Matthews learnt to play guitar at the age of nine, sang Welsh folk songs and taught herself traditional songs from all over the globe including blues and Irish folk songs. She was a member of the West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra. The band Catatonia formed in 1992 after Matthews and guitarist Mark Roberts began dating, as well as writing songs together, at the end of 1991. Catatonia split in mid-2001, and Matthews released her first solo album , Cockahoop, in May 2003. Her second album Never Said Goodbye was released in August 2006. In November 2007 she released a mini-album of Welsh language songs Awyren=Aeroplane.
At the 2013 Sony Radio Academy Awards, Matthews won Gold for her popular BBC 6 music Sunday morning show, which she programmes and hosts. She is the One Show’s cultural reporter and writes and presents radio and television documentaries on subjects as diverse as Cuba, early classical composers, shark fishing and early female blues players. A collector of songs for over thirty years, Matthews is a columnist for the world music magazine ‘Songlines’, and her sing-along book, ‘Hook, Line and Singer’, published by Penguin was a Sunday Times bestseller. She is the author of children’s stories ‘Tales from the Deep’ and ‘Gelert: A Man’s Best Friend’.
Matthews has curated for theatres and the Tate Modern and was artistic director for the opening ceremony of the World Music Expo 2013. She was awarded an inaugural St David Award for her services to culture this year from the First Minister of Wales.
Also in 2013, Matthews wrote and presented a six-part television series looking into the history of centuries old folk songs in her native Wales. In October 2014 Matthews releases an album of music and poetry by Dylan Thomas as well as an Archive Hour programme for BBC Radio 4 looking into her uncle Colin Edward’s role in amassing a huge archive on this great lyrical poet. Matthews has created a cultural festival, 'The Good Life Experience'. She is a judge for the Dylan Thomas Prize for young writers, and for the Forward Prizes for poetry.
Her 2010 self-produced album of traditional Welsh songs, ‘Tir’, is the biggest selling Welsh language album of the decade; the second volume, ‘Hullabaloo’ followed in 2013.
Matthews dueted with Sir Tom Jones on the perennial winter favourite, ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’. She is Vice President for the homeless charity, Shelter, Vice President of the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts, is patron of the Dylan Thomas Society and Ballet Cymru, and is Arts Ambassador for the Linden Lodge School - a specialist school for sensory impairment.
Matthews lives in West London with her husband and children.
If You're Lookin' For Love
Cerys Matthews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe you're right, baby, all along
Baby, just go and set yourself free
But if you're, if you're looking for love
Come see about me
Maybe you've gone back on the road again
Walk past my door and know you've got a friend
But if you're, if you're looking for love
Come see about me
And if you're chasing your tail
Don't pay it no mind
Ain't got no particular place
No particular plan
My fair weather friend, you're welcome anytime
That smile of yours can cross a thousand miles
I know you live to learn, and learnin' suits you fine
But if you're, if you're looking for love
Come see about me
Cry, baby, cry until tomorrow
Heaven knows when you'll be back again
Cry, baby, cry until tomorrow
Heaven knows if you'll be back again
Baby, baby, baby, get back on the road again
Walk past my door and know you've got a friend
Baby, just go and set yourself free
But if you're,if you're looking for love
Come see about me
If you're, if you're looking for love
Come see about me
The lyrics to Cerys Matthews's song If You're Lookin' For Love suggest a message of unconditional love and support. The first verse portrays a sense of disappointment and sadness, with the possibility that the person the singer is addressing has left. The chorus provides a reassurance that the singer is supportive no matter the circumstances; if the person is looking for love, they can come back and be welcomed with open arms. The second verse continues this theme, saying that the singer's door is always open, even if the person is just passing through. The bridge emphasizes the idea that the person can go wherever they want and do whatever they want, but if they happen to be searching for love, they should consider returning to the singer.
Overall, If You're Lookin' For Love seems to be a song about unconditional love and support in the face of any situation or circumstance. The singer emphasizes that no matter where the person she is addressing goes or what they do, they will always be welcomed back with open arms if they are seeking love.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I'm sad, maybe you're gone
It's possible that I'm feeling melancholy whereas you might have departed
Maybe you're right, baby, all along
Perhaps you were correct all along
Baby, just go and set yourself free
Honey, make yourself free and go ahead
But if you're, if you're looking for love
But when you're searching for true love
Come see about me
You should think about paying me a visit
Maybe you've gone back on the road again
Perhaps you resumed traveling once again
Walk past my door and know you've got a friend
As you walk by my door, remember that you've got a companion
Well, I hope you find what you've been looking for
I hope you discover what you've been in search of
And if you're chasing your tail
And when you're just creating errors in achieving your goal
Don't pay it no mind
Simply ignore it
Ain't got no particular place
There isn't a particular location
No particular plan
There isn't a particular course of action
My fair weather friend, you're welcome anytime
It's fine to come visit me, my fickle friend
That smile of yours can cross a thousand miles
Your smile has the power to cross a great distance
I know you live to learn, and learnin' suits you fine
I know you thrive on learning, and it fits you well
Cry, baby, cry until tomorrow
Weep, my dear, cry until the next day
Heaven knows when you'll be back again
Only heaven knows when you'll be back again
Baby, baby, baby, get back on the road again
Honey, honey, honey, hit the road and travel again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CERYS ELIZABETH PHILLIPS MATTHEWS, JAMES STALLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind