I have been a big fan of the holiday song “Christmas Bells” by John Gorka for quite some time now. It was only recently that I took the time to explore his wider catalog. All I can say is “wow!” He is a gifted singer-songwriter who should be heard by a much wider audience. I’m sad it took so long to realize this because I have missed many great albums and songs. Maybe it’s the folk music classification that I often see associated with his name that limits his exposure? My feeling is that music like his should transcend genre. It takes an incredibly talented artist to hold an audience with just his voice and guitar.
Poet, Storyteller, and Songwriter
Besides being a great guitar player, John comes across as part poet and part storyteller. Every one of his songs is full of meaning and intent. You get the sense that he is a man who pays attention to the world around him, feels things deeply, and has something to say (that is worth listening to). The song “Ignorance and Privilege” from his most recent album is a perfect example of this: I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties I was born to privilege that I did not see Lack of pigment in my skin, won a free and easy in I didn’t know it, but my way was paved I grew up a Catholic boy, in a northeastern state A place when asked ‘Where you from’, some people tend to hesitate Reply a little late, as if maybe you didn’t rate I was born to privilege and ignorance. My dad ran a printing press, a tag and label factory I may have seen it as a child, now a distant memory Almost too faint to see, dark red brick factory I didn’t know it but my way was paved We moved from a city street, shortly after I arrived To a house on a gravel road, where I learned to be alive Crawl, walk, run and ride, that’s where I learned to come alive I didn’t know it, but my way was paved If the wind is at your back and you never turn around You may never know the wind is there You may never hear the sound Got to grow and go to school, work at home and dream at night Even be a college fool, like I had any right Never went through a war, never Great Depression poor I didn’t know it, but my way was paved Nose to the grindstone, shoulder to the wheel Back against the wall, maybe you know how it feels If the wind is at your back and you never turn around You may never know the wind is there You may never hear the sound I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties I was born to privilege that I did not see Lack of pigment in my skin, won a free and easy in I didn’t know it but my way was paved I was born to ignorance and privilege.Watch the video