Although blinded by eye cancer at the tender age of one, Jeff picked up his first guitar when he was three years-old and defied the odds and became a gifted and successful artist. He developed his own unique style of playing the guitar while it lay flat on his lap. Jeff quickly became a local guitar legend in his own right with his virtuosity. The group played around small Toronto-area clubs for a few years before eventually signing with BMG Canada and Arista Records for the rest of the world, and releasing their debut album See The Light in 1988, which featured the top charting hits "Angel Eyes" and "See The Light".
The Jeff Healey Band played and recorded Blues/Blues Rock-infused music along with many original-flavored covers. The band officially released five studio albums and one live recording including the sophomore Hell To Pay (1990), Feel This (1992), Cover To Cover (1995), Get Me Some (2000), and Live At Montreux 1999 (2005). There have also been some recent unofficial compilation releases without the consent of the artists.
Jeff and his band also performed a cameo role in the Patrick Swayze movie "Roadhouse" and they are featured in its official soundtrack.
The group split up in the late 2000, but Jeff continued performing as a solo artist and would later front Jeff Healey & The Jazz Wizards playing trumpet. He died on March 2, 2008 after a long battle with lung cancer, and is survived by his wife, Cristie, and two children.
Badge
The Jeff Healey Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinkin' that I might have drove you too far
And I'm thinkin' bout the love that you laid on my table
I told you not to wander round in the dark
I told you bout the swans that they live in the park
And I told you 'bout a kid now he's married to Mable
Don't you notice how the wheel goes round?
And you better pick yourself up off the ground
Before they bring the curtain down,
Yes, before they bring the curtain down, whoa
Talkin' 'bout a girl that looks quite like you
She didn't have the time to wait in the queue
She cried away her life since she fell off the cradle
The lyrics of The Jeff Healey Band's song "Badge" are about reflection and regret. The singer is looking back on a past relationship and feeling guilty about pushing his partner away. He acknowledges that he may have crossed a line with his behavior, and that he has been hurtful in the past. However, he also thinks about the good times they shared and the love that they had for each other.
The chorus of the song is a warning to the singer to be careful and to take control of his life before it is too late. He recognizes that life can be unpredictable and that things can change in an instant, so he needs to be prepared for whatever comes his way. The song ends with a reference to the final act of a play, with the singer urging himself and others to take action before it is too late.
Overall, the lyrics of "Badge" are a portrayal of a person grappling with the complexities of love and relationships, as well as the fragility of life itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinkin' bout the times you drove in my car
Reflecting on the memories of driving together in my car
Thinkin' that I might have drove you too far
Worrying that I may have pushed you too hard in our relationship
And I'm thinkin' bout the love that you laid on my table
Remembering the affection and care that you showed me
I told you not to wander round in the dark
Warned you about the potential danger of walking alone in the dark
I told you bout the swans that they live in the park
Shared some trivia about the wildlife in the park for conversation
And I told you 'bout a kid now he's married to Mable
Recounted a love story of an acquaintance who got married
Yes, I told you bout the life goes up & down
Reminded you of the fluctuating nature of life
Don't you notice how the wheel goes round?
Encouraged you to observe the cycle of events in life
And you better pick yourself up off the ground
Advised you to get back on your feet and keep going
Before they bring the curtain down,
Before your time on this stage of life is up
Yes, before they bring the curtain down, whoa
Emphasized the urgency to act before it's too late
Talkin' 'bout a girl that looks quite like you
Sharing a story about someone who resembles you
She didn't have the time to wait in the queue
She was too impatient to wait in line
She cried away her life since she fell off the cradle
Her life has been filled with sadness and tears since childhood
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eric Patrick Clapton, George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LW97 Nils Weber der Münchner im Himmel
If I am honest, this one really beats the original, thanks to the second solo added at the very end
Sterling Price
Jeff did a lot of covers, but he didn't just do covers, he reinvented them and made them better, imo. Rock in Peace Jeff. The brightest candles burn only half as long.
TNO73
One of my all time favourite songs & a brilliant cover by an outstanding guitarist. RIP Jeff.
bob s.
pure genius on the guitar
nuthinfancy49
Brilliant cover. Always liked this. Some brutal guitar to close. Sadly missed.
Derek mcIlreavy
One of the very few cover's to equal or better the original. Jeff you are still very sorely missed by so many of us.
Linda Jones
I've yet to hear a disappointing cover by Jeff. Dare I say, more often than not he didn't just perform a pleasing cover, he completely blew the original out of the water. An exceptionally gifted man whose music has provided decades of listening pleasure to many. RIP Jeff.
Linda Jones
Matt Mars ......oh no, I’d never discredit the original. I love/d both George Harrison (yes, Eric plays lead but anyway) and (The) Cream but given Jeff’s obvious disadvantage, he truly was an extraordinarily gifted young man. I actually bought Jeff’s debut album on the strength of the title, it seemed a curious thing for a blind man to say (to me) but then Jeff didn’t need sight, he felt every note he ever played.
Matt Mars
totally agree, and with no disrepect to the original artists (i mean, they put " it" , the magic beat, lyics, etc down in the first place, and jeff, and the fantastic!!! band are fantastic at surfing a great wave 😎😎😎
darrelict1
I believe the technical term is "shredding." Absolutely amazing.