McMahon announced the moniker in a blog post in July 2014, stating, "as I embark on yet another musical adventure, I will be traveling with my band to many of those same stages, this time as “Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness”. I suppose my wilderness is mostly an abstract one. Since putting Jack’s behind me, I have forced myself into strange spaces seeking new stimulus..."
The first song recorded under the moniker, 'Cecilia and the Satellite', received official radio play on the 17th July 2014. An album is expected to follow.
Don't Speak For Me
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And lately it's been hard to sleep
Maybe I should dig a little more
Buried under covers friend
Don't wanna play those songs again
Until I found someone to play them for
Don't speak for me
Don't speak for me
Yeah, I'll be there soon
Honestly
Every day I feel a little bit stronger than I was when I was
When I was with you
Yeah it's true
Yeah it's true
People try to box me in
Telling me it's sink or swim
Maybe I should sink until I stand
Out here where the water's deep
I think I found a voice in me
And someday we will walk upon dry land
Don't speak for me
I'll get with it, give it just a little longer
Don't speak for me
Yeah, I'll be there soon
Honestly
Every day I feel a little bit stronger than I was when I was
When I was with you
Yeah it's true
Yeah it's true
Yeah it's true
I couldn't find myself in you
You led me the long way down
I couldn't find myself in you
You led me the long way down
I couldn't find myself in you
I couldn't find myself, it's true
Don't speak for me
I'll get with it, give it just a little longer (longer, longer)
Don't speak for me
Yeah, I'll be there soon
Honestly
Every day I feel a little bit stronger than I was when I was
When I was with you
Yeah it's true (you don't speak for me)
Yeah it's true (you don't speak for me)
Yeah it's true (you don't speak for me)
No, you don't speak for me
The song "Don't Speak For Me" by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness is a song about finding one's individuality and voice. The opening verse, "I think I dug a hole so deep and lately it's been hard to sleep, maybe I should dig a little more," suggests that the singer has hit rock bottom and is struggling to get out of it. The next lines, "Buried under covers friend, don't wanna play those songs again until I found someone to play them for," show that the singer is seeking someone to share their emotions with and to finally be understood.
In the chorus of the song, the singer asks others not to speak for them and gives them time to adjust to their new life independently. They are becoming stronger every day, feeling liberated from the past where they were boxed in and forced to follow someone else´s path. The line, "Out here where the water's deep, I think I found a voice in me, and someday we will walk upon dry land," shows that the singer is willing to take risks and believes that they will eventually overcome their fears.
The bridge of the song, "I couldn't find myself in you, you led me the long way down," reveals that the singer has been in a toxic relationship where they lost their identity and followed their partner's lead. However, the last line of the song, "No, you don't speak for me," clarifies that the singer has found their voice and is no longer letting anyone speak for them.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I dug a hole so deep
I have made a mistake and it's affecting my mental state.
And lately it's been hard to sleep
I am experiencing restlessness because I'm trying to come to terms with my mistake.
Maybe I should dig a little more
I am willing to face the consequences of my actions and make things right.
Buried under covers friend
I am isolating myself from the world and hiding from my troubles.
Don't wanna play those songs again
I don't want to revisit past mistakes or experiences that cause me pain.
Until I found someone to play them for
I am hopeful that someday I will meet someone who will help me overcome my past experiences.
Don't speak for me
I am capable of making my own decisions and taking responsibility for my own actions.
I'll get with it, give it just a little longer
I will keep trying and pushing through the challenges to create a better future for myself.
Yeah, I'll be there soon
I am optimistic about achieving my goals and moving forward in life.
Every day I feel a little bit stronger than I was when I was
I am growing and learning from my past experiences, becoming a better person each day.
When I was with you
When I was in that negative situation or relationship that caused me pain.
People try to box me in
Others are trying to control me and limit my choices and options.
Telling me it's sink or swim
Others are giving me an ultimatum, forcing me to either fail or succeed.
Maybe I should sink until I stand
I am willing to take a risk and fail, as long as it eventually leads to standing tall and achieving my goals.
Out here where the water's deep
I am in a challenging and unfamiliar environment, but I am still willing to take a chance.
I think I found a voice in me
I am discovering my own strength and ability to persevere through tough times.
And someday we will walk upon dry land
Eventually, I believe that I will come out on top and reach a peaceful and prosperous place in life.
I couldn't find myself in you
I lost my sense of self-identity and individuality while in that negative situation or relationship.
You led me the long way down
You caused me to take a difficult and painful path in life.
No, you don't speak for me
I am taking control of my own life and refusing to let others dictate my choices or actions.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ryan Beatty, Jake Sinclair, Andrew McMahon, Jonathan Coffer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jessiejenson171
Oh my, this man is the epitome of an artist. His songs make me FEEL, where words fall short.
