Terry Callier (24 May 1945 - 27 Oct 2012) was an American jazz, soul and fo… Read Full Bio ↴Terry Callier (24 May 1945 - 27 Oct 2012) was an American jazz, soul and folk guitarist and singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Callier, a childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield, began recording in 1963 but never reached stardom despite a series of regional hits in the 1960s and 70s and three outstanding albums for Cadet: 'Occasional Rain' (1972), 'What Color Is Love' (1973) and 'I Just Can't Help Myself' (1974). In 1983, he gained custody of his 12-year-old daughter Sundiata and decided to retire from music to look for a steadier income. He took classes in computer programming and landed a job at the University of Chicago in 1984. He re-emerged from obscurity when British DJs discovered his old recordings and began to play his songs in clubs in the early 1990s. Acid Jazz Records head Eddie Pillar brought Callier to play clubs in Britain beginning in 1991 and he began to make regular trips to play gigs during his vacation time from work.

In the late 1990s Callier began his comeback to recorded music, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997 and releasing the album Timepeace in 1998, which won the United Nations' Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace. His colleagues at the University of Chicago never learned of Callier's life as a musician, but after the award the news of his secret life became widely known and subsequently led to his firing.[3][9]

As well as touring internationally, Callier continued his recording career, releasing five albums since Timepeace, including Lifetime (1999), Alive (2001), Speak Your Peace (2002) and Lookin' Out (2004). May 2009 saw his album Hidden Conversations featuring Massive Attack released on Mr Bongo records.[7][9] In 2001, Callier performed "Satin Doll" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Indigo, a tribute to Duke Ellington, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Callier died on October 27, 2012, after a long illness.

Midnight Mile
Terry Callier Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Like a ship without the ocean
Like a road without a wheel
Like a sun without the morning
People, that's the way I feel

But I'll be going home in style
Traveling one more midnight mile, yeah

I want a cold home or county
Where man must walk alone
That was the home of Muddy Waters
And they called him Daddy Rolling Stone, yeah

They said the road is such a trial
Traveling one more midnight mile, yeah

Now heaven help the people
Who's scufflin' day by day
All they need is to find a hero
Who can help show them the way

And maybe he'll be here after awhile
Traveling one more midnight mile

I looked into the heart of darkness
The reflection burnt my soul
I had to try to find a healer
And her love has made me whole

She had me crying like a child
Traveling one more midnight mile, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song, "Midnight Mile" by Terry Callier, explores the emotions of feeling lost and disconnected, while also diving into the importance of home and the search for a hero. The opening lines, "Like a ship without the ocean, like a road without a wheel, like a sun without the morning," paint a picture of someone who feels empty and incomplete, lacking the core components that make them whole. However, the following lines provide a glimmer of hope, as the singer declares that they'll be going home in style, traveling one more midnight mile. The concept of home is revisited later in the song, with a desire for a cold, lonely place, reminiscent of the home of Muddy Waters, a place where man must walk alone.

As the song progresses, the idea of finding a hero is introduced, with a plea for someone to help show people the way. It's clear that the singer believes in the power of a hero, someone who can guide and inspire others. And yet, the song ends on a more personal note, with the singer finding healing through the love of a woman. She has brought them back to life, causing them to cry like a child, but ultimately helping them to travel one more midnight mile.

Overall, "Midnight Mile" is a contemplative, introspective song that explores themes of home, heroism, and love. It speaks to the human need for connection and guidance, while also acknowledging the importance of personal healing and growth.

Line by Line Meaning

Like a ship without the ocean
Feeling lost and incomplete like a ship without the ocean, which is its necessary component to function.

Like a road without a wheel
Missing an essential piece like a road without a wheel, rendering it unusable.

Like a sun without the morning
Feeling incomplete and lonely like a sun without the morning, which brings light and warmth to surroundings.

People, that's the way I feel
This is how the artist feels, and they want to express their emotions to others.

But I'll be going home in style
Despite feeling incomplete and lonely, the artist is confident that they will return home in an impressive manner.

Traveling one more midnight mile, yeah
The singer is willing to keep going, even if it means traveling through the night, to reach his destination.

I want a cold home or county
The singer desires a place where he can be alone and away from others, a place that is cold and quiet.

Where man must walk alone
The artist wants to be in a place where he is isolated and self-reliant, without the need for companionship.

That was the home of Muddy Waters
The place the artist desires was the original home of Muddy Waters, the legendary blues musician.

And they called him Daddy Rolling Stone, yeah
Muddy Waters was known as Daddy Rolling Stone, adding to his legendary status.

They said the road is such a trial
Others have warned the singer that traveling this path is difficult and trying.

Traveling one more midnight mile, yeah
Despite the difficulty, the artist is determined to keep going and complete their journey.

Now heaven help the people
The situation is so dire that the singer is calling out to heaven for help on behalf of people.

Who's scufflin' day by day
These people are struggling every single day just to survive.

All they need is to find a hero
These people need a savior, someone who can guide them and provide hope.

Who can help show them the way
This hero must be someone who can lead and teach those in need.

And maybe he'll be here after awhile
The artist holds out hope that this hero will arrive and make a difference.

Traveling one more midnight mile
The singer will continue on their own journey, even if it means traveling at night, to help others in need.

I looked into the heart of darkness
The singer explored the depths of despair and loneliness.

The reflection burnt my soul
The artist experienced a profound and painful revelation that stayed with them.

I had to try to find a healer
The artist felt the need to find someone who could help them recover from this revelation.

And her love has made me whole
The artist has found someone who has healed their wounds and made them feel complete again.

She had me crying like a child
The love the singer found was so powerful it made them emotional, reducing them to tears.

Traveling one more midnight mile, yeah
Despite finding love and feeling whole again, the artist is still willing to travel on and help others in need.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TERRY CALLIER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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