Today I listen to American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Bonnie Raitt perform Just Like That from her 2022 album of the same name.
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
1:18 - Just Like That
6:16 - My thoughts
11:00 - Who is Bonnie Raitt?
Links
Original video: • Bonnie Raitt - Just Li...
Blues Rock playlist: • Blues Rock
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk, and country. She was also a frequent session player and collaborator with other artists, including Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Pointer Sisters, John Prine, and Leon Russell.
Just Like That... is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bonnie Raitt. Released on April 22, 2022
"Just Like That" is a song by American singer and multi-instrumentalist Bonnie Raitt and is the title track of her eighteenth studio album track four. It gave Raitt her first number one single on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart and peaked at number 26 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
Raitt explained that her initial inspiration for the song came after she saw a human interest piece on the news in 2018 about a woman who donated her deceased child's organs and was meeting the man who received his heart. The segment moved Raitt to the degree that she was compelled to write a song about the selfless act, noting "I just lost it. It was the most moving and surprising thing. I wasn't expecting it. I vowed right then that I wanted to write a song about what that would take. Every time I hear about a family donating organs when their child has been killed, or there's some sort of sudden death - as if you're not in grief and shock enough - to have the view and the compassion and the love to be able to pay it forward like that is so incredible".
Raitt stated that the song was inspired by the death of her longtime friend and fellow performer John Prine, who passed away in 2020 after complications from COVID-19. Raitt composed the guitar part of the song while on tour, shortly after Prine's passing, and reflected to The New York Times that she had Prine "in my heart. I just started fingerpicking, and I had the lyrics in front of me, and the song poured through me without any thinking about it."
Lyrics
I watched him circle round the block
Finally stopped at mine
Took a while before he knocked
Like all he had was time
Excuse me, ma'am, maybe you can help
The directions weren't so clear
I'm looking for Olivia Zand
They said I might find her here
I looked real hard and asked him
What she's got he's looking for?
Said there's somethin' I think she'd want to know
And I let him in the door
It's not like me to trust so quick
Caught me by surprise
But somethin' about him gave me ease
Right there in his eyes
And just like that your life can change
If I hadn't looked away
My boy might still be with me now
He'd be 25 today
No knife can carve away the stain
No drink can drown regret
They say Jesus brings you peace and grace
Well he ain't found me yet
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
He sat down and took a deeper breath
Then looked right in my face
I heard about the son you lost
How you left without a trace
I've spent years just trying to find you
So I could finally let you know
It was your son's heart that saved me
And a life you gave us both
And just like that your life can change
Look what the angels send
I lay my head upon his chest
And I was with my boy again
I spent so long in darkness
Never thought the night would end
But somehow grace has found me
And I had to let him in
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na