Matthew Ryan
Matthew Ryan (born November 7, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter haili… Read Full Bio ↴Matthew Ryan (born November 7, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter hailing from Newark, Delaware whose music can be roughly characterized as alternative country. Ryan also collaborated with Neilson Hubbard to form the band Strays Don't Sleep. Ryan's voice has been described as a "hushed rasp, with words catching like vows destined to be broken - one of modern music's most potent whispers."

Perhaps the most underrated singer/songwriter of the past 12 years, Matthew Ryan arrived on the music scene in 1997 with Mayday. A combination of influences from Tom Waits, Waterboys and Bruce Springsteen can all be heard here, but the sound and songwriting are Matthew Ryan's alone.

After being dropped by Interscope Records Ryan started working on demo material with David Henry. The material was stark and bare, Concussion was recorded and mixed in 8 days with Richard McLaurin. It was released in 2001 on Nashville, Tennessee label WaxySilver and features a duet with Lucinda Williams. Ryan was asked by actor/director Edward Burns to contribute a song to his film Ash Wednesday. "Be Thou My Vision" was used on the closing credits of Edward Burns’ film. Ryan opened tours for Kasey Chambers and Lucinda Williams for much of 2001, along with his own headlining shows.

2002 was a quiet period for Ryan, eventually releasing two collections of Stereo-Pak demo recordings, Dissent from the Living Room and Hopeless to Hopeful. These were made available on CDR through Ryan’s website.

Ryan started recording again on February 2003, Regret Over the Wires was released in late 2003 by Hybrid Recordings. In April, Concussion was released in the UK and Europe through One Little Indian Records. This included a UK tour with label mate Jeff Klein. On September 9, 2003, One Little Indian Records also released Happiness in the UK and Europe only, a collection of songs taken from Ryan’s self-distributed collections Dissent from the Living Room and Hopeless to Hopeful. Ryan made another self-distributed release in December entitled These Are Field Recordings, a two-disc collection of live recordings and early tracks.

Matthew Ryan approached Neilson Hubbard in 2004 about a collaboration, which could result in an interesting self-distributed release for fans. The collaboration was much more successful than expected and Strays Don't Sleep was formed with Neilson Hubbard, Brian Bequette, Billy Mercer and Steve Latanation.

In the Autumn 2005 Strays Don't Sleep's debut self-titled album was released in the UK on One Little Indian Records. The release includes a DVD of short films that were directed and shot by professional filmmakers and friends, including Gorman Bechard, The Barnes Brothers, Martin Glenn, Matt Boyd and Jared Johnson. Matthew Ryan and Neilson Hubbard also directed three of the short films with the help of Nashville film student, Matt Riddlehoover. A 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire record and films, by Paul PDub Walton of Björk and Sneaker Pimps fame, is available on the DVD.

Strays Don't Sleep was released to great reviews from Time Out, Uncut, The Sunday Express and The Times. The success helped secure a US release, which was helped further by a placement in the hit CW (former WB) drama One Tree Hill. "For Blue Skies", a song concerning the sentencing of Matthew Ryan’s brother to 30 years in prison, was made available on the One Tree Hill Soundtracks. Strays Don't Sleep toured the UK with Josh Rouse to support the album. Strays Don't Sleep was officially disbanded mid-2006. Their Music Video DVD Album "Strays Don't Sleep" with each song presented by a different director, won the top Award - The Grand Remi for Best Music Video - at the 2006 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in April 2006. The group performed in person at the Remi Awards Gala dinner for 500 international filmmakers to a standing ovation. They disbanded shortly after this remarkable performance.