"People try to box me in
Telling me it's sink or swim
Maybe I should sink until I stand
Out here where the water's deep
I think I found a voice in me
And someday we will walk upon dry land"
Andrew, I'm counting down the days. Thank you for being a true original and giving a voice to those of us who see the world a little differently :) Your music has literally pulled me from the depths at certain points in my life, and I couldn't be more grateful for your beautiful soul and artistry. I'm kind of a fan ;)
@RRapierre
God fucking dammit, I see these types of people everywhere now. People who listen to metal, punk, rock, these 'instrument purists', all claiming "electronics and computers will kill music". Instruments will never go away, the music industry won't ever allow that. Instrument sales make millions if not billions of dollars for the industry every year. Universities with these programs won't let them go away, either. Guitar Center is probably one, if not the largest retailer for synthesizers, turntables, drum machines, and music software in America, but their Drum, Piano, and Guitar sections still take up more than 70% of their store.
Plus, organic bands like Green Day and Metallica still have massive fanbases and aren't going to fade away soon. They're also more memorable. Millions of people still listen to bands like Queen, Journey, The Beatles, Ramones, The Eagles, and many 90's bands like Nirvana, The Killers, Foo Fighters, and Weezer today. Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate are still popular today, just look at their monthly Spotify play count.
Remember Britney Spears, The Spice Girls, NSYNC? Yeah, not really, huh. One Direction and Justin Bieber aren't as prominent as they were 2 or 3 years ago. Dozens of pop artists who don't write their own songs and
often use electronics/drum machines show up for a couple years on the radio and then most people forget them. Sure, you hear way more pop artists on the radio on average, but their popular songs also tend to fade away after a couple of years. Yet multiple radio stations are still playing "Don't Stop Believing", "Hotel California", "Bohemian Rhapsody", etc. even though these songs are at least 20+ years old. Also, instrumental pop songs are the ones that tend to stick around. I still hear "A Thousand Miles", "Bad Day", "How to save a life", "Need You Now" on the radio. Train, Coldplay, Maroon 5, Owl City are a few popular artists that use instruments and most people still memorize their songs.
When a kid starts to learn how to play a guitar, or when you were a kid, remember the songs to learn were pretty much always "Smoke on the Water", "Good Riddance", "Enter Sandman", "Stairway to Heaven", and they still are. Even though there's a new generation of kids coming, guitar is still universally popular to learn. There's still instrumental songs from pop artists that kids today want to play, like stuff from Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz... yeah you get it. Instruments aren't going away in the next several decades.
Andrew McMahon does a good job in mixing synths with instruments. He still has Mike on the bass and guitar since People and Things. Jay McMillan is still his drummer since Everything in Transit. I seriously don't think Andrew will throw his fans and his band under the bus to just use drum machines, that's retarded.
And let me guess, you blindly hate EDM, Trance, House, and Techno, anything electronic, right? You probably never even listened to one song from those genres. Don't knock it 'til you try it. Search "Some Kind of Magic" for catchy entry level stuff, if you want. Trust me, listening to Metal, Electronic, and everything in between does wonders for your mental health.
@nicholastheodore2632
From SoCo to JM to now, Andrew's music has literally spoke to me more than anyone or anything could. Thanks Andrew for the soundtrack to my effing life!
@jessiejenson171
Oh my, this man is the epitome of an artist. His songs make me FEEL, where words fall short.
"People try to box me in
Telling me it's sink or swim
Maybe I should sink until I stand
Out here where the water's deep
I think I found a voice in me
And someday we will walk upon dry land"
Andrew, I'm counting down the days. Thank you for being a true original and giving a voice to those of us who see the world a little differently :) Your music has literally pulled me from the depths at certain points in my life, and I couldn't be more grateful for your beautiful soul and artistry. I'm kind of a fan ;)
@startwinkle32
This has an old Andrew McMahon feel to it. Almost reminds me of Jack's Mannequin. I love it!!! Good job Andrew!
@veaviationchannel9039
This song literally saved me from depression 2 years ago, still listen it and it still makes me happy
@Darvin-Breen
hey,just checking to see if u r still okay. Hope u r
@alexandraskye6158
I love it. I just made a playlist of my favourites from each of his albums, starting with Something Corporate up to this one. So cool to hear the progression, and to have been able to follow him from the beginning.
@shaneeriksen4412
He can't write a bad song!!
@WesternRacoon
Shane Eriksen I disagree, lyrically yes he's amazing but his last album and everything I've heard off this new one sound like generic pop bullshit
@countingcrows123
Most of Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate were equally as "poppy" just completely different production. So I disagree with you. Doesn't make them bad songs. I also think he's never put out a bad song..
@WesternRacoon
countingcrows123 at least soco and Jacks used instruments,.these over produced drum machine new wave synth revival shit is the current downfall of current music. although everyone's entitled to there own tastes and opinions so to each they're own. I'll probably buy the album and listen to/skip through the tracks once.