In this Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014 photo, British singer-songwriter David Gary poses for a photo in Los Angeles. His new album, "Mutineers," released in June 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

I believe that, for many people, there are those special musical artists who, from the first moment that we discovered their voice, their lyrics and their song stylings strike a deep and lasting chord. Often times, artist can touch us with but a single song that never fades from our thoughts. Regardless of what their musical genre might happen to be, and irrespective of how popular or relatively unknown the artist in question may be at a point in time, somewhere inside of us they are like a candle that lights up the dark corners and continues to draw us into warmth of their artistic realm. For me, one of those special artists, and that one song that I never tire of rediscovering, is British singer-songwriter David Gray. The song from him is “You’re the One I love.” Maybe you’re familiar with the song?

Released in 2005, it is like a blank canvas on which Gray paints a sweeping and timeless love song. Even today, so many years after I first heard it, the melody, emotional lyrics, and stunning urgency in the singer’s voice never fail to sound brand new and compelling to me. “You’re the One I Love” has stayed with me across the years. In my mind, it is an exquisite offering.

I mention Gray, and “You’re the One I Love” because just a couple of days ago, out of nowhere its dreamy tune and achingly beautiful images went waltzing through my mind. I was happy to let it take me by the hand and lead me across that inner dancefloor.

Of course, there is a good chance that there are those who may be reading this are scratching their heads, looking off into the distance, and wondering silently “David Gray? Do I know this guy? Do I really care about knowing him and his songs?” However, there may also be those people who are familiar with Gray, and this particular musical gem from his portfolio. They know what I’m talking about. It’s that song that, regardless of how many times I hear it, the depth of raw human emotion that the lyrics and delivery convey is still stunning. In its way, the song is a little bit like misty shred of long ago and half-forgotten image of a long lost love from one’s youth that sometimes taps on gently on the window sill in the late hours of the night. The lyrics and sweeping musical backdrop conjure-up a tattered tale offered-up from a world-weary soul.

Many years ago the legendary Joan Baez reportedly called David Gray “the best lyricist since Dylan,” and this public praise played a pivotal role in elevating the level of Gray’s career. The often difficult struggles that musical artist face along their journey can and do alter their fortunes in a dramatic fashion. From his early days as an emerging British artist who was destined to become more popular in Ireland than his native England, Gray was catapulted into artistic relevance riding on the on the back of his 1998 ‘White Ladder’ album. Having released three previous albums that appeared to woefully unappreciated, and that held the very real potential to see his career become stillborn, ‘White Ladder,” the fourth, became a runaway success in Ireland. This was indeed Gray’s ‘Bob Dylan moment’ as critics from across the music industry collectively characterized it as a brilliant effort. Ultimately, it would become the biggest selling album in Ireland’s history, and it still holds that title today, 24 years after its release. Fueled by help from superstar, Dave Mathews, who re-re-issued the album in the US on his own label in 2000, it became Gary’s magnum opus all over again.

All these years later, his musical output remains a bit like that of an old and dear friend who, quite unexpectedly, drops by and offers a listener a respite from the world by providing those cherished moments that are only found in solitary late night settings. For music is often a catalyst that finds one pausing to look inward and reflect on the people and places that have drifted through their lives across the years leaving particles of themselves with you. Gray is that very rare artist who sings about being down and out, and about traveling down the sometimes rough and rocky road of life that makes you feel certain that he’s lived what we might be feeling and wrestling with in our own lives. The depth of feeling bleeds through, as his lyrics are haunting self-portraits that are set to music; pages torn out of the book of his own life experiences.

In the grand design of life, perhaps we all share a common and deep-seated secret fear; that of walking this earth unseen, unknown, unloved, unrecognized and unremembered. Such a fear is certainly not the fate of this man who was born in Cheshire, England, 54 years ago, and who grew up in Wales. Today, he still stands strong and tall as one of the music industry’s most gifted singer-songwriters. His presence still looms large over the rock and folk landscape.

Even today, when I sit back and listen to his songs in the snug and safe harbor of my living room or car, they never fail to nudge me into thinking a little bit deeper. Through his songs, I think more about the people and the places that have passed through my life. His lyrics are etched in a timeless and introspective style that still resonates with me in a deep way that cannot be dimmed by the passing of time.

Perhaps there might be an artist who, through his or her songbook, is able to prompt feelings in you in the same way that David Gray does with me? When all is said and done, music touches all of us in unique ways. Across its many different genres, music has an infinite capacity to tap into those deep feelings that have been sleeping in us for a long time. The lyrics and tunes from Davide Gray reawaken those feelings. At least they do in me.

David Gray is currently on a world tour that, on August 19th and 20th, will stop in New England at the leader Bank Pavilion in Boston.

Paul Collins is a freelance writer from Southborough, Massachusetts.

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