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
Vincent O'Brien
M. Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So he sings the whole night through
(Yeah he sings in the daytime too)
He only dreams when he's sad and he's sad all the time
So he dreams the whole night through
(Yeah he dreams in the daytime too)
There may even be a man in the moon
Oh but Vince your time is runnin' out
You better get yourself together soon!
Out of Buffalo the man
Below the belt he swung
And then after the bell has rung,
Another cheapshot here it comes!
Another cheapshot here it comes!
He only laughs when he's sad and he's sad all the time
So he laughs the whole night through
(Yeah he laughs in the daytime too)
There may be mermaids under the water
There may even be a man in the moon
Oh but Vince your time is runnin' out
I hope you get yourself together soon!
I hope you get yourself together soon!
Vincent O'Brien is a song by M. Ward that seems to tell the story of a troubled man named Vincent. The lyrics are repetitive, highlighting Vincent's perpetual sadness, but also emphasize his tendency to use songs and dreams as his escape from reality. Vincent is depicted as someone who is constantly haunted by something, possibly a past trauma or regret, and cannot find peace in his waking hours. His laughter is a facade, a countermeasure to cover up his pain.
The latter part of the song takes a turn as the lyrics shift to a moment in a boxing ring, where Vincent is fighting. The line "out of Buffalo the man" seems to indicate that Vincent is a boxer from Buffalo, New York. The fight seems to not only represent Vincent's struggle with life but also represents the societal pressure to be a winner or face humiliation. The line "Another cheapshot here it comes!" suggests that either Vincent is being taken advantage of or he himself inflicts cheap shots in the ring. Through the ending lyrics, Ward urges Vincent to get himself together soon, but the listener is left to wonder if Vincent will be able to overcome his sadness and find a way to achieve happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
He only sings when he's sad and he's sad all the time
When he feels low, he sings. Unfortunately, he is always feeling dejected.
So he sings the whole night through
During the night, he keeps on singing songs that reflect his misery.
(Yeah he sings in the daytime too)
He does not only sing in the night but also during the day.
He only dreams when he's sad and he's sad all the time
His sadness also manifests in his dreams. Sadly, he is perpetually melancholic.
So he dreams the whole night through
He's unable to sleep properly because of his sadness. He spends much of it dreaming.
(Yeah he dreams in the daytime too)
His sadness is relentless and follows him even during the day when he is awake.
There may be mermaids under the water
He acknowledges that there may be fanciful creatures in the water.
There may even be a man in the moon
He acknowledges that the moon is an extraordinary object that is capable of supporting life.
Oh but Vince your time is runnin' out
Time is running out for him to improve his situation and overcome his sadness.
You better get yourself together soon!
It's imperative that he overcome his situation quickly.
Out of Buffalo the man
This line could refer to the beginning of a story. It doesn't give much information to interpret.
Below the belt he swung
This line probably refers to an unprofessional boxer who fights dirty.
And then after the bell has rung,
Once the fighting period comes to an end,
Another cheapshot here it comes!
He expects another sneaky punch from his opponent.
He only laughs when he's sad and he's sad all the time
For him, the only way to cope with his sadness is to laugh it off, but he's always sad.
So he laughs the whole night through
During the night, he keeps laughing despite the melancholy that ensues.
(Yeah he laughs in the daytime too)
Even during the day, his fake laughter conceals his continual emotional turmoil.
Oh but Vince your time is runnin' out
Once again, he is reminded that his time is limited.
I hope you get yourself together soon!
This line reinforces the sense of urgency to overcome his sadness and start enjoying life.
I hope you get yourself together soon!
Like the previous line, the song ends by emphasizing the need for the artist to pick himself up and move on.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: M WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ShitscuitsAndGravy
He only sings when he's sad and he's sad all the time
So he sings the whole night through
(Yeah he sings in the daytime too)
He only dreams when he's sad and he's sad all the time
So he dreams the whole night through
(Yeah he dreams in the daytime too)
There may be mermaids under the water
There may even be a man in the moon
Oh but Vince your time is runnin' out
You better get yourself together soon!
Out of Buffalo the man
Below the belt he swung
And then after the bell has rung,
Another cheapshot here it comes!
Another cheapshot here it comes!
He only laughs when he's sad and he's sad all the time
So he laughs the whole night through
(Yeah he laughs in the daytime too)
There may be mermaids under the water
There may even be a man in the moon
Oh but Vince your time is runnin' out
I hope you get yourself together soon!
I hope you get yourself together soon!
@butterknutts5888
here because of Brian Anderson's video..
@MatDavies1
Same! Sure fire way to find great music - skate videos
@DeliriousDM
That video was just super fun
@ImBlackIvy
same
@chrisp4039
Me too!!
@andrewdavidwhyte
Yup! The best!
@phrases3791
I remember discovering M Ward through his soundtrack “The Go Getter”, that was around 2009-2010 for me. The soundtrack literally shifted my reality. With Jams from Elliot Smith, The Black Keys, Animal Collective, The Replacements and M Ward himself, it’s definitely a soundtrack you have to pick up and listen to. He curated to perfection.
@grantwooden5606
That is an amazing movie!!!
@TheDavidtk240
I love him...he's a tough cutie. Cool song. "He only laughs when he's sad"....Don't we all.
@Aguitas15
Yesterday I discoverd M. Ward in a festival, what a nice surprise, I danced a lot and enjoyed the band so much :D