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
Shangri-La
M. Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said she wan fly away
Said she wan fly away
Said she wan fly away
Said she wan fly away to a place where we can escape
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
We be poppin a bar of the cake
Said she wan fly away away
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
Bay side we be chilling by the lake
Said she wanna fly away for the weekend (we can)
I know I've been missing all season
I know I didn't give you a reason didn't wanna hold you for treason (treason)
but I do what I want I treated you like you the one
I treated you like you the one
I treated you like you the one
Said she want fly I'm feeling your vibe is you feeling mine?
You say I'm wrong but I know I'm right we cannot decide
Come like a thief in the night when I hit it I'm hitting right (yeahh)
I put that ass to the side we be fucking all night
I be wrong sometimes
Pop a perky energize
Good dick hypnotize
Make you feel alrighttt
Gotta split it with the guys
Gotta split it with the guysss
Can we go
Can we go
Can we go
Said she wan fly away to a place where we can escape
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
We be poppin a bar of the cake
Said she wan fly away away
To place where we can escape
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
Bay side we be chilling by the lake
Said she wanna fly away for the weekend (we can)
I know I've been missing all season
I know I didn't give you a reason didn't wanna hold you for treason (treason)
but I do what I want I treated you like you the one
I treated you like you the one
I treated you like you the one
Said she wan fly away to a place where we can escape
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
We be poppin a bar of the cake
Said she wan fly away away
To place where we can escape
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
Bay side we be chilling by the lake
Said she wanna fly away for the weekend (we can)
I know I've been missing all season
I know I didn't give you a reason didn't wanna hold you for treason (treason)
but I do what I want I treated you like you the one
I treated you like you the one
I treated you like you the one
Kwamz in the mix
The lyrics of M. Ward's song Shangri-La tells the story of a relationship between two people in which one wants to escape their current situation for the weekend and go to a place of peace and tranquility called Shangri-La. The repeating line "Said she wan fly away to a place where we can escape / Shangri-La yeah that be the place" is the chorus of the song which emphasizes the desire for a stress-free environment. The singer of the song admits that he has been absent during the season and did not give good reasons for his absence, but he did what he wanted and treated his partner as if they were the one. The lyrics are suggestive of a sexual relationship between the two individuals.
The phrase Shangri-La in the song appears to be a reference to a mythical utopia. It is a place that is elusive, with no concrete location, and is described as an earthly paradise that is isolated from the world. In the context of the song, it serves as a metaphor for the desired escape from reality. The song also seems to highlight the strong sexual chemistry between the two individuals. The lyrics mention the use of drugs (pop a perky energize) and sexual acts (put that ass to the side, we be fucking all night) and could suggest a carefree lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Kwamz in the mix
The song is introduced as being mixed by Kwamz
Said she wan fly away
A woman expresses a desire to leave her current location
Said she wan fly away to a place where we can escape
The woman wants to escape to a place where they can both escape from reality
Shangri-La yeah that be the place
The place of escape is Shangri-La, a mythical paradise
We be poppin a bar of the cake
They are celebrating and indulging in a cake or other form of enjoyment
Said she wanna fly away for the weekend (we can)
The woman wants to take a weekend trip away
I know I've been missing all season
The singer admits to neglecting their partner for an entire season
I know I didn't give you a reason didn't wanna hold you for treason (treason)
The artist didn't give a reason for their absence and didn't want to be accused of betrayal
but I do what I want I treated you like you the one
The artist acted selfishly and treated their partner as if they were the most important person in their life
Said she want fly I'm feeling your vibe is you feeling mine?
The woman and the artist are connecting and trying to gauge each other's feelings
You say I'm wrong but I know I'm right we cannot decide
They are having a disagreement and can't come to a resolution
Come like a thief in the night when I hit it I'm hitting right (yeahh)
The artist is sexually confident and will perform well
I put that ass to the side we be fucking all night
They are having sex all night and the singer takes control
I be wrong sometimes
The singer admits to making mistakes
Pop a perky energize
The singer takes a pill to feel energized
Good dick hypnotize
The artist's sexual abilities hypnotize their partner
Make you feel alrighttt
The artist's actions make their partner feel good
Gotta split it with the guys
The singer will share the enjoyment with their friends
Can we go
The woman wants to leave and go to Shangri-La
Bay side we be chilling by the lake
They will relax by the lake at Shangri-La
Said she wanna fly away for the weekend (we can)
The woman wants to take a weekend trip away
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Kevin Bruce, Miracle Udoye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind