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
Undertaker
M. Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're treated like you should be
The sky goes on forever in a symphony of song.
And how the water can flow
Like it's streaming out a fountains
And all you got to do is find a sword and a stone.
Like birds of paradise like
Way down in Pollyana where the race runs wild.
Oh but if you're gonna leave
Better call the undertaker
Take me under, undertaker
Take me home.
Oh just place me in a box
And fasten all the locks
And with a one, two throw me over the Bayside bridge.
'Cause love is so good
When you're treated like you should be
The sea goes on forever in a symphony of song.
Oh but if you're gonna leave
Better call the undertaker
Take me under, undertaker
Take me home.
Yeah if you're gonna leave
Better call the undertaker
Take me under, undertaker
Take me home.
The lyrics to M. Ward's song "Undertaker" are quite intricate and symbolic. At their essence, the song is a reflection on the beauty of love when it's treated well, but also the heartbreak and sorrow when a relationship ends. The opening lines "Oh love is so good when you're treated like you should be" sets the tone for the entire song, highlighting that love is a positive force when given the right attention and care. The lines that follow, "The sky goes forever in a symphony of song" and "how the water can flow like it's streaming out a fountain" describe the beauty of nature that surrounds us when we're in love.
However, with the lyrics "Oh but if you're gonna leave, better call the undertaker" and "just place me in a box and fasten all the locks," the tone changes, revealing the underlying heartache and emotional suffering that comes with the end of a relationship. The idea of being placed in a box and having locks thrown on it suggests that the heartbroken person wants to be isolated from the world, closed off from people and unable to feel the pain of being alone. The lyrics of the song are complex, exploring the dual nature of love - on the one hand, it is a wonderful force that brings beauty and meaning to life, but on the other hand, it also has the potential to cause deep emotional pain if it is not treated properly.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh love is so good
Love is a wonderful feeling.
When you're treated like you should be
When you're treated well by your significant other, love becomes even more valuable.
The sky goes on forever in a symphony of song.
The beauty of nature is all around us and can be appreciated through the sounds of the sky.
And how the water can flow
Water has the ability to move freely and gracefully.
Like it's streaming out a fountains
Water can flow like a never-ending fountain.
And all you got to do is find a sword and a stone.
Metaphor for finding something valuable and rare, like true love.
And how it takes all the night
The night can be all-consuming and overwhelming.
Like birds of paradise like
Like the beauty and rarity of the birds of paradise fittingly named.
Way down in Pollyana where the race runs wild.
Referring to a place of freedom and unbridled passion.
Oh but if you're gonna leave
If a lover is considering leaving, it may be time to accept that fact.
Better call the undertaker
A metaphorical call to action to end the relationship.
Take me under, undertaker
Asks the undertaker or metaphorical death to take them away from their troubles or heartache.
Take me home.
Literal desire to be taken to a resting place, or metaphorical desire to be comforted and restored.
Oh just place me in a box
A metaphorical plea to be protected from further harm.
And fasten all the locks
A desire to protect oneself from emotional pain.
And with a one, two throw me over the Bayside bridge.
A desire to end their own life if they cannot find a way to deal with the pain.
The sea goes on forever in a symphony of song.
The vastness and beauty of the sea can bring solace and peace of mind.
Yeah if you're gonna leave
Reiterating the previous sentiment, that it's better to let go than to hold on to someone who doesn't want to be there.
Better call the undertaker
Final plea to end the relationship and move on.
Take me under, undertaker
Metaphorically asking to be taken away from the pain and heartache of the failed relationship.
Take me home.
Asking for comfort and restoration in the wake of a painful breakup.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matthew Stephen Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind