The sophomore record is notoriously one of the toughest hurdles a young mus… Read Full Bio ↴The sophomore record is notoriously one of the toughest hurdles a young musician has to clear—you’ve got to strike the perfect balance between where you want to take your music and the identity you’ve established for your audience. Singer/songwriter Ian Walsh has pulled off the juggling act with flying colors in the form of Seeing Stars, set for release September 25 on Plus 5 Records.

It’s been just over a year since the New Englander’s moving, critically acclaimed debut, Please Remember. In the interim, Walsh has been touring relentlessly, forging an enduring connection with fans across the country. His commitment has brought change in bulk—relocating to Boston, taking a leave of absence from Berklee College of Music to focus solely on his career, and finding an incredible cast of bandmates. New recruits Wiley Esten (guitar), Jamie Orlando (keyboards) and Jesse Devine (bass) are the perfect complements to multi-instrumentalist Walsh and longtime drummer Cam Tyler.

As for Seeing Stars—recorded at Hammerhead Studios with producer Ritchie Rubini and Grammy-winning engineer Nick DiDia— it replicates Please Remember’s organic sensibility, but with a welcome infusion of energy. Walsh’s confessional narratives shine throughout, particularly on the yearning “Melissa” and “Casting Shadows.”

“‘Melissa’ was just a little love song never meant to make it on any record,” Walsh reveals. “It was more of a plea for a loved one to notice what was going on. The song has a sad yet happy, angry yet forgiving tone. As for the [title], it is indeed about my girlfriend Melissa, but many people have already given me hell about the Allman Brothers’ ‘Melissa.’ I have no problem telling them that that was the whole point! She was named after the Allman Brothers’ song, so I named the song after her.”

As for “Casting Shadows,” “[it] was really just a song that I sat down at the piano and starting vibing over the main piano riff,” he continues. “The lyrics reflect on many past experiences. The ‘you’ and the ‘she’ in the song are many different people.

Expect Walsh to take those earnest anthems to the road yet again this fall. The raw emotion and beauty of his new collection is impressive, but it’s hard to imagine anything less, even a mere two albums into what is shaping up to be a stellar career.

Now or Never
Ian Walsh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you remember where we were before our bridge began to burn?
But now you're here and all the lessons that we've learned come to no use,
'cause still this heart belongs to you.

I can wait but I can't wait forever,
Know that it's now or never.
So just understand this is your last chance.
Tonight, tonight.

To think I used to tell myself to not let you get to my head.
But now I'm gone and drifting somewhere out there
But I'm still with you.
Cause still my mind remains on you.

I can wait but I can't wait forever,
Know that it's now or never.
So just understand this is your last chance.
Tonight, tonight.

No, I can't take this slower
Completely taken over.

I need you here with me.
'Cause I need you here with me.

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of Ian Walsh's song "Now or Never," he reflects on a past relationship that went up in flames despite their initial strong connection. He questions if his former lover remembers how things were before the problems began. Although they both may have learned from their mistakes, his heart still belongs to her. The lyrics show reflective thoughts on hindsight, missed opportunities, and the futility of gaining life lessons without a chance to apply them.

In the second verse, Ian Walsh admits that he used to tell himself not to let his love interest get to his head, but now he finds himself still drifting towards her, even though he's gone. He acknowledges the urgency of the situation, realizing that she may not always be there, but he can't take things slowly. He is "completely taken over" and needs her with him. The lyrics illustrate a sense of desperation, longing, and the desire to recapture something that is no longer there.

Overall, "Now or Never" expresses a blend of emotional vulnerability and introspection with a sense of urgency, pleading the chance to fix things with a past love or face the reality that it may never happen.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you remember where we were before our bridge began to burn?
Do you recall the state of our relationship prior to it falling apart?

But now you're here and all the lessons that we've learned come to no use, 'cause still this heart belongs to you.
Despite everything we've been through, my heart still belongs to you.

I can wait but I can't wait forever, Know that it's now or never. So just understand this is your last chance. Tonight, tonight.
I am willing to wait for you, but I can't do it indefinitely. This is your final opportunity to be with me.

To think I used to tell myself to not let you get to my head. But now I'm gone and drifting somewhere out there But I'm still with you. Cause still my mind remains on you.
I used to try to put up a mental barrier to protect myself from you, but now that we're apart, you're still all I can think about.

No, I can't take this slower Completely taken over. I need you here with me. 'Cause I need you here with me.
I am consumed by my love for you and cannot continue at a slower pace. I need you to be by my side.

Contributed by Evelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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