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
Poor Boy
M. Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Head against a pillow
Fast asleep
Poor girl
Head against a window
Lost in a dream
One day they will be as giants
But that day ain't yet come
Wide world
Wide world of sorrow
Won't stand a chance
Wide world
Wide world of sorrow
Won't stand a chance
One day they will be as giants
Stronger than the sun
But that day ain't yet come
The lyrics of M. Ward's song Poor Boy speak to the theme of hope and resilience. The two verses deal with two individuals, a poor boy and a poor girl, both asleep and lost in their own world. The first verse describes the poor boy with his head against a pillow, his mind at rest. The second verse introduces the poor girl, whose head is against the window, lost in a dream.
The chorus provides the key message of the song, which is an optimistic one. The singer states that the 'wide world of sorrow won't stand a chance'. The phrase is repeated twice, creating emphasis and highlighting the hope that is central to the theme of the song. The singer then reiterates the potential of the two individuals, stating that 'One day they will be as giants, stronger than the sun.'
This assertion of strength and potential serves as an encouragement to the listener, urging them to hold on and continue to hope in the midst of difficulty. The repeating melody and the simple chords give the song a contemplative and meditative quality, encouraging listeners to reflect on the message of hope and resilience in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor boy
A boy who is lacking in material possessions and resources
Head against a pillow
Positioned in a comfortable and restful manner to sleep
Fast asleep
Deeply and soundly asleep
Poor girl
A girl who is deprived and disadvantaged in life
Head against a window
Resting her head on a hard and uncomfortable surface
Lost in a dream
Engaged in a imaginative state while asleep
One day they will be as giants
In the future, they will become extremely successful and powerful
Stronger than the sun
They will possess an immense strength and willpower
But that day ain't yet come
However, that day has not yet arrived and they are still struggling
Wide world
A vast and complex world full of challenges and difficulties
Wide world of sorrow
A world where people face numerous hardships and sufferings
Won't stand a chance
Will not be victorious or successful against the struggles of the world
Wide world
The same vast and complex world from before
Wide world of sorrow
The world is still full of hardships and suffering
Won't stand a chance
People will continue to struggle and face difficulties, but they will eventually overcome them
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: HOWE GELB, MATT WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind