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.
Streets of New York
Cerys Matthews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you take me by the hand and then
lead me down the streets of new york
on a willful afternoon
when i thought love could choose
i heard your song playing on the radio
the city's moving over me
but i think i'm going to stay
Please dont be alarmed
i'm at the start of something
i walked up the grand to our hotel
and bought a round of perfect tens
and imagined you were there
and you, you became the man who explained
if this wasn't love how could it have been anything else?
I'm somehwere I don't want to be
The city's moving over me
But I think I'm going to stay
Please don't be alarmed
I'm at the start of something
I want to ask you everything
I want to ask you everything
We stayed
and smoked another cigarette
And if smoke lingers I wont forget
I try to say I'm sorry
An you, you're with more than I could ever be
But I looked up and you had disappeared
And left ya crying to the rain
I'm somewhere I don't want to be
The city's moving over me
Yet I think I'm gong to stay
Please don't be alone
I'm at the start of something
I want to ask you everything
The lyrics to Cerys Matthews's song Streets of New York paint a picture of a whirlwind romance in the bustling city that never sleeps. The song tells the story of a woman who is unexpectedly taken on a journey by her lover through the streets of New York City. The city is overwhelming for her, but she decides to stay and explore. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement about starting something new.
The song starts with the line "Boy, you take me by surprise again, you take me by the hand and then lead me down the streets of New York." It suggests that she is in a relationship with someone who surprises her and takes her on unexpected adventures. The line "I heard your song playing on the radio" implies that they have a special connection through music. They enjoy the same kinds of songs and share a deep love for music.
The lyrics also reveal that the singer is at the start of something new. She is unsure of what this could bring, but she feels hopeful and is willing to explore the possibilities. The line "I want to ask you everything" implies that she wants to know more about her lover, and their relationship is still in its early stages.
Overall, the lyrics of Streets of New York convey a sense of adventure, excitement, and hope. It tells the story of two people who are exploring New York City and their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, you take me by surprise again
The singer is surprised by the actions of the person they are addressing
you take me by the hand and then
The person being addressed physically guides the singer
lead me down the streets of new york
The person being addressed is taking the singer on a tour of New York City
on a willful afternoon
The scene described takes place on a day with decisive weather and/or emotion
when i thought love could choose
The artist was previously under the impression that one could consciously choose whom to love
i heard your song playing on the radio
The singer heard a song that reminded them of the person they address
i'm somewhere i don't want to be
The singer feels uncomfortable or out of place
the city's moving over me
The fast-paced environment of New York is overwhelming the artist
but i think i'm going to stay
Despite these feelings, the artist is considering remaining in New York
Please dont be alarmed
The artist is reassuring the person being addressed that they are alright
i'm at the start of something
The singer is embarking on a new experience in their life
i walked up the grand to our hotel
The artist and the person being addressed stayed together at a hotel
and bought a round of perfect tens
The singer bought drinks for the person being addressed and their companions
and imagined you were there
The singer visualized the person being addressed with them
and you, you became the man who explained
The person being addressed acted as a source of knowledge and understanding for the singer
if this wasn't love how could it have been anything else?
The artist and the person being addressed were in love
We stayed
The artist and the person being addressed lingered in New York
and smoked another cigarette
The singer and person being addressed further indulged in a vice
And if smoke lingers I wont forget
The memory of this moment will remain with the singer
I try to say I'm sorry
The artist expresses regret for something they have done or said
An you, you're with more than I could ever be
The person being addressed possesses qualities and/or accomplishments that the artist feels they can never attain
But I looked up and you had disappeared
The person being addressed has left or disappeared from view
And left ya crying to the rain
The singer is now alone and sad as they are pelted by rain
Yet I think I'm gong to stay
Despite feeling upset, the artist is still considering staying in New York
Please don't be alone
The singer is worried about the person being addressed being alone
I'm at the start of something
The singer is still embarking on a new experience in their life
I want to ask you everything
The singer wants to know everything about the person being addressed
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Norwegian Forestcat
I walked up the grand to our hotel
And bought a round of perfect tens
...him:
I've got a couple roses, maybe two
And imagined you were there
Such a lovely reflection of you and I
There's something about
The king
when he knows his queen
knows how she's going to spin
like a chandellier, oh chandellier
such a pretty doll,
clean linen in an armory
I'll tell you everything
freetobeyou
Cool thanks