In 2006 Ryan completed recording for another solo album called From a Late Night High Rise. It's a collection of songs inspired by the death of a friend and the sentencing of Ryan’s brother to 30 years in prison. The album feature band members from Strays Don’t Sleep and was self-produced with Neilson Hubbard. From a Late Night High Rise was released on December 5, 2006 through 2minutes59 and iTunes, and Ryan embarked on a US tour with Tim Easton in February 2007. From a Late Night High Rise was met with the strongest wave of critical support Ryan has received to date. It was praised as "A must-hear, have-to-own epic of an album that should be required listening for every songwriter—and music lover—in the world."
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Matthew Ryan Lyrics


3rd Of October Betrayal, it's in built And guilt is relevant To whatever …
After the Last Day of a Heat Wave Darling Stop confusing me With your wishful thinking Hope…
All Lit Up It was dark It was dark I needed a spark I needed it…
American Dirt Honey, I swear it's not my fault They shut us down,…
Amy I'm Letting Go Let's talk about it now Amy You've always been hard to read …
An Anthem for the Broken An anthem for the ones who hurt Who broke their fists…
And It's Such A Drag Who loves you More than me? And who gave you All that he…
And Never Look Back People and cars on the avenue But I can't hear a…
And So It Goes I can't bear the thought Of ever going back My head was…
Anymore I guess it's funny how we lost it But I wish…
Autopilot Where is my autopilot? I hope he did not forget about…
Babybird Liberty explodes at the strangest times A thorny walk throu…
Ballad Of A Limping Man Surely it hasn't gotten worse But truly it always did It's…



