Iain Matthews (born Ian Matthews MacDonald in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnsh… Read Full Bio ↴Iain Matthews (born Ian Matthews MacDonald in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, on 16 June 1946), also popularly known as Ian Matthews, is an English musician and singer-songwriter who was an original member of the British folk-rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort.

With a long singing career dating from the swinging 1960s, where he released material as the vocalist of Pyramid, Matthews joined Fairport Convention, formed and left Matthews' Southern Comfort, and went on to have a long and winding career, sailing through trends in rock, pop, country and folk with some chart success and maintaining a continuous cult following since his commercial peak in the late 1970s.

After his stint in Fairport Convention, came the country-tinged Southern Comfort (1969) album , where Matthews recruited Richard Thompson, and other members of Fairport to collaborate. He secured a deal with MCA’s UNI label and a touring lineup of Matthews' Southern Comfort released two more albums of material, Second Spring (1970), and Later That Same Year (1970). Much like he had when Fairport had it's first success, Matthews walked away from the band just as fame became inevitable and Tops Of The Pops were calling.

He went solo again releasing the self produced If You Could See Thro’ My Eyes (1971) on Vertigo with a cast that included Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Keith Tippet (King Crimson), Tim Renwick (Al Stewart), and other British performers. Matthews seemed, for a moment, to have found a comfortable balance of autonomy, support, creativity, and success. The follow-up for Vertigo, was Tigers Will Survive (1972), and then a new project Plainsong, who signed with Elektra[/label and released In Search of Amelia Earhart (1972). ex- Monkee [artist]Michael Nesmith produced the LP Valley Hi (1973), which featured a version of Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges Road” so definitive that you can hear the Eagles recreate it note for note on their 1980 live album.

Matthews took over production again for Some Days You Eat the Bear and Some Days the Bear Eats You (1974), which featured LA session men like guitarists Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, on his way from Steely Dan to the Doobie Brothers, and David Lindley of Jackson Browne’s band. That LP also featured a Tom Waits song called "ol 55" whom the Eagles also must've heard, as it showed up on one their next Elektra/Asylum releases.

Matthews moved to CBS for Go For Broke (1976), and then Hit and Run (1977). Finally in Stealin’ Home (1978) Matthews hit the US top ten with the single "Shake It". Even with chart recognition, his next LP Siamese Friends (1979) stiffed due to poor distribution through a Canadian indie whose founder had died. Spot of Interference in 1980 was followed by Discreet Repeat a best of from the Southern Comfort years.

Matthews had been struggling in the music biz for nearly 15 years by the early 80s and was still living hand to mouth, with nothing to show for his efforts but a string of out-of-print albums, and the loyalty of those musicians and fans who shared his vision. More or less on a whim, Matthews abandoned LA for Seattle, where he met vocalist David Surkamp, late of Pavlov’s Dog. The two formed Hi-Fi, an 80s guitar band that included Bruce Hazen on guitar, Garey Shelton on bass, and Bob Briley on drums. They produced a live mini-album, the Hi-Fi Demonstration Record (1981), as well as a full length studio album, Moods for Mallards (1982), on which they covered Prince’s “When U Were Mine.”

The hi-tech sound of Shook (1984) was followed by a record of mostly Jules Shear songs called Walking a Changing Line (1988). Matthews found day jobs at labels like Island and then Windham Hill while he planned a comeback that included a Fairport Convention reunion, and a live solo album recorded at NY's Bottom Line. Finding a renewed interest in songwriting Matthews put out Walking A Changing Line, Pure and Crooked (1990), Skeleton Keys (1992), and Dark Ride (1994)and God Looked Down (1996) both on Austin’s Watermelon Records. A revitalized version of Plainsong also recorded Dark Side of the Room (1992) Sister Flute (1996) a Live in Austria EP (1998) and New Place Now (1999).

Compilations of older songs also appeared including Orphans and Outcasts (1991), The Notebook Series (1992),The Soul of Many Places (1993), all selecting highlights, outtakes etc from his long career.

Relocating to Amsterdam, Matthews found steadier live work and began playing numerous live shows, both with new and established acts.

Matthews formed a Sandy Denny tribute band No Grey Faith with Jim Fogarty, who played on Tiniest Wham, and singer Lindsay Gilmour. The resulting album, Secrets All Told (2000), includes Denny’s “Rising For the Moon”. Also released in the year of the millennium was Iain AdVenture (2000). The next year Matthews re-tested the Plainsong waters once more in 2001 with a six-song mini-album, A to B, which includes his controversial take on racial issues, “To Be White.” A collaboration with American rocker, (now Paris resident) Elliott Murphy resulted in the commercially successful album La Terre Commune (2001). Other collaborations followed including More Than a Song (2001) with Eliza Gilkyson.

Since 2003 Matthews has worked with Dutch pianist and composer Egbert Derix.

Gimme An Inch Girl
Iain Matthews Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me an inch, girl
Give me an inch, girl
Give me an inch, girl
Give me an inch, girl

My eyes show me more than I've seen
But unlike my poor heart they're not cautious
I got to thinking love was a dream

Misunderstanding my fortunes
I should have taken more heed of my heart
Telling me how to live

But if you give me an inch, girl
I'll give you a mile
Oh, I'll make it all worth while
And I'll make you see
Just how much you mean to me

Well ain't it easy to go head-over-heels
When you need the right person
You got to learn to smile about it
Nothing you do will feel certain
Here I stand with my heart in command
And it's you I want to be with

Give me an inch, girl
I'm in need of you
Don't leave me in the cold
When I want to trust in you
Don't turn me away
Life can be a worry
When it's all work and no play

Give me an inch, girl
I'll give you a mile
Oh, I'll make it all worth while
And I'll make you see
Just how much
Just how much you mean to me
Give me an inch,
I'll give you a mile
And I'll make you see
Just how much, just how much you mean to me
Give me an inch, girl
Oh, I'm in need of you

Don't leave me in the cold
When I want to trust in you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Iain Matthews's song "Gimme An Inch Girl" describe a person's yearning for love and affection. The singer is candid about his feelings and acknowledges his heart's vulnerability. Through the lines "My eyes show me more than I've seen, but unlike my poor heart, they're not cautious," the singer implies that he has been hurt in the past but remains intrigued by the promise of love. The song speaks to how the heart can be both joyful and burdensome.

The singer expresses that he has been waiting for someone special, someone who could change his life. The lyrics "Here I stand with my heart in command, and it's you I want to be with" indicate that the person he wants to be with holds a significant place in his heart. But despite his love, he is also cautious and hesitant, acknowledging that "nothing you do will feel certain." The song's main message is that the singer needs a little bit of hope, an inch of love, to trust and open up.

In conclusion, Matthews's "Gimme An Inch Girl" is a poignant song about the wants and needs of the heart. The lyrics express both the fear and longing that a person can have when approaching love. It is clearly a message that is still relevant today as relationships continue to provide a mixed bag of euphoria and apprehension.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me an inch, girl
I need you to show me a little affection or attention

My eyes show me more than I've seen
I've seen a lot in my life

But unlike my poor heart they're not cautious
But my eyes are not as careful as my heart

I got to thinking love was a dream
I started to believe that love was only a fantasy

Misunderstanding my fortunes
I've been mistaken about my chances with love

I should have taken more heed of my heart
I should have listened more to my heart

Telling me how to live
Guiding me on how to behave in life

But if you give me an inch, girl
But if you show me a little affection or attention

I'll give you a mile
I'll reciprocate with a lot more love and attention

Oh, I'll make it all worth while
I'll make sure our relationship is fulfilling and rewarding

And I'll make you see
And I'll help you understand