After signing a contract with the Atlantic Records label Lava Records in 1994, his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves, was issued in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned I'll Be, a major single in 1998. Two more albums (Messenger and Far from Over) followed, but at the end of 2001, he split from Lava. In 2003 he released a collection of acoustic versions of songs both old and new called The Austin Sessions via ATC Records, a Nashville-based independent record label (at which McCain was the first artist signed following its creation in 2001). Mid-2004 saw the arrival of his first studio album in three years, entitled Scream & Whisper, which was released on another indie label, DRT Entertainment.
He has released two DVDs to date. The first was through ATC records in late 2002, called Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway, and it consisted of interviews, live performances, and other material. The other was in late 2004, Tinsel & Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A new CD was released in April, 2006 titled, Lost in America. Edwin recently signed a contract with Vanguard Records. This album (#8) is said to be a true "rock 'n roll" collection.
Profile photo by ASHLittle.
Sign on the Door
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's trying hard to drink it away
And I feel the rumble of the subway
Beneath the stage
And her eyes are screaming
And her lips are pursed
And this ain't her first heartache
But it feels like, it feels like the worst
Can someone tell me how this can happen
And I guess that God only knows
My heart used to be
The sweet shop of love
But now the sign on the door
It says sorry we're closed
And I hear myself tell her
Some old words I know they won't help
And then I feel guilty
'Cause I closed some sweet shops myself
And we all talk about timing
And lifestyles and such
But to a heart that's been shattered
Those words don't mean that much
And all of our pining
It just goes to show
Don't you enter a shop
With the sign on the door
Saying sorry we're closed
And she's been through all the pain
That one can endure
And her new man thinks she loves him
But he can't be sure
And his heart pines for Wendy
She says that's how it goes
How am I supposed to know
He can't read the sign saying
Sorry we're closed
Yeah we're closed
And she says
Can someone tell me how this can happen
And I guess that God only knows
My heart used to be
The sweet shop of love
But there's a sign on the door
There's a sign on the door
There's a sign on the door
There's a sign on the door
One more sign...
In Edwin McCain's song "Sign on the Door", Wendy is sitting with the singer, trying to drink away the pain of heartbreak. The subway rumbles beneath them while Wendy's eyes scream and her lips purse. The singer acknowledges that this isn't Wendy's first heartache, but it feels like the worst. She questions how it's possible for someone to experience so much pain in life, and the singer responds with some old, familiar words that he knows won't help. However, he feels guilty because he's been in a similar situation in the past and has closed his own "sweet shop of love". The lyrics emphasize how fragile the human heart can be, and how once a person experiences such heartache and trauma, it's not easy to heal and move on from it.
The song seems to suggest that timing isn't always in our control, as people come into our lives and leave them when we least expect it. Wendy's new man thinks she loves him, but he can't be sure because she's still pining for someone else, which is just how it goes. We can't always read the signs of a person's emotional state, but we should be careful before entering someone's "sweet shop of love" when the sign on the door says "sorry we're closed". The song acknowledges that heartbreak and pain are endemic to the human experience, but it also suggests that healing and moving on are possible with time and patience.
Line by Line Meaning
Wendy's sittin' next to me
The singer is with his friend Wendy at a place where there is a subway underneath the stage.
She's trying hard to drink it away
Wendy is trying to deal with her heartbreak by drinking alcohol.
And I feel the rumble of the subway Beneath the stage
The singer can feel the vibrations of the subway passing under the stage they are sitting on.
And her eyes are screaming
Wendy's eyes reflect the emotional turmoil she is going through.
And her lips are pursed
Wendy's lips are tightly shut, indicating that she is trying to hold back her emotions.
And this ain't her first heartache
Wendy has been through heartbreak before.
But it feels like, it feels like the worst
Despite her earlier heartbreaks, Wendy's current heartbreak feels like the worst one yet.
And she says Can someone tell me how this can happen And I guess that God only knows
Wendy is confused and frustrated about the heartbreak and does not understand why it happened, leaving it to the will of God.
My heart used to be The sweet shop of love But now the sign on the door It says sorry we're closed
The artist compares his heart to a sweet shop which was once open and welcoming, but is now closed for business, as he has been through heartbreak and is not open to love.
And I hear myself tell her Some old words I know they won't help And then I feel guilty 'Cause I closed some sweet shops myself
The artist feels remorseful for his past actions and is unable to offer Wendy any useful advice because he too has been through heartbreak and has caused heartbreak to others.
And we all talk about timing And lifestyles and such But to a heart that's been shattered Those words don't mean that much
People often try to console others with cliched advice about timing and lifestyles, but for someone who has been through intense heartbreak, these words do not offer much solace.
And all of our pining It just goes to show Don't you enter a shop With the sign on the door Saying sorry we're closed
All the heartbreaks experienced by the people around the artist indicate that a closed heart cannot open up for love and one should not attempt to force it.
And she's been through all the pain That one can endure And her new man thinks she loves him But he can't be sure
Wendy has been through so much heartbreak that it is difficult for her new partner to be sure that she truly loves him.
And his heart pines for Wendy She says that's how it goes How am I supposed to know He can't read the sign saying Sorry we're closed
Wendy's partner yearns for her, but Wendy is unsure if she is capable of loving him back because her heart is closed.
There's a sign on the door There's a sign on the door There's a sign on the door There's a sign on the door One more sign...
The repetition of the line 'there's a sign on the door' emphasizes the idea that closed hearts cannot open up for love, even if someone wants it badly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWIN COLE MC CAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael McDaniel
there will never be a better CD from top to bottom than Messenger.....thank you Edwin
lyricman nixon
you are so right !!
Johnny Tightwad
The best.
John Ryan
@lyricman nixon I was having a beer with the sound board guy, I'm sure there's a more technical term for the magic job he does, and I cant remember his name, anyway I asked him what he thought there best work was, and he mulled it over and said I really think we had our shit together for Messenger. True story.
Jodye Chesson
This is one Soulful Man to be so young. He has got some deep roots in him and I'm crazy about his music. He touches my heart in a way I can not explain. Thank you Edwin for sharing your life in music. Going to see you in Oct. I can not wait. Your so funny and sweet keep up the great work.
jesters60
God, thanks for creating Edwin. That man can sing.
Kristina stadnick
I remember buying this CD for "I'll be" and fell in love with this song instead.
chad place
Kristina stadnick:same here
Lisa C
Kristina stadnick You and I both!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
Lisa C
I know what you mean!! Same here. That and the promise of you.