Beautiful Fool August the twenty fourth nineteen ninety one You're calling…
Bone Of Truth I have broke the back of trust I have broke and…
Boxers All is well All is well Can’t you tell? Can’t you tell? …
Caged Bird Television talk shows Drop the needle, here we go I give i…
Certainly Never I wandered up to what I thought was your door I'd…
Chickering Angel Me and Amy went for a ride Just after the rain…
Chrome It's not the things that I can't change that bother me And…
City Life City life, rain and on the street I'd crawl back home…
Closing in I know your shape by heart, I hear your voice…
Come Home I'm a shipwrecked tattoo Holding a picture of you My head …
Comfort I was sitting in hell's kitchen Contemplating murder Contemp…
Cut Through East the sun is sharp Again and here we are Trouble gone…
Dam Do you think that you've come far Through winds so hard An…
Dear Lover Tell me what you want Tell me what you want Tell me…
Devastation Coffee is sweeter Days are sharper Since I lost her Since…
Disappointed Disappointed Never more Got so low they had to use The jaws …
Dragging The Lake All of my time, dragging this lake All of my time,…
Drift Hitting it hard, hitting it long Up all night trying to…
Drunk and Disappointed John's in the bathroom scared to death Once he went under…
Dulce Et Decorum Est I'm riding on a train, well you know Cute girl in…
Elise Is the 13th Disciple? Well the crooner never gets his fill He can barely stand…
Every Good Thing Honey, don't worry We're going to be all right You can tal…
Everybody Always Leaves I remember sometimes When you never came home How I crawle…
Fathers and Compromise There were a lot of things you could have did But…
Fd29yrblues I read your letter today I read your letter today It was…
Follow The Leader It's follow the leader, baby That's how it's going to be I…
Gone For Good It's criminal you'll be my enemy And I'll do what I…
Guilty Here comes the razor of doubt, here comes the fallin'…
Happy for You Eighteen months Or a year and a half ago Whichever is long…
Happy Hour Well the clocks are quiet Little Joe's in jail He got stop…
Heartache Weather There's no train, there's no boat There's no car to get…
Hey Kid Hey kid Your story's not dead yet I know it's all fucked…
Hold On Firefly The girl's got problems She's dancing for the deaf Living …
I Every time I watch the news I hear a symphony Every time…
I Can't Steal You Hold yourself I'm done my arms are tired Saw you walking bac…
I Hate Everyone It's hard to have half a mind In a stupid world Can't…
I Hear A Symphony Every time I watch the news I hear a symphony Every time…
I Hope Your God Has Mercy On Mine Pull me from the wreckage I'm past due losing faith I've l…
I Must Love Leaving I must love leaving, I am done I have tried and…
I Only Want to Be the Man You Want The world is still small The world is still small The worl…
I Still Believe In You I can't sleep I can't wake My life support, my dear Has g…
I'm an American I'm cold and I'm cheap I don't think I could sleep I…
Into the Sourdays I buried my boots right here Along with my rattle and…
Irrelevant There's only one light on in the house And that's the…
It Could've Been Worse Where you come from You learn to disappear To cover up you…
Jane I Still Feel the Same You wore my shirt beside the ocean Your eyes were serious,…
Killing the Ghost There's a murder in the clover One move and it was…
Let's Wave Goodbye Let's wave goodbye  To who we were We'll never be that again…
Lights Of The Commodore Barry I saw the lights of the Commodore Barry From the deck…
Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
Long Blvd. We lived a little while On Long Boulevard We stood side by…
Love Is The Silencer Come November soon you'll see The dark will fall below the…
Meet Me By the River Just go to sleep Talk is cheap The price is steep For the…
Misundercould You get one shot To prove that you're not Just another chu…
Nails Well the stars are falling and the night's rolling up The…
Night Watchman My name is Hank Low I was born on Christmas eve My…
No Going Back I've been cruel But when did I become hard? It's not easy…
One Day The Everclear I know you carry everything I know you I understand the me…
p.s Come on get your hands off my sister Come on get…
Providence Remember when I told you You were pretty lost Seems you ha…
Rabbit Door swings shut, keys are cold Engine cranks and hums Pull …
Railroaded Well, I smoked my Throat out last night Hoping you'd call Or…
Rain While you are away My heart comes undone Slowly unravels …
Rain Rain Rain It always rains When you miss her And all you want Is to…
Rainy Night in Soho I've been loving you a long time Down all the years,…
Return to Me Slowly walking down the street Where the homeless and the l…
Sadly Love Walking outside our old house Tragically dressed trying to c…
Shake the Tree Early in the morning when you're still shaking And all you…
Skylight My head is strong My heart is open I don't want to…
Some Streets Lead Nowhere I can't tell you where I've been now, darling There are…
Somebody Got Murdered Someone lights a cigarette While riding in a car Some old …
Something in the Night I'm riding down Kingsley figuring I'll get a drink Turn the…
Song for Sons Honey, don't worry We're going to be all right You can tal…
Spark If you're tired of feeling took now, darling I say we…
Still Part Two In the house of the lie we were living You lost…
Such a Sad Satellite You'd better watch your back You're cutting quick to the fa…
Suffer No More Candy looks down She says I don’t know what to do I…
Sunk When you were tired and so unsure Of all the things…
Sweetie Blackbirds and telephone wires and the girl from nowhere Me…
The Ballad of So and So They say, "Ain't that quaint", they say, "Ain't that cute" …
The Complete Family We walked down the block through the dead trees. You were…
The Dead Girl The dead girl mopes through a dead scene With a cross-stitch…
The End Of A Ghost Story I lit a smoke and took a walk Just as the…
The First Heartbreak Take one last look at what you’ve lost Maybe now you’ll…
The Little Things Has the future come To make a liar out of me? Every…
The Queen Of My Arms I wish you were here I wish you could see this I…
The Sea I can never love cll I see is darkness creeping from…
The Wilderness Our hearts were broken When we came here There's really on…
The World Is This is an invisible song From an invisible man Lost in the…
The World Is On Fire There's always a story, a story to tell A story to…
The World Is... This is an invisible song From an invisible man Lost in th…
Then She Threw Me Like A Hand Grenade All we wanted was one way out All we talked of…
They Were Wrong I wish I'd known, maybe I could've helped you But you…
This Side of Heaven I'm going to cash this check I want to take you…
Time and Time Only Your hair fell from you onto my forehead And the light…
Too Soon to Tell She said be quiet, be still She said I'm not here…
Trouble Doll Trouble doll, you look so pretty when you're sad And the…
Until Kingdom Come One day you’ll be gone We end like a song Some crash…
Veterans Day Shiny shoes and polished bronze Another old man without an …
Victory Waltz Where's the summer? Where's the sun? Mute the violence, mut…
Watch Your Step Well you sent me running For cover, deep in those dark…
We Are Libertines We said goodbye To the ties that drag And ties that bind …
We Are Snowmen Darling, take my hand This ride is getting rough And there…
Worry Everything is fine Everything is good Everything's going …
Youngstown Here in north east Ohio Back in eighteen oh three James an…
Your Museum Will you have me inside your museum? Will you let me…


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