Her somewhat contentious relationship with Green himself would be captured for audiences to see in the 2005 documentary film Rock School. Even at that young age, Madi had forceful ideas about her music, an instinct that has served her well in avoiding lazy categorization.
Green's School of Rock led to a scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Madi would spend the next three years. Beyond musical education, it was at Berklee that she met producer Frank Charlton and engineer Martin Cooke, with whom she would record her first solo album, Skin and Bone, in early 2007. Joining her for the sessions was another Berklee student, Kyle Ryan, her songwriting and performing collaborator ever since.
Skin and Bone is a sparkling debut, capturing a rootsy side of Diaz as singer-songwriter and drawing comparisons to the work of artists like Patty Griffin. But just as soon as Skin and Bone arrived, Diaz was already moving forward. She and Ryan began co-writing with others, and the pair, often joined by bass player Adam Popick, started to play regularly in and around Boston. A chance meeting at a show in New York City lead Madi to her manager Ty Stiklorius (part of John Legend's management team) and in turn to a publishing deal with Cherry Lane (Ryan, too, signed with Cherry Lane).
With support from her new management and publisher, doors began to open and interest in Madi grew, especially after people saw her perform at places like the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival, WXPN Phildelphia's XPoNential Music Festival and the Living Room in New York City's Lower East Side.
Diaz and Ryan began co-writing with folks like Sarah Siskind, Garrison Starr and David Mead, and recording demos with producers Gary Paczosa (Dixie Chicks, Alison Krauss), Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson) and Jay Joyce (Patty Griffin). Those sessions eventually spurred Diaz and Ryan to uproot from Boston and move to Nashville, where they continued to write new material and ingratiate themselves into the local scene through local gigs at The Basement and Mercy Lounge. Nashville producers, Ian Fitchuck and Justin Loucks (Landon Pigg, Griffin House, De Novo Dahl) became friends and soon collaborators, the first byproduct of which is Diaz and Ryan's new EP, Ten Gun Salute.
The sound of Ten Gun Salute might surprise those who have heard Skin and Bone, as Madi and Kyle veer off into new sonic territories. Toy pianos plink. Fat basslines oomph. Americana overtones give way to imaginative pop structures. All the while there's that amazing voice weaving through. From the simple and sublime "Heavy Heart," to the instantly memorable "Nothing At All," the evocative storytelling of "Love You Now" to the damn-near-epic title track, Ten Gun Salute finds Diaz soaring.
Man In Me
Madi Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause when I met you swore that you saw me
When you think I might be someone else
Does it turn you on?
I used to not get scared of shiny new things
'Til I saw you in the shower sitting on your knees
But when we turn off all the lights
Tell me now whose lips I was kissing
It's all about the lips I was kissing
The man in me and the woman in you
I'm not proud of kicking in your bathroom door
Or screaming at you, I don't know you anymore
When I started saying things out loud
I couldn't take it back
I knew it back then like I know it now
If thoughts could kill, I'd never talk you down
But I try and try, I know you well
I try and try and hold you still
You'd lie and then I'd lie
You couldn't hide it anymore
Tell me now whose lips I was kissing
It's all about the lips I was kissing
The man in me and the woman in you
If it wasn't real, why do I still feel it?
Did we mean it at all? Did we really mean it?
If it wasn't real, why do I still feel it?
Did we mean it at all? Did we really mean it?
Tell me now whose lips I was kissing
It's all about the lips I was kissing
The man in me and the woman in you
The man in me and the woman in you
The lyrics to Madi Diaz's song "Man In Me" explore the complexities of identity and desire within a relationship. The song opens with a question directed towards the listener, asking if they imagine the singer differently than how she sees herself. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which grapples with the idea of projecting expectations onto another person.
The second verse introduces the idea of fear, as the singer admits that meeting her lover has changed her perspective on new experiences. This fear is juxtaposed with a sexual encounter in the shower, suggesting that the singer is willing to push past her boundaries in order to please her partner. However, the chorus implies a sense of confusion and uncertainty about who she is kissing, as well as who she is as a person.
The bridge of the song takes a darker turn, describing violent behavior from both parties in the relationship. The line "If thoughts could kill, I'd never talk you down" hints at a sense of resentment and anger towards the other person, while the line "You couldn't hide it anymore" suggests that secrets have been revealed. Despite this, the chorus repeats once more, further emphasizing the confusion and ambiguity of the relationship.
Overall, "Man In Me" is a poignant and introspective exploration of identity and desire, told through the lens of a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you imagine me differently?
Do you have a different perception of me from when we first met?
'Cause when I met you swore that you saw me
When we first met, you claimed to have seen the real me.
When you think I might be someone else
Do you suspect me of being someone other than myself?
Does it turn you on?
Does the thought of me being someone else turn you on?
I used to not get scared of shiny new things
I was never afraid of trying new things until I met you.
'Til I saw you in the shower sitting on your knees
My perception of you changed when I saw you vulnerable, sitting on your knees in the shower.
But when we turn off all the lights
When we're alone in the dark,
We both get what we want
we both get what we desire.
Tell me now whose lips I was kissing
Can you identify whose lips I was kissing?
It's all about the lips I was kissing
The importance lies in whose lips I was kissing.
The man in me and the woman in you
We both have masculine and feminine qualities, regardless of gender.
I'm not proud of kicking in your bathroom door
I regret my impulsive behavior when I kicked down your bathroom door.
Or screaming at you, I don't know you anymore
I lashed out because I felt like I didn't know you anymore.
When I started saying things out loud
When I began to speak my mind aloud,
I couldn't take it back
I couldn't unsay what was already said.
I knew it back then like I know it now
I had a feeling then that still holds true now.
If thoughts could kill, I'd never talk you down
If my thoughts had the power to harm, I'd never try to talk you down.
But I try and try, I know you well
I keep trying because I know you so well.
I try and try and hold you still
I make every effort to hold onto you.
You'd lie and then I'd lie
You would lie and then I would follow suit.
You couldn't hide it anymore
You couldn't conceal your lies any longer.
If it wasn't real, why do I still feel it?
If our love wasn't genuine, why do I still feel its effects?
Did we mean it at all? Did we really mean it?
Did our love have any true depth? Did it mean anything to us?
The man in me and the woman in you
We both have complex masculine and feminine qualities, regardless of gender.
Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ANTI- Records
Stream & Download: https://madidiaz.ffm.to/maninme
MerowenaRavenclaw
10/10 flawless drumming
R D
:)
kruddy
"The man in me and the woman in you" is one of the best lines I've heard in a minute, Madi is the best
Martin Edwards
Its great to see you back making beautiful music Madi, you've been missed! ❤️
Polyvinyl Records
madi is a star <3
Natalie Osborne
The drum/no drum tension KILLS me. Perfection.
ASHUTOSH KUMAR
You are an incredible singer, I have been listening you since you released Ashes, I have listened more than a billion songs, but Ashes is still my favourite, the way you curve your voice, it's pure love for music, I thought you were such a superstar that you wouldn't have time to look at a mere comment, I didn't dared to look over the views, But today I when I saw such a low responses here, it hurts me bad. It's my first comment anywhere on YouTube. I know now why I didn't wrote anywhere else because it was yours at the first place. I love everything about your music, the voice, the lyrics, the music and the attitude and capacities you got. Please don't stop making music. Please don't stop singing, you are meant to be heard by whole word. If not anyone else, sing for me! Please
NYKnicks Fan
Great song Madi!
NIKONGUY1960
What's not to like? Those who put in a 'thumbs down' must hate good music.