Ward was previously with the band Rodriguez, which included bassist Kyle Field (of Little Wings fame) and drummer Mike Funk. They recorded and released on cassette Box Plots and Cash Crops and then the album Swing Like a Metronome in 2000. Duet for Guitars #2 was released on Howe Gelb's Ow Om record label. Ward's 2001 album, End of Amnesia, was released by Future Farmer Records, and his subsequent albums have been released on Merge Records. A collection of live recordings, Live Music & the Voices of Strangers, was a self-released disc that was sold at his shows. His next album, Transfiguration of Vincent, was released in 2003, followed by Transistor Radio in 2005. A year later, Post War was released.
In 2006, he contributed a song to, and helped produce, the John Fahey tribute album, I Am the Resurrection. He also contributed the song "Transfiguration #1" from Transfiguration of Vincent to the Brushfire Records soundtrack for A Brokedown Melody, a Jack Johnson surfing film.
His album, Hold Time, was released in 2009. The album A Wasteland Companion followed in 2012. The album title alludes to T.S. Eliot's 1922 modernist poem, The Waste Land. In 2016, he released More Rain. On June 8, 2018, M. Ward released What a Wonderful Industry.
Side Projects
In 2008 M. Ward combined forces with Zooey Deschanel and became She & Him. They have released two albums so far, Volume One in 2008 and Volume Two in 2010. He is also one fourth of the folk supergroup, Monsters of Folk, alongside Jim James from My Morning Jacket, and Conor Oberst & Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes. Their self-titled release, Monsters of Folk, was released in 2009.
* Official website
Involuntary
M. Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're thinking that you just don't know
And that feeling grows
Without control
And you're thinking about a place to go
But your body tells you
"Stay at home"
And When the phone has lost it's bell
And the doorbell has lost it's sound
You're only hearin' your heart pound
It's involuntary
And have you ever tried to leave at the right time
But the right time seems to come so slow
And that feeling grows
Without control
And you're thinking about a place to go
But your body tells you
"Stay at home"
It's involuntary
And When the phone has lost it's bell
And the doorbell has lost it's sound
You're only hearin' your heart pound
It's involuntary
The lyrics to M. Ward's song "Involuntary" vividly describe the feeling of being lost and confused in the late hours of the night. The singer begins by describing a particular moment of uncertainty, where he feels directionless and unsure which path to take. The feeling of confusion and unrest "grows without control" as he contemplates going out into the world, but his body resists and tells him to "stay at home." The singer conveys a sense of helplessness and powerlessness, as his emotions begin to take over his rational mind.
The chorus presents a jarring contrast, describing a sense of isolation and loneliness. The silence of the phone and doorbell create an atmosphere of emptiness and loss, emphasizing the singer's disorienting state. The pounding of his heart reminds him of his solitary existence and his inability to control his own feelings.
The second verse continues the singer's introspective musings, describing his struggle to leave when the "right time" presents itself. Despite his desire to leave, he finds himself unable to move quickly enough, and he again experiences a growing sense of confusion and unease. The chorus follows, repeating the haunting imagery of the silence of the night and the pounding of the singer's heart.
Overall, "Involuntary" provides a poignant reflection on the universal experience of feeling lost and unsure in the dead of night. Through detailed imagery and vivid lyrics, M. Ward presents a raw and intimate portrait of his own emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been alone in the night time
Have you ever felt isolated when it is dark outside?
And you're thinking that you just don't know
When your mind is uncertain of what to do
And that feeling grows
The sense of confusion and doubt intensifies
Without control
You cannot help but feel the way you do
And you're thinking about a place to go
You're considering finding somewhere else to be
But your body tells you
However, your physical self urges you otherwise
"Stay at home"
Encouraging you to remain where you are
It's involuntary
This inner struggle is not a choice but automatic
And When the phone has lost it's bell
When the phone refuses to ring
And the doorbell has lost it's sound
And the doorbell fails to make a noise
You're only hearin' your heart pound
You begin to focus on the sound of your heart beating
It's involuntary
This sense of anxiety and fear is not something you can control
And have you ever tried to leave at the right time
Have you ever attempted to exit at an opportune moment?
But the right time seems to come so slow
However, the appropriate time to leave appears to take forever to arrive
And that feeling grows
The sensation of restlessness and discontent becomes more intense
Without control
You cannot regulate or suppress your sentiments
And you're thinking about a place to go
You ponder potential destinations
But your body tells you
Nonetheless, your instincts urge you to stay put
"Stay at home"
Reminding you to remain where you are
It's involuntary
This inner battle of desire and reason happens without intention or willpower
And When the phone has lost it's bell
When the phone is not responding
And the doorbell has lost it's sound
And the doorbell is no longer chiming
You're only hearin' your heart pound
You focus only on the sound of your pulse
It's involuntary
This heightened sensitivity and inability to relax is beyond your control
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matthew Stephen Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind