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."
Tragic Keys
Bain Mattox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your wounds they cry like tears of crimson
You sing a quiet tune
You've created breathing room
For everyone else, but yourself
Everyone else, but you're selfish
You do it for a dream
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
Today you took a turn, and it blocked you in
Your question of the burning is answering
You sing a quiet tune
You've created breathing room
For everyone else, but yourself
Everyone else, but you're selfish
You do it for a dream
You do it just to breathe
You do it for the sadness in your waking sleep
You do the scene
You started it for free
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
I'll take some string and a can,
And connect the other end to you
Could I be so cool,
I'd ask you secrets of fame,
And how to leave it in flames and step into the fire, fire, fire
You're selfish
You do it for a dream
You do it just to breathe
You do it for the sadness in your waking sleep
You do it for the scene
You started it for free
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
You do it for the scene
You started it for free
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
You do it for the scene
You started it for free
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
You do it for the scene
You started it for free
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
You sing a quiet tune
You've created breathing room
For everyone else, but yourself
and tragic keys
The lyrics in this song are complex and can be interpreted in different ways, but on the surface, it seems to be about a person who has sacrificed a lot for others at the expense of their own well-being. The first verse suggests that someone has let the singer in, and they are witnessing the person's wounds that "cry like tears of crimson." The person is singing a "quiet tune" and has created breathing room for everyone else except for themselves. The lyrics "You're selfish" at the end of the second verse may indicate that the person is perceived as selfish by others because they are finally doing something for themselves.
The chorus repeats the lines "You do it for a dream/ You do it just to breathe/ You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys," which may suggest that this person is pursuing something they can’t quite put their finger on, but it is necessary for their survival. They may feel like they have to end things with pessimism and drama (minor chords and tragic keys) to get their point across. The final verse suggests that the person has created a scene, starting it for free, and "ended it with minor chords and tragic keys" yet again. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes this point.
Overall the song may tap into our habitual and at times self-destructive behaviors, self-critiques, and regrets we hold close to our hearts without seeking external validation.
Line by Line Meaning
Today you stepped aside, and let me in
You allowed me to be a part of your life, to get closer to you.
Your wounds they cry like tears of crimson
Your emotional pain is so great that it seems to be flowing out of you like tears of blood.
You sing a quiet tune
You express your emotions through music, but you keep it hidden and subdued.
You've created breathing room
You have made space for others to grow and thrive, but you neglect your own needs.
For everyone else, but yourself
You put the well-being and happiness of others before your own, to your own detriment.
Everyone else, but you're selfish
Despite your selflessness towards others, you are actually selfish in that you neglect your own emotional health.
You do it for a dream
You pursue a passion or goal, even if it causes you pain or neglects your own needs, because you believe it is your calling or destiny.
You do it just to breathe
Your passion or goal is so important to you that it feels like the air you need to survive.
You ended it with minor chords and tragic keys
You express your pain and struggles through your art, using minor chords and dissonant melodies to convey the tragedy and melancholy of your experiences.
Your question of the burning is answering
You seek answers to the intense emotional pain you feel, and your art helps you find some semblance of understanding or resolution.
You do it for the sadness in your waking sleep
Your passion or goal is tied to your emotional pain, and you use it as an outlet to process the sadness and hurt you carry with you at all times.
You do the scene
You are part of a particular subculture or artistic community, and you find meaning and belonging in this shared identity and aesthetic.
You started it for free
Your passion or goal began as a pure desire or love for the craft, before it became a job or source of income.
I'll take some string and a can, And connect the other end to you
I want to establish a deeper connection with you, to understand your experiences and emotions better.
Could I be so cool, I'd ask you secrets of fame, And how to leave it in flames and step into the fire, fire, fire
I am intrigued and impressed by your talent and the impact you have made, but also curious about the darker side of success and how to navigate it with authenticity and integrity.
Contributed by Henry L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.