You fill up my senses/
Like a night in a forest.
The first line of John Denver’s “Annie’s Song” is iconic. It really captures the spirit of John Denver’s music and sets the stage and scene for this beautiful love song. Denver was a country boy, and nothing could express his sense of awe like the outdoors. You won’t hear lyrics like this from other artists. Pure. Delicate. Unashamed.
John Denver’s description of how Annie fills up his senses is a very apt way to describe the infatuation and initial honeymoon phase of a relationship. Everything feels alive. It feels like you remember things more acutely…it is almost like you see the world through rose colored glasses.
Denver was a crossover star: he appealed to both country music fans and rock fans and I think that is truly hard to accomplish. The arrangement is relatively simple and is relies on the solid finger-picking of an acoustic guitar. The first verse—when it is just Denver and his guitar—is especially compelling. Denver’s voice is unspectacular but underrated. It is pleasant, but in a positive way.
Somehow Denver isn’t in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. I suppose it could be argued that he is closer to a country artist. However, if hip hop artists can get in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, John Denver deserves to be there.
Annie’s Song Lyrics
You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest.
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain.
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean.
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again.
Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you.
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms.
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you.
Come let me love you
Come love me again.
You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest.
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain.
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean.
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again.
written by John Denver