Bain Mattox is what Alternative Addiction calls, "hands down, the most tale… Read Full Bio ↴Bain Mattox is what Alternative Addiction calls, "hands down, the most talented unsigned artist in the country." Mattox sprung onto the Atlanta music scene in 2003 after winning Smith's Open Mic Madness. The twenty-one year old troubadour instantly became a favorite among locals and critics alike, with his every-man persona and an array of oddly tuned pawn-shop instruments. With the addition of a permanent backing band, a self-titled release under his belt, and a steady year and a half out on the road, he has developed gracefully into what Ernie Ball says, "is a highly innovative artist who is a "can't miss" in 2006.

In mid-2005 he began work on a second album with the intention of creating something organic, classic and real. True to his indie spirit, when it came time to record and funds weren't readily available, he called out to his grass-roots fan base for assistance. Loyal fans, eager for a second release, pre-ordered the upcoming album and a small back-log of unreleased demos, generating enough revenue for a completely fan-funded album.

Mattox's stunning sophomore release, Prizefighter [November 1, 2005] is already a knock-out with fans. "My goal was to spend the time and make an album that is easily accessible to people; something they could grasp onto and call their own," he says. He took the better part of 6 months off the road and came up with eleven tales of turmoil and triumph that bob and weave beautifully throughout this stark masterpiece. Mattox and his band recorded Prizefighter during an eight week lock-out with Producer John Briglevich (Goo Goo Dolls, Edwin McCain, Chuck D) at Sonica Recording Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. "I wanted Prizefighter to be very much about my personal struggles this past year," says Mattox "I needed it to reflect who I am as a person and stand as an example for what you can accomplish if you just get up, dust yourself off, and keep going."

Mattox and his band are currently out on the road in support of Prizefighter. "I have had the pleasure of collaborating with a lot of really good musicians over the past two years," says Mattox, "but there's nothing more powerful than sharing a stage and making a record with my best friends." His current touring line-up includes long-time drummer Andy Bauer, keys and rhythm guitarist Rivers Pearce, bassist Mike Lamond and lead guitarist Chris Skogen. Mattox lives in Athens, Georgia, while the band resides in Atlanta, allowing them the privilege of calling both places "home".

Mattox has seen national success on MTV's Real World, Turner Network Television's NASCAR, Delta Airline's Campus Movie Fest, "Good Morning Atlanta" on CBS, and has performed live on FOX Charlotte, Q100's "The Bert Show", and Music Midtown 2004 alongside the Foo Fighters and Switchfoot. His last two Atlanta performances at The Roxy Theatre had over 1,000 in attendance and he has recently seen airplay on The UK's SKY Channel 905, XM radio, Atlanta, Ga.'s 99x, Macon, Ga.'s Q106, and Auburn, Al.'s TigerFM.

Mattox currently reigns as an award-winning artist for:
"Best Rock Band" and "Best Singer-Songwriter" Flagpole Music Awards (Athens, Ga.)
"Best Front-Man" Atlanta Music Guide Music Awards
"Best Singer-Songwriter" and "Best Instrumentalist" Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta
#1 on The Best Unsigned Band List Alternative Addiction
Creative Loafing says, "As long as Bain Mattox keeps writing simple, stunning, sad songs, he'll maintain both mainstream and indie cred."

Republic Of You
Bain Mattox Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And you wind me up
Like a toy soldier
Straight lined marching
'Til I fall over
I am fighting for the republic of you
That's what I intend to

Caked in grime

Caked in grime from the subterranean train line
And the north south wind
Tunnelling through the Brooklyn Bridge

And I pirate your apparel with my eyes
I'm loving the idea of red lights
Interrupting dry spell night drives
Pirate your apparel with my eyes
Loving the idea of red lights
Interrupting dry spell night drives
As we set fire to us breathing

Bathe in ambrosia with me
And soak in sleepy leaves
I think God has given me angel wings

And I pirate your apparel with my own two eyes
I'm loving the idea of red lights
Interrupting dry spell night drives
Pirate your apparel with my eyes
Loving the idea of red lights
Interrupting dry spell night drives
And we set fire to us breathing

And you wind me up like a toy soldier
Straight-lined marching 'til I fall over
I am fighting for the republic of you
That's what I intend to

Caked in grime
Caked in grime

Caked in grime
Caked in grime

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bain Mattox's song Republic Of You open with the metaphor of being wound up like a toy soldier on a set path that leads to falling over. The singer is fighting for the "republic of you," which could symbolize a romantic partner, a personal belief system, or a place of belonging. The repetition of "caked in grime" seems to allude to a sense of weariness or being weighed down. The reference to the subterranean train line and the Brooklyn Bridge gives a sense of being underground, perhaps in a city, and moving through tunnels and bridges.

The second verse continues with the idea of "pirating" the other person's appearance with one's eyes, suggesting a desire to possess or consume that person's image. The red lights interrupting dry spell night drives give a sense of excitement or danger. The reference to setting fire to breathing feels both sensual and destructive. The bridge repeats the refrain of winding up like a toy soldier and marching forward.

The overall theme of the song seems to be the desire for connection and belonging, even while feeling weighed down by the grime of life. The republic of you could be seen as a refuge from that grittiness, but the final repetition of being caked in grime suggests that the escape may be temporary or illusory.

Line by Line Meaning

And you wind me up
You excite me and get me going

Like a toy soldier
Like a small metal figure that marches in a straight line

Straight lined marching
Moving purposely in a direct path

'Til I fall over
Until I am exhausted and can no longer continue

I am fighting for the republic of you
I am working hard to be with you and make our relationship work

That's what I intend to
That is my ultimate goal

Caked in grime
Covered in dirt and filth

Caked in grime from the subterranean train line
I am dirty from riding the subway underground

And the north south wind
The wind that blows from north to south

Tunnelling through the Brooklyn Bridge
The wind is moving through the iconic bridge

And I pirate your apparel with my eyes
I am admiring what you are wearing with my gaze