Andrew Neil Maternick, born 9 August 1988 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, wa… Read Full Bio ↴Andrew Neil Maternick, born 9 August 1988 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was a recruited High School Athlete. He attended the US Military Academy prep School (USMAPS) where he earned his appointment to West Point as a member of the class of 2012. He began having issues and resigned in December 2008, his Plebe Year. He returned home and decided to enlist in the USMC. Prior to reporting to Paris Island, he had a car accident & sustained a traumatic head injury. Andrew's struggle with serious mental health issues intensified after the car accident. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and suffered numerous psychotic episodes. Living as a recluse in his parent’s basement, Andrew began to write songs out of nowhere after the head injury, first on the keyboard. In the spring of 2010, he picked up a guitar for the first time and wrote his first guitar song on the top string the next day called "Fire is Born". He declared himself as an artist and never looked back. Music became his solace.

Andrew Neil is considered an "Outsider music artist” in the spirit of Daniel Johnston. Penning nearly 450 songs since surviving a major car accident in 2009, Andrew is an independent outsider musical force. The emerging singer-songwriter taught himself how to play the keyboard and guitar by writing songs and used music to channel his intimate emotions. He has never played a cover song and to this day doesn’t know even the basic chord shapes. He makes up his own. Neil’s unique, almost grunge-like guitar style is a bit reminiscent of Nirvana’s unplugged concert in New York in November 1994. In 2012, Andrew released a hastily put together Album, Andrew Neil Live at Para Coffee. He had a show in Charlottesville which was taped. We have the songs he sang live, then picked 5 others off his ReverbNation Site.

After the release of his first album, he had a bad psychotic episode in July 2013 and stabbed his brother through the arm. Although the wound did not cause his brother any permanent damage, Andrew was tossed in the Central Virginia Regional Jail and put in an isolation cell for 7 months before being found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). He was committed to the Virginia State Hospital system where he remained as a patient for over three years. While hospitalized he was eventually allowed access to a guitar and a small battery powered recorder. He wrote and recorded scores of songs. Upon discharge from the Hospital in 2017, he wanted to share his music and story with others, so he decided to release an album called “Code Purple”, featuring 11 of these songs, just as they were recorded in his hospital room. Turns out that “Code Purple” is the only full-length album ever to be produced in which all the songs were written and record in a State Psychiatric Hospital

In 2018, Andrew met music producer Andy Waldeck. Under Andy Waldeck's direction, Andrew recorded and released his first studio Album “Merry Go Round”. This album saw some air play on college radio stations across the country. The MGR album reached #59 on the unweighted College Radio Charts and #134 on the weighted College Radio Charts. The album remained on the College Radio Charts from November 2018 through mid-January 2019. Andy Waldeck would go on to produce and engineer the next two Studio Albums, "Freak" in 2019 and "Sunny Side" in 2021.

In June 2019, while recording his second studio album “Freak”, Andrew was diagnosed with a very aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer. Despite the very intensive and fatiguing Chemotherapy Treatments, Andrew somehow found the energy to finish recording the album, which was released in October 2019. Andrew was declared in remission in November 2019. Andrew Neil’s Album “Freak” was officially submitted for "Grammy Consideration" in the Alternative Music Album category for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The album was not nominated.

In June 2021, Andrew released his 4th album “Sunny Side”, a grunge folk masterpiece whose percussive acoustic alternative rhythms and lyrical simplicity echo a Daniel Johnston-like vibe. Kathy McCarty noted Austin singer-songwriter and founding member and co-leader of the influential 1980-90’s band, Glass Eye, penned this for the liner notes, “Andrew Neil’s Sunny Side is a revelation. The outpouring of melody and counterpoint is deeply affecting, seeming to come directly from a heart so genuine that it is almost too pure for this world. His simple lyrics can seem almost too plain; but then you find them reverberating in your mind for days afterward. This songwriter will find his audience, as Daniel Johnston did.”

Andrew’s newest album “Alien”, released in June 2022. is his sixth full length album. All the tracks were written by Andrew and recorded live in our home studio at Hawksnest in Gordonsville, Virginia. Andy Waldeck was the producer and lead mix engineer. The amazing album cover art for “Alien” was done by rising Bostonian artist Daniel Benayun.
In mid-2022, Andrew was granted a very unique opportunity to open for the Raelyn Nelson Band in Hershy, Pennsylvania. Due to numerous show cancellations due to COVID and other things, the show was eventually changed to Nashville. Andrew formed a band exclusively for this show. They opened for Raelyn and her Band on 17 March 2023 at the Glen Campbell Museum, Rhinestone Stage.

Prior to the show, the Band had numerous practices in the Lead Guitarist’s basement in Staunton, VA. He had an 8-microphone set up and would record the practice sessions. They decided to release one of these sessions as a test track, called “I Like”. The song was very raw and a bit rough, but Andy Waldeck did a great job of mixing the 8 separate tracks. The song was released on 15 May 2023. And includes the original lineup: Andrew Neil (Rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Daniel Hoser (Lead Guitar), Alan Warren (Bass), Rich Shaw (mandolin) and Zach Bullock (Drums).

