John Butler was born on April 1, 1975 in Torrance, California, to an Australian father and American mother. He moved to the small Western Australian town of Pinjarra in January 1986, when he was eleven. Butler began playing guitar at the age of sixteen, and by 1996 started his career as a busker in Fremantle, Western Australia. The John Butler Trio was formed in 1998 when Butler was joined by Gavin Shoesmith on bass and Jason McGann on drums, and by the end of that year had recorded their debut album John Butler.
They then released Three in 2001, Sunrise Over Sea in 2004 and Grand National in 2007, all of which were certified platinum.
In June 2009, a new line up of the ever evolving John Butler Trio emerged. Prominent Melbourne musician Nicky Bomba of Bomba fame and principal drummer on Sunrise Over Sea joined the band on drums and percussion, as did bass player Byron Luiters from Sydney outfit Ray Mann Three.
The latest album entitled April Uprising came from a journey John Butler undertook for the ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ TV series. He traces the Butler name through generations of hardship to a matriarch who sang for her survival and follows his Bulgarian ancestry to a forebear caught up in a violent revolt called the April Uprising. The recording process for the new album was shared with avid followers via a special studio sessions page on the band’s website.
John Butler comments on the forthcoming new album,
“The whole rehearsal and recording process so far has been a lot of fun and very gratifying. I feel the sounds and general spirit and energy of this album are best summed up in the words – free, melodic, funky, phat and rocking. There’s definitely a certain attitude that comes across on the album. Perhaps there’s a conviction, in a song writing and production sense, that I haven’t tapped into so much on earlier works that seems to be more prevalent on April Uprising. There’s chemistry and language that Nicky, Byron and I have found that really compliments these songs in all their different facets”.
Across The Universe
The John Butler Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe.
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
Are drifting through my opened mind
Possessing and caressing me.
Jai Guru Deva. Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light, which
Dance before me like a million eyes,
They call me on and on across the universe.
Thoughts meander like a
Restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe.
Jai Guru Deva. Om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter, shades of life
Are ringing through my opened ears
Inciting and inviting me.
Limitless undying love, which
Shines around me like a million suns,
It calls me on and on across the universe
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Jai Guru Deva.
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
The John Butler Trio's song Across the Universe is a cover of The Beatles' original song of the same name. The song begins with the metaphor of words flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup, slithering wildly before they slip away. This could symbolize the transience of thoughts and the difficulty of capturing them in writing or communication. The lyrics transition to the idea of pools of sorrow and waves of joy drifting through an opened mind, possessing and caressing the listener. These words convey the notion that emotions and feelings can be overwhelming, yet they can also be surprisingly comforting or soothing when received with an open heart.
The repetition of the phrase "Nothing's gonna change my world" reinforces the idea that despite the chaos and transience of life, the singer is determined to maintain inner peace and stability. The refrain also underlines the theme of the interconnectedness of all things and the inevitability of change. The song includes references to the phrase "Jai Guru Deva" which is a Sanskrit chant meaning "Hail to the divine guru" and is meant to be a form of respect towards one's guru, or teacher. The chant is repeated several times throughout the song and may represent a connection to spirituality or higher consciousness. The song ends by invoking limitless, undying love that shines around the listener like a million suns, pulling them on endlessly across the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
My thoughts and feelings are overwhelming and constant, like rain pouring into a small cup.
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe.
My emotions are difficult to control and seem to move away from me without my consent.
Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind, possessing and caressing me.
My mind is open to feeling sadness and happiness, and these feelings seem to have control over me.
Jai Guru Deva. Om Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world
I am at peace with my current state of mind and nothing can disrupt this inner calmness.
Images of broken light, which dance before me like a million eyes, they call me on and on across the universe.
Memories and experiences from my past are constantly present in my thoughts and are calling for my attention.
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box. They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe.
My thoughts are disorganized and moving aimlessly, like a wind inside a letter box, scattered and directionless.
Sounds of laughter, shades of life are ringing through my opened ears, inciting and inviting me.
I am receptive to the sounds and sensations around me, inviting me to join in on life's pleasures and joys.
Limitless undying love, which shines around me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the universe.
Love, the force guiding and illuminating my life, is always present, shining on me like a multitude of suns.
Jai Guru Deva. Jai Guru Deva. Jai Guru Deva. Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world
Acknowledgment and acceptance of the divine force in my life, providing me with the stability and peace that nothing can destroy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind