At the age of eleven he first heard the urban blues sound that had been emanating from the United States, people such as BB King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Albert King, and was immediately aware that this was the music that he wanted to incorporate in his playing. He has developed his own style of ‘English ‘ blues, a combination of clear, clean blues phrases and harder edged riffs that are a recognisable feature of his very personal songs.
Arriving in London in the early seventies with the classic ‘few pennies in his pocket’ he gradually made a name for himself among the local musicians and became respected as a tasteful player and an easy guy to get along with.In 1974 he toured the east coast of America,getting as far south as New Orleans and discovering that he thoroughly enjoyed being ‘on the road’. He had by then become friendly with the now legendary English Blues guitarist Peter Green and they spent a lot of time jamming together.During the mid-seventies .Snowy played on various sessions,developed his skills in the studio environment,and started writing his own material.
In 1983, he got together with musicians that he had known and admired for a long time-drummer/percussionist Richard Bailey, keyboard player Godfrey Wang, and his good friend for many years, bassist and producer Kuma Harada.Together they came up with Snowy’s first solo album, ‘White Flames.’ A single,the timeless ‘Bird of Paradise', written by Snowy, was taken from the album. It became an international hit, reaching number three in the UK charts, entering the charts in most European countries and reaching as far afield as Australia and South Africa.
Snowy’s next album project was released on the UK record label RPM. Entitled ‘Gold Top’, after his well-known Gibson Les Paul ‘Goldtop Standard’ guitar. It features material in which Snowy has been involved from as far back as 1974 right up to 1996. Since the release of ‘Goldtop’ Snowy has recorded three albums with his White Flames band, No Faith Required" in 1996,"Little Wing’ in 1998 and Keep Out:We Are Toxic’ in 1999.Another compilation, entitled "Pure Gold - The Solo Years’ was also released in 1999.Also in this year Snowy joined Roger Waters for his bands "In The Flesh’ US tour, which was so successful that, in the Summer of 2000, Roger again toured the States, this time recording a live album and making a film of the show.
You can also see Snowy White And The White Flames on Last.fm.
On The Edge Of Something
Snowy White & The White Flames Lyrics
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So eat the apple, drink the wine, it's ok, the devil's buying
Now we're supposed to change the world, but I can't even change myself
Those things about me I despise, I keep away from prying eyes
There's things that catch you in a
Mess, mostly the pleasures of the flesh
In the hustle on the street, that's where they sweep you off your feet
It's a crazy kind of world we are living in
We all twist and turn, against the boundaries of sin
But if we want to cross that line, all we got to do is find
Someone to love
This is a crazy kind of life, can be hard to see it through
You can satisfy your appetite, but you got to keep it cool
If we all want to survive, we just got to find
Someone to love
Everybody needs someone to love
Everybody needs someone to love
The lyrics of Snowy White & The White Flames's song "On The Edge Of Something" explore the idea of being on the brink of a significant change. The singer acknowledges the passing of time and encourages the listener to indulge in life's pleasures because "the devil's buying." Though we have been told to change the world, the singer admits that it is a challenge to change oneself, especially those undesirable qualities that we keep hidden. The song describes the tantalizing nature of temptation; the cravings of the flesh that lure us in during the hustle and bustle of life. The singer is trapped in his private hell, but he admits to building his own cage.
The song's chorus offers a solution. If we are to cross the line and find true fulfillment, all we need to do is find "someone to love." Love is the key to surviving in this crazy kind of life. The song's theme of finding love as a solution ties back to the idea of change. Personal change requires love, self-love, and commitment to growth. In this context, love becomes a lifeboat, helping us navigate the uncharted waters of change.
Snowy White, the band's leader, delivers the lyrics with raw emotion, his scratchy voice exuding world-weariness, resignation, and a faint hope for the future. The music accompanying the lyrics is slow and soulful, a nod to the blues. The song takes us on an emotional journey, from the murky depths of despair to the distant glimmer of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
We're on the edge of something, time is flying
We are on the cusp of a momentous event, time is rapidly passing by.
So eat the apple, drink the wine, it's ok, the devil's buying
Indulge in worldly pleasures at this time because temptation is strong.
Now we're supposed to change the world, but I can't even change myself
We are expected to make a global impact but I cannot even change my own flaws.
Those things about me I despise, I keep away from prying eyes
Aspects of my character that I loathe, I prefer to keep hidden.
There's things that catch you in a mess, mostly the pleasures of the flesh
Human desires can throw one into turmoil and chaos.
In the hustle on the street, that's where they sweep you off your feet
The noise and commotion of the street can subdue one's senses and make them vulnerable.
I'm in my private hell, I guess I built my cage too well
I am in a personal state of torment- one that I created and locked myself into.
It's a crazy kind of world we are living in
The world we inhabit is a mad place filled with unpredictability and chaos.
We all twist and turn, against the boundaries of sin
We all struggle with our own moral compass, trying to toe the line between right and wrong.
But if we want to cross that line, all we got to do is find someone to love
It is possible to overcome that moral line if we have someone to love and support us.
This is a crazy kind of life, can be hard to see it through
Life is generally a chaotic and confusing journey that can be a challenge to navigate.
You can satisfy your appetite, but you got to keep it cool
You can seek to fulfill your desires but must be mindful and not let them overcome you.
If we all want to survive, we just got to find someone to love
Love and companionship is essential to our survival, as human beings need connection to survive.
Everybody needs someone to love
Love and connection is a core need for all people.
Writer(s): snowy white
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.