Music Minute - Tommy John Ehman: Without You

 

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Listen closely to Tommy John Ehman’s new single and you’ll notice something unusual. The words “Without You” don’t show up in a single verse or chorus. They arrive only in the final moments, after the story has been told. The Davidson, Saskatchewan country singer and songwriter has the aching breakup ballad out now. It’s the lead single from his upcoming album ‘#1 on Jupiter.’

“The title only enters into the lyrics at the very end of the song, after ‘most’ of the story has been told,” Ehman says. “I always felt that saving the title until the very end gave it much more impact on the listener and really gave it the sentiment it deserved. You rarely see this in songwriting, so I figured, why not try to be a little different. And I really do think it works.”

Most of the lyrics have stayed true to his original draft, with one crucial change in the second line. “I had originally written ‘Life is a video game; you lose when you play’ which I thought was pretty cool. But...as time went by that line became ‘Love is a gambler’s game; you lose when you play.’ Now that was the line the song needed to really hit home,” Ehman says. “Love is absolutely a ‘Gamble’ when you step into a relationship. Somehow, you just know when you’ve hit the mark on a lyric!”

For all its sadness, he hopes “Without You” lands as a comfort. “Everyone has been through some kind of heartbreak or lost love and have had to deal with the sadness and sorrow that occurs,” Ehman says. “So, in one way or another I hope the listeners find something in this song that they can relate to and find comfort in the lyrics and music.” And just like the song itself, he’s saved the most important words for the very end.