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."
Thorn
Bain Mattox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Change me into something new
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Break me into infinity
Take me but leave only one crumb
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It splits at the seams
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It ceased existing
Hurt me with a bold ten or twelve
Burn me with a smile from yourself
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It splits at the seams
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It ceased existing
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It splits at the seams
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It ceased existing
The lyrics to Bain Mattox's song Thorn are full of vulnerability, with the singer asking for change and seeking to understand what is causing pain in his life. The opening lines "Make me all the same all the time, Change me into something new" speak to a desire for transformation or a shift in perspective. The repeated lines "Tell me what's the thorn in my side" suggest that there is something specific causing discomfort or distress, but the singer is unsure of what it is.
The next lines, "Break me into infinity, Take me but leave only one crumb" are expressive of the intensity of the singer's desire for answers. He is willing to undergo significant change, but is asking for clarity or a tangible sign. Later in the song, the lines "Hurt me with a bold ten or twelve, Burn me with a smile from yourself" express the singer's willingness to endure pain, perhaps in the hopes of finding greater understanding.
Throughout the song, the repeated refrain "Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing, Pick it apart now, It splits at the seams" suggests that the singer is willing to examine his life in detail in order to get to the root of what is causing him pain. The final line of the song "It ceased existing" implies that through this examination, the singer has gained clarity and possibly overcome whatever "thorn" was present in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Make me all the same all the time
I want to be unchanging and stable, without any surprises or sudden changes.
Change me into something new
At the same time, I want to experience something new and exciting. I crave a change in my life.
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
There is something that's troubling me, and I need to figure out what it is so that I can move past it.
Break me into infinity
I want to be shattered into a million pieces, so that I can explore every facet of my being and understand who I really am.
Take me but leave only one crumb
I am willing to give up everything to get what I want, even if it means only having a tiny piece of it. That one crumb is enough to sustain me and keep me going.
Hurt me with a bold ten or twelve
I want to experience pain and suffering, but I want it to be intense and meaningful. I don't want it to be shallow or insignificant.
Burn me with a smile from yourself
Even if you're the one causing me pain, I still want to be close to you. Your smile and presence are enough to make me endure the pain.
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It splits at the seams
I am focused on analyzing everything and understanding every detail. Once I start to examine something closely, it falls apart and loses its meaning.
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It ceased existing
Once I've examined something too closely, it loses all of its value and meaning to me. It no longer exists in the same way.
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
I am still searching for the source of my pain and troubles. I need to figure out what's causing it so that I can move past it.
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It splits at the seams
Once again, I am focused on analyzing and dissecting everything to understand it. But this time, it's causing everything to fall apart and lose meaning.
Hey, I'll sit and talk about each little thing
Pick it apart now
It ceased existing
I've examined everything too closely and lost sight of its value and meaning. Everything feels insignificant and meaningless.
Tell me what's the thorn in my side
I am still searching for the source of my pain and troubles, even though my obsession with analyzing everything may be causing it.
Lyrics © NINETY9LIVES PUBLISHING
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