At the age of 15, Hegarty taught himself to play the guitar and later joined a band playing heavy alternative rock, drawing inspiration from bands like System of a Down and The Smashing Pumpkins. However, his musical direction shifted when he discovered the works of singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, as well as contemporary acts like Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. This newfound interest in folk music led Hegarty to pick up the acoustic guitar and the banjo, paving the way for him to perform solo acoustic gigs.
During a performance in Woking, Hegarty met pianist Lindsay West and multi-instrumentalist Dave Millar, with whom he formed the initial lineup of Matthew and the Atlas. The band gained recognition as part of the emerging folk movement in the United Kingdom and became regulars at London's Notting Hill Arts Club.
In 2009, Matthew and the Atlas released their first EP on Communion Records, a label co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. Their EP "To the North" was Communion's second release and helped establish the band's following, further bolstered by touring as the opening act for Mumford & Sons. Subsequent EPs like "Kingdom of Your Own" followed.
In 2014, Matthew and the Atlas released their debut full-length album, "Other Rivers," showcasing polished production and the incorporation of keyboards and electronic percussion. For the album "Temple" (2016), the band recorded with members of Foreign Fields and also released an acoustic version of the same songs titled "Temple (Unplugged)."
Over time, the band's lineup solidified, with members like Alex Roberts (guitar), Tommy Heap (bass and keyboards), James Drohan (drums), and Emma Gatrill (harp) joining Hegarty.
Matthew and the Atlas has built a devoted live following in London and has embarked on tours, including a UK tour with Mumford & Sons. The band's musical journey has seen them explore various styles, from classic acoustic folk to electronica and alt-rock, all the while maintaining Hegarty's distinctive vocal style and emotive songwriting.
In 2011, after a band member's departure, Matthew Hegarty decided to return to performing "solo" under the Matthew and the Atlas moniker.
Currently, Matthew Hegarty is preparing to release his new album, "This Place We Live," on Communion Records in November 2023. For the first time, he takes on recording and producing duties, crafting a collection of deeply personal songs that reflect on past experiences, family, parenthood, love, and loss. To support the album's release, Matthew Hegarty will embark on a solo tour throughout the UK and Europe in the fall of 2023.
I Will Remain
Matthew And The Atlas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take the road that sets into the sun
Waiting for my skin and bone to return
And see what I've become
Summer has not yet been here
Though my days are long
Take me back to when the night was young
And another song was sung
What of all those pretty tales
The ones that took me to this door?
Is it comfort in the siren's wail
The comfort upon this wooden floor?
Tell you, is it a failure to forget the
Ones you once held dear?
And I try to remember but my
Mind is no longer clear
O-o-o oh Oh Ooh, You've recognized me
(O-o-o oh oh ooh ooh ooh) I followed far
Far from the trees
(O-o-o oh oh ooh) The roots came up
Up to my knees (O-o-o oh oh ooh ooh
Ooh) they twisted 'round
I made no sound, no sound
I wandered 'til my brittle
Bone had succumbed
And pulled me to the stone
Further from the towns you've known I'll
Remain from where I had begun
Stumble before I start I was kicking
All the stones as a child
In the meadow when the storm came through
And I burrowed straight back to you
O-o-o oh Oh Ooh, You've recognized me
(O-o-o oh Oh Ooh Ooh Ooh) , I followed far
Far from the trees
(O-o-o oh Oh Ooh) , The roots came up
Up to my knees (O-o-o oh Oh Ooh Ooh Ooh)
They twisted 'round
I made no sound, no sound
The lyrics to Matthew And The Atlas's song I Will Remain speak of a journey, physically and mentally. The singer is far from home and yearns to return to its familiarity. They reflect on the memories and experiences that led them to their current location, questioning whether it's a 'failure' to leave those close to them behind. Throughout their expedition, they were followed by trees with roots that wrap around their legs, submerged up to their knees, with no sound of breaking. The chorus encourages hope; the singer's return is recognized, and they're no longer lost.
The song explores the themes of identity, loss, and memory. It reflects on the process of being lost, away from the people we hold dear, and the journey we make to come back home. The trees' roots represent the memories that trail behind us, growing and following, reminding us of who we are and the roots that bind us to who we love. The song's melody is a folk-inspired track, shifting from soft, melodic verses to a chorus that picks up in intensity, with anthemic vocal harmonies that uplift the lyrics' message. Overall, this song portrays the struggle we face to trace our steps back home and rediscover our sense of self along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Further from my widowed home
I'm leaving the place where I lost my loved one
Take the road that sets into the sun
I'm going towards the unknown future with hope
Waiting for my skin and bone to return
I'm hoping to find my true self again
And see what I've become
I want to look back at my life to see how I've changed
Summer has not yet been here
Even though time has passed, I still feel empty
Though my days are long
I feel like my life is dragging on
Take me back to when the night was young
I yearn for the carefree days of youth
And another song was sung
When life was simpler and full of dreams
What of all those pretty tales
I wonder if the stories I believed in were all lies
The ones that took me to this door?
The stories that brought me here, was it all worth it?
Is it comfort in the siren's wail
Is the sound of pain my only solace?
The comfort upon this wooden floor?
Or is it the familiarity of this place?
Tell you, is it a failure to forget the
Is it my fault for not being able to move on?
Ones you once held dear?
Is it wrong to let go of the people I loved?
And I try to remember but my
I want to remember but it's difficult
Mind is no longer clear
My thoughts are clouded and confused
O-o-o oh Oh Ooh, You've recognized me
I feel seen and understood
(O-o-o oh oh ooh ooh ooh) I followed far
I've come a long way
Far from the trees
Away from my comfort zone
(O-o-o oh oh ooh), The roots came up
The past still lingers in my mind
Up to my knees (O-o-o oh oh ooh ooh
It's hard to move forward when the past is so heavy
Ooh) they twisted 'round
The memories intertwine and hold me back
I made no sound, no sound
I suffer in silence
I wandered 'til my brittle
I've been lost and alone for a long time
Bone had succumbed
My soul is tired and defeated
And pulled me to the stone
I'm drawn to this place, despite the pain
Further from the towns you've known I'll
I'm leaving the past behind, for good
Remain from where I had begun
I'm starting anew, but from the same starting point
Stumble before I start I was kicking
I'm clumsy and unsure, even when I begin
All the stones as a child
I remember simpler times when all I had to worry about was kicking stones
In the meadow when the storm came through
A reminder of how unexpected life can be
And I burrowed straight back to you
Despite everything, I know where my heart belongs
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matthew Colin Hegarty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind