scares you
Oceans are calling the storm
Feeling overwhelmed to the point of disaster
Scorpio sun drags me down in her weeds
Feeling a sense of despair or negativity
Another child waits to be born
The possibility of new beginnings and opportunities for growth
I need you right now, don't let me down
Urgently calling out for someone's help in a time of need
Shine your light on me
Provide guidance, support, and hope
Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steph
on Give Me Time
Well I had a similar experience but I was in grad school. My parents thought they were doing me a favor by setting me up with a guy my own dads age. Turns out he has tons of issues. Falls for everyone hes with extremely fast, and super creepy!! Wont leave me alone!! Nightmare!