After the show, the band talked about staying together. The drummer (Zach Bullock) was the only member who made the decision not to move forward. The next couple of months, Andew tried out various drummers, and finally found a young drummer by the name of Logan Wayne. Then the Bass player (Alan Warren) had to leave due to personal reasons. As it turned out, the Mandolin players first instrument was the Bass, so that was an easy fix.

The summer was spent practicing and writing new songs for the Band’s new lineup, Andrew Neil, Daniel Houser, Rich Shaw and Logan Wayne. They decided to call themselves, “Andrew Neil & Code Purple”. The term “Code Purple” was a term used at Western State Hospital to indicate that a patient was acting up and was a danger to themselves or others and security was needed. During the practice sessions before and after the March show in Nashville, the band would record their sessions with a total of 8 microphones in the lead guitarist basement.

In June 2023, Andrew went to Nashville on a separate project to record 5 songs for a cross-over album, “In the Country with Andrew Neil”. The five original songs were recorded at Hilltop Studios. This had been planned well before the Raelyn Nelson Show. Band members Logan Wayne and Daniel Hoser accompanied Andrew and contributed some to the tracks. The main players and producers were:

Engineers: Adam Knight and John Nicholson
Lead Guitar: James Mitchell
Piano & Keys: Jonathan Brown
Acoustic Guitar: Adam Knight
Bass: Duncan Mullins
Drums: Johnathan Presnell
Fiddle: David Yates
Backgrounds: Victoria Bowlin Singers

One single was recently released from the Hilltop sessions, “Run Away Train”. Andrew intends to do a whole alt-country crossover album, but we do not have a completion date. We still need some additional songs, which we may pull from his existing extensive catalogue and re-imagine them.

On 21-24 August 2023, the band, Andrew Neil & Code Purple, went into White Star Sound Studios, in Louisa, VA and recorded 12 tracks which will be included in their debut album, “Resurrection”. Andy Waldeck was the producer and mix engineer. The intent is to release the album in January 2024 digitally, following up with a physical release on both CD and limited-run Vinyl. The Band is extremely excited about this upcoming release.
The band is booking their first shows since their debut performance in Nashville. On 4 November, they are playing at the Madison House of the Arts in Lynchburg, VA. More are expected to follow. The Band’s dream is to get hooked into the festival scene.

A book titled “Kind of Hurt” is being written about Andrew's battle with mental illness and cancer and how music played a significant role in his life. The publication date of this book is TBD.

As Andrew always says: "Music makes a difference in this jello world"

Help
Andrew Neil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you only knew
All of the bullshit Iu0027ve been through
Then you could give me no blame
when I give the blunt a flame
If you only knew
All of the bullshit Iu0027ve been through
Then you would probably understand
Why Iu0027m reaching out my hand

Help help
I need somebody
Help Help
Not just anybody
Help help
Before I get bloody
Help help help help help
I need somebody
I need somebody
Not just anybody
I need somebody

Thereu0027s a killer on the loose loose
A caterpillar on the goose
The ugly duckling wants to fly fly
Caterpillar says try try try try

Help Help
I need somebody

Help Help
Not just anybody
Before I get bloody
Help help help help help
I need somebody
I need somebody
Not just anybody
I need somebody

I need somebody
Help

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Andrew Neil's song "Help" depict a sense of desperation and a plea for assistance from someone who has been through a lot of challenges and struggles. The lines "If you only knew, all of the bullshit I've been through" emphasize the singer's frustration and hardship, suggesting that if others were aware of their struggles, they would understand the need for support and empathy. The mention of giving "the blunt a flame" can be interpreted as a coping mechanism or form of release for the singer's pain and stress.

The repetition of the phrase "Help help" conveys a sense of urgency and a deep desire for assistance. The singer acknowledges that they need somebody, not just anybody, highlighting the importance of genuine support and understanding. The mention of potentially getting "bloody" adds a sense of danger or impending crisis, heightening the emotional intensity of the lyrics and reinforcing the idea that help is urgently needed to prevent further harm or struggle.

The reference to a "killer on the loose" and a "caterpillar on the goose" introduces a surreal and whimsical element to the lyrics, potentially symbolizing the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the singer's struggles. The imagery of the "ugly duckling" wanting to fly and the caterpillar encouraging to try imply themes of transformation and perseverance in the face of challenges. These metaphors add depth and complexity to the song's message, suggesting that growth and change are possible with the right support and encouragement.

Overall, the lyrics of "Help" by Andrew Neil express a raw and vulnerable plea for assistance, portraying the singer's struggles, frustrations, and longing for understanding. The repeated calls for help and the vivid imagery used in the song create a powerful emotional impact, resonating with listeners who may have experienced similar feelings of isolation and hardship. Through its poignant lyrics and evocative imagery, the song conveys a universal message of reaching out for help and the importance of compassion and support in times of need.

Line by Line Meaning

If you only knew
If you had knowledge of the struggles I've faced

All of the bullshit Iu0027ve been through
All the difficulties and challenges I've experienced

Then you could give me no blame
You would not criticize me

when I give the blunt a flame
When I turn to smoking for relief

Then you would probably understand
You would likely comprehend

Why Iu0027m reaching out my hand
Why I'm asking for help

Help help
Assistance is needed

I need somebody
I require support from another person

Not just anybody
Not just anyone will suffice

Before I get bloody
Before things escalate to violence

Thereu0027s a killer on the loose loose
Danger is present and active