Some time in 2006 or so I ran across a PBS program (Soundstage, I think) with John Mayer in concert. (It came at a low time in my life, when I'd gone through a divorce, a loss of employment, and a back injury. But I digress...) Like always, I was late to the party, as Mr. Mayer had already released several albums, and a killer single entitled "No Such Thing" that I'd heard, but more or less dismissed after the original hype.
The music, lyrics, and straight out raw talent that Mr. Mayer exuded knocked me for a loop on that Soundstage program, and after I reviewed the "Heavier Things" album I was an instant fan. (The tune entitled "Bigger Than My Body" caught me instantly, as it spoke of hope and looking toward the future--along with the amazing guitar and metaphor laced lyrics.)
Album after album took me by storm, with "Continuum" becoming my favorite--a masterpiece, if you ask me.
The other day, after a prolonged streak of boredom, I went on a John Mayer binge. While I've managed to collect almost all of his current works (aside from the live albums), I have yet to load the latest ones into my CD player and hit "Repeat," so that in the course of a few days I'm familiar with every word and guitar lick. I did, however, become quite acquainted with two songs from "Battle Studies"--namely, "Heartbreak Warfare" (which I've known for quite some time), and "War Of My Life", presented live (a new discovery). This is the one that threw me. (Before "War Of My Life," Mr. Mayer adds a few lines from a Tom Petty song, quoting "You don't know how it feels...to be me".)
Mr. Mayer, apparently, is a fallible human being, too. After throat surgery, a decline in record sales (partially due to his absence because of said surgery), and a prolonged reputation for being a womanizer, it appears that John Mayer is vulnerable, just like the rest of us. Up until this point, however, I never realized HOW vulnerable.
If you listen to Mr. Mayer in assorted recorded interviews, he refers to his therapist from time to time, but never really expounds on any issue in particular. In this video he opens up, to a spill-your-guts degree.
Sometimes it's fight or die. Sometimes one must publicly declare war. Sometimes one must take a stand. That's how it appears in this video. I've attached links below, in case anybody's curious.
lyrics:
You Tube "War Of My Life" link:
xquseme Blog (6)
