Matthew Stephen Ward (b 4th October 1973, Newbury Park, California), known … Read Full Bio ↴Matthew Stephen Ward (b 4th October 1973, Newbury Park, California), known by his stage name M. Ward, is a U.S. singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work, he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.

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

Paul's Song
M. Ward Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And the aeroplane?"
Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every town is all the same
When you've left your heart in the Portland rain...

And how I wish it was not true
But I ain't gonna stand up here and lie to you
I believe y'all deserve more than that
And if there's one thing that I've learned
Brother, you know you're gonna get burned
If you don't know where your love is at

"How d'you plan to get yourself connected?
Are you down with all the latest trends?"
To keep up with friends
Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every plan is all the same

Seems like everywhere I go the sky is falling
And the waitress says she'll meet you with a frown
When I come to town
I ain't gonna' lie to you

Well, every town is all the same
When you've left your heart in the Portland rain...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of M. Ward's song Paul's Song seem to represent the artist's perspective on life while traveling from town to town. The opening line, "Seems like everywhere I go the sky is falling," portrays a sense of hopelessness and despair that he witnesses. He talks about the disapproving manner in which concierges and waitresses in different towns greet him, indicating a sense of judgment by people who do not even know him. Ward further emphasizes the theme of the monotony of life in the line, "Well, every town is all the same," suggesting that the towns he visits are not unique but just copies of each other.

The chorus of the song, "When you've left your heart in the Portland rain," adds a layer of personal loss to the lyrics. The line represents the idea of not having control over one's love life, which is a feeling that can be relatable to everyone. The artist acknowledges that the audience deserves honesty; hence, he refuses to lie about what he thinks of it all. He reveals that life without love can be a source of hurt and pain, which he has come to know the hard way.

In summary, M. Ward's Paul's Song portrays the loneliness and disconnection that sometimes come with a life of constantly moving around. The lyrics remind us of the importance of love and connection in life and the futility of living on the surface without authentic relationships and experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

Seems like everywhere I go the sky is falling
The atmosphere is gloomy and unwelcoming in every place that I visit

And the concierges they meet you with a frown
The people who are meant to make you feel welcome are not friendly and approachable

When I come to town
Whenever I visit a new place

I ain't gonna' lie to you
I promise to be honest with you

Well, every town is all the same
All the places I visit are very similar and offer nothing unique

You say: "how does it feel to be travelling?
You ask me what it's like to constantly be on the move

How's it feel to live your life on a train?
What is it like to always be on the move and live out of a suitcase?

And the aeroplane?"
What about travelling by plane?

Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
I will be truthful with you

When you've left your heart in the Portland rain...
When you've lost someone you love and feel heartbroken

And how I wish it was not true
I wish the situation was different

But I ain't gonna stand up here and lie to you
I won't deceive you with a false story

I believe y'all deserve more than that
I think you all deserve better treatment and honesty

And if there's one thing that I've learned
From all my experiences, there is one lesson that stands out

Brother, you know you're gonna get burned
If you don't take care, you'll get hurt

If you don't know where your love is at
If you're not sure where your heart lies

"How d'you plan to get yourself connected?
How do you intend to forge connections with people?

Are you down with all the latest trends?"
Are you familiar with all the current fads and trends?

To keep up with friends
In order to maintain relationships with friends

Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
I will be honest with you

Well, every plan is all the same
All my strategies for socializing are unexceptional and uninteresting

And the waitress says she'll meet you with a frown
Even the servers at restaurants are not welcoming

When I come to town
Whenever I visit somewhere new

I ain't gonna' lie to you
I won't deceive you

Well, every town is all the same
Every location I visit is interchangeable and offers nothing different

When you've left your heart in the Portland rain...
When you've lost someone you love and feel dejected

Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Isaac Bacani

4y↑2

Seems like everywhere I go the sky is falling
And the concierges they meet you with a frown
When I come to town
I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every town is all the same

You say: "how does it feel to be travelling?
How's it feel to live your life on a train?
And the aeroplane?"
Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every town is all the same
When you've left your heart in the Portland rain...

And how I wish it was not true
But I ain't gonna stand up here and lie to you
I believe y'all deserve more than that
And if there's one thing that I've learned
Brother, you know you're gonna get burned
If you don't know where your love is at

"How d'you plan to get yourself connected?
Are you down with all the latest trends?"
To keep up with friends
Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every plan is all the same Seems like everywhere I go the sky is falling
And the waitress says she'll meet you with a frown
When I come to town
I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every town is all the same
When you've left your heart in the Portland rain...