Joseph Mulrey McIntyre, born 31 December 1972 in Needham, Massachusetts, is… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Mulrey McIntyre, born 31 December 1972 in Needham, Massachusetts, is the youngest member of the 1980s supergroup New Kids on the Block.

Just before his 13th birthday, McIntyre joined New Kids On The Block, replacing Jamie Kelly. Since the other four members of the group were already long-time school friends, he initially found it difficult to blend into the group. However, New Kids on the Block became one of the most successful boy bands to date, eventually disbanding in 1994.

Following the group's split, McIntyre busied himself with songwriting and sought a record deal. He also appeared in the movie The Fantasticks alongside veteran actor Joel Grey.

Disenchanted at his inability to find a recording contract, McIntyre used his own money to record a solo single, "Stay the Same", and sold it on his website. He also took the single to local Boston DJs, helping it eventually to receive national airplay. The combination of airplay and website sales for "Stay the Same" led to McIntyre signing a recording contract in 1999 with Sony Music USA, which, under the Columbia label, had previously been home to New Kids on the Block. An album was released on the Sony Works label, accompanied by a re-released "Stay the Same" album; this featured the extra track "I Love You Came Too Late", which became his second solo hit.

Also in 1999, McIntyre recorded a track for the film Southie, which starred former band mate Donnie Wahlberg. The song was titled "Remember Me".

In 2001, McIntyre returned with his second solo album, Meet Joe Mac. This album produced the hit single "Rain". In the fall of 2001, he played Jon in the Off-Broadway play Tick, Tick... BOOM! by Jonathan Larson. In 2002, after he appeared for a season on the popular television show Boston Public. The following year, he released a live acoustic album, One Too Many with Emanuel Kiriakou. In 2004, he released his fourth solo album, 8:09, which was largely influenced by his future wife. McIntyre and his wife Barrett married on August 9, 2003, exactly a year after they had met.

In 2004, he made another movie, Tony n' Tina's Wedding, which co-starred Mila Kunis. In 2005, he appeared in the Broadway musical Wicked and competed on the reality television show Dancing with the Stars.

He appeared as Fonzie in Happy Days, a musical based on the hit TV show, from February 15 to March 12 2006 at the Falcon Theater in Los Angeles, CA. He will be reprising the role at a second run at the same location from June 23 to August 13 2006.

In 2008, Joey joined in for the New Kids on the Block reunion.

Walk Away
Joey McIntyre Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You want something more than good
Always saying you wish you could
Take a chance at living out those hazy, crazy dreams
Feeling like this town is colder
Everybody gets older and older
The hardest lesson is learning life ain't always what it seems

[Chorus]

If you wanna walk away (walk away)
Ain't nobody making you stay (making you stay)
Baby it's a losing game
Win place or show
You'll never know
If you walk away
(ain't nobody making you stay)

You don't stay in one place for too long
Gets to feeling like your singing the same old song
All I'm saying is sometimes you just got to give it time
You'd look anywhere for the answer
Maybe you should take a look in the mirror
All I'm saying is sometimes who you are ain't hard
To find

[Chorus]

You'll never know
Maybe you'll find it's all in your mind
If you walk away

If you walk away, I ain't making you stay
Baby that's just a losers game you play
If you walk away, I ain't making you stay
And you'll never know if you walk away

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Walk Away" by Joey McIntyre speaks to those who are feeling stuck in their current situation and have a burning desire for something more. The first verse talks about the frustration of always wanting something more than what one currently has. McIntyre sings about the desire to take a chance and live out those "hazy, crazy dreams" that seem impossible to achieve. The second half of the verse highlights the feeling of isolation that can come with this desire for more. The town is cold, everyone seems to age and you feel like you're falling behind, unable to reach your aspirations.

The chorus is an invitation to leave if you want to, no one is forcing you to stay, but it's important to realize "it's a losing game" – you may never find what you're looking for if you constantly move on from one thing to the next. The lyric "win, place or show, you'll never know" speaks to the idea that you'll never know what could have been if you keep walking away and never staying put.

The second verse encourages the listener to be patient and give it time. Sometimes, you need to stay in one place and look at yourself in the mirror to find the answer you're seeking. The final lyric is a reminder that sometimes, what you're searching for is already a part of you – you just need to recognize it.

Overall, "Walk Away" is a song about the struggle with finding meaning and purpose in life. It speaks to the importance of staying grounded and patient, while also acknowledging the desire to pursue your dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

You want something more than good
You desire something beyond being content

Always saying you wish you could
You frequently vocalize your desire for something more

Take a chance at living out those hazy, crazy dreams
You should take a risk and pursue your wild aspirations

Feeling like this town is colder
You sense a lack of warmth and empathy in your surroundings

Everybody gets older and older
Everyone ages and society changes over time

The hardest lesson is learning life ain't always what it seems
The most difficult truth is realizing that life isn't necessarily as it appears

If you wanna walk away (walk away)
If you want to leave, then leave

Ain't nobody making you stay (making you stay)
Nobody is forcing you to remain

Baby it's a losing game
Departing brings more problems than it solves

Win place or show
Regardless of the outcome

You'll never know
You won't have the answers if you go