Today’s classic song of the day is “Bluer Than Blue” by singer Michael Johnson. (Not Michael Jackson.) The song was the singer’s first big hit; he subsequently scored another Top Twenty hit the following year with “This Night Won’t Last Forever.”
“Bluer Than Blue” was written by country songwriter Randy Goodrum. You probably don’t know his name, but he was responsible for writing “It’s Sad to Belong” for England Dan & John Ford Coley, “You Needed Me” for Anne Murray, “Oh Sherrie” and “Foolish Heart” for Steve Perry, and tons of other hits for pop and country artists.
Getting back to “Bluer Than Blue.” I like the way the lyrics just build on one small detail after another as the protagonist contemplates leaving his current lover—but then immediately regrets his pending decision:
After you go, I can catch up on my readin’
After you go, I’ll have a lot more time for sleepin’
And when you’re gone looks like things
Are gonna be a lot easier
Life will be a breeze you know
I really should be glad
But I’m bluer than blue
Sadder than sad
You’re the only light
This empty room has ever had
Life without you is gonna be
Bluer than blue
Interestingly, Johnson didn’t think “Bluer Than Blue” would be a big hit:
“I knew it was potentially a successful song but I didn’t think it would go this far. It seemed, well, too mature. The experience of being married or living with someone is hard to identify with for younger people.”
He was wrong, of course. Michael Johnson released “Bluer Than Blue” as a single in April of 1978 and it hit #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. Lots of people, including younger ones, obviously identified with the lyrics and the sentiments.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Michael Johnson’s music video for “Bluer Than Blue.” It was one of the first videos played on MTV when that channel launched in 1981.
