Glen Phillips (born December 29, 1970) is a songwriter, lyricist, singer an… Read Full Bio ↴Glen Phillips (born December 29, 1970) is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986. By 1988, they had signed with Columbia Records. After recording six albums and playing many major tours, they disbanded in 1998.

During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called flapping, Flapping.

Three years later, following the breakup of Toad, Phillips released his first solo album, Abulum, which was a change from the sound that Toad the Wet Sprocket was known for. This was followed up by a self-released live album and solo touring, along with a reunion tour with his former Toad bandmates

In 2004, Phillips, with Nickel Creek, released a long-awaited collaboration as Mutual Admiration Society. The self-titled album had been recorded in 2000 and featured songs written by both Phillips alone and as collaborative efforts, and was released on Sugar Hill Records.

In 2005, Phillips returned to a major label via Universal Records' Lost Highway imprint and released the critically acclaimed Winter Pays For Summer. The album included the radio single "Duck and Cover," but Phillips and the label would part ways due to some creative differences.

Phillips released his third proper solo album, Mr. Lemons in the spring of 2006. The music video for the album's first single, "Everything But You," made its debut as a Yahoo! Exclusive Premiere on May 11, 2006.

Maya
Glen Phillips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want the woman who would want me
Velvet temple of her body
Seeing lovers crushed together
Doesn't make it any better
Maya, maya
Kiss me through the veil
I won't be ungrateful
I see angels gathered 'round me

Lips of raspberry, breasts of honey
Tear me open, sanctify me
Find the beauty that's dying inside of me
(Chorus)
Oh the hunger of this body
Is insatiable, ever wanting
Tear me open, take it from me

Fill me up again or give me nothing
(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Glen Phillips's song "Maya" are an exploration of desire and the search for fulfillment. The singer is yearning for a specific woman, describing her as a "velvet temple" and expressing that he wants her to want him in return. However, he acknowledges that even the sight of other lovers, "crushed together," cannot ease his longing.

The chorus of the song introduces the idea of the "veil" between the singer and his desired woman, and he asks her to "kiss me through the veil." This could refer to a literal veil, as in a bride's veil, or it could be symbolic of the obstacles that are standing between the singer and his desired love. He asserts that he won't be ungrateful if she grants him this wish.

The second verse of the song is more spiritual in nature, as the singer describes seeing angels and wanting to be sanctified. He still craves physical intimacy with the woman he desires, but he also wants her to help him find "the beauty that's dying inside of me." The final chorus once again emphasizes the singer's unrelenting hunger and his plea for fulfillment.

Overall, "Maya" is a deeply personal song that explores the complexities of desire and the power of connection. The singer recognizes that his physical needs are insatiable, but he also longs for something more profound - a sense of purpose, connection, and beauty.

Line by Line Meaning

I want the woman who would want me
I desire a woman who desires me equally.

Velvet temple of her body
Her body is a soft and sensual temple.

Seeing lovers crushed together
Watching couples tightly embrace does not bring comfort.

Doesn't make it any better
It does nothing to alleviate the yearning for a true connection.

Maya, maya
A call to the divine or the concept of illusion.

Kiss me through the veil
Grant me a deeper connection to the divine through a romantic kiss.

I won't be ungrateful
I will fully appreciate and cherish this moment.

I see angels gathered 'round me
Suggesting a spiritual experience or enlightenment.

Lips of raspberry, breasts of honey
Descriptive language to communicate the beauty of the woman's body parts.

Tear me open, sanctify me
Open me up, both physically and spiritually, and cleanse me of any impurities.

Find the beauty that's dying inside of me
Discover and reinvigorate the beauty that has been lost within oneself.