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(Top) 1 Lyrics 2 Commercial performance 3 Music video 4 Personnel 5 Charts 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year-end charts 6 Cover version 7 References 8 External links

Clarity (John Mayer song)

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"Clarity"

SinglebyJohn Mayer

from the album Heavier Things

Released

January 12, 2004^[1]

Length

4:32

Label

Aware

Columbia

Songwriter(s)

John Mayer

Producer(s)

Jack Joseph Puig

John Mayer singles chronology

"Bigger Than My Body"
(2003)

"Clarity"
(2004)

"Daughters"
(2004)

"Clarity" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Mayer, arranged with piano, with drums provided in part by The Roots drummer Questlove, and brass by two-time Grammy winner Roy Hargrove. It was released as the second single from Mayer's second studio album, Heavier Things (2003), on January 12, 2004.

Lyrics[edit]

The song's meaning is not immediately clear. Many have interpreted the song as being about a person's own self-perception, and Mayer explained during an interview with Rick Dees in 2003 that the song "really sums up who I am as a guy...what it would be like to be in a room with me after I'm done 'being on'." Mayer also added that "Clarity" was about coping with the worries--especially unnecessary worries--of everyday life.^[2] Reiterating this idea at his February 28, 2007 show at Madison Square Garden, Mayer introduced "Clarity" as a song written about the first few seconds after waking up in the morning when you don't remember all of the problems and worries in your life. At the "Soundstage with Buddy Guy" concert, Mayer explained the song as one of the best he's done, in that it's the best in portraying his thoughts and feelings.

Commercial performance[edit]

"Clarity" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart and number 25 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Music video[edit]

The music video for "Clarity" was directed by Director X.^[3] It was filmed on the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Coast Highway.^[4]

Personnel[edit]

John Mayer – vocals, guitar
David LaBruyere – bass
Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
Lenny Castro – percussion
Matt Chamberlain – drums
Questlove – drums
Roy Hargrove – trumpet

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (2004–2005)	Peak position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[5]	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[6]	80
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[7]	45
USBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[8]	25
USAdult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[9]	1
USAdult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[10]	13

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2004)	Position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[11]	38
US Triple-A (Billboard)^[12]	9

Cover version[edit]

This song was covered by saxophonist Najee for his album Rising Sun in 2007.^[13]^[14]

References[edit]

^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1537. January 9, 2004. p. 24. Retrieved June 14, 2021.

^ https://genius.com/John-mayer-clarity-lyrics; https://rick.com/

^ Montgomery, James (September 24, 2010). "LIL X CHANGES HIS NAME TO 'DIRECTOR X,' THOUGH HE COULD HAVE GONE WITH 'RACER X'". mtv.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.

^ Dangelo, Joe (January 26, 2004). "JOHN MAYER ADOPTS 'DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY' OUTLOOK FOR 'CLARITY' VIDEO". mtv.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2018.

^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 32, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 31, 2023.

^ "John Mayer – Clarity" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

^ "John Mayer – Clarity". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

^ "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.

^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 26.

^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 54.

^ "Rising Sun: Overview". Allmusic.com.

^ "Rising Sun: Najee". Concord Music Group. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009.

External links[edit]

John Mayer - Clarity (Video)onYouTube
"Clarity" lyrics, at Yahoo! Music

v t e John Mayer
Discography
Studio albums	Room for Squares Heavier Things Continuum Battle Studies Born and Raised Paradise Valley The Search for Everything Sob Rock
Live albums	Any Given Thursday As/Is Try! Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
Extended plays	Inside Wants Out The Village Sessions The Complete 2012 Performances Collection The Search for Everything: Wave One The Search for Everything: Wave Two
Singles	"No Such Thing" "Your Body Is a Wonderland" "Why Georgia" "Bigger Than My Body" "Clarity" "Daughters" "Waiting on the World to Change" "Belief" "Gravity" "Dreaming with a Broken Heart" "Say" "Free Fallin'" "Who Says" "Heartbreak Warfare" "Half of My Heart" "Shadow Days" "Queen of California" "Who You Love" "XO" "Love on the Weekend" "In the Blood" "New Light" "Last Train Home"
Featured singles	"Go!" "Streetcorner Symphony" "Beat It"
Video albums	Any Given Thursday Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
Concert tours	John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour Battle Studies World Tour Born and Raised World Tour The Search for Everything World Tour
Related articles	John Mayer Trio Annual John Mayer Holiday Charity Revue Dead & Company

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