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.
Tomorrow
Madi Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sound of my blood is rushing
Too high
I'm making myself keep climbing.
You keep calling, you keep calling
You keep calling so I'll turn around
Still aching, you keep shaking
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Tomorrow, tomorrow, oh.
Slow down
I'm miles away from crashing
It's all over now
I still see your green eyes flashing.
You keep calling, you keep calling
You keep calling so I'll turn around
Still aching, you keep shaking
But I don't hear you now.
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Tomorrow, tomorrow.
Ooh, I'm over this feeling
Ooh, I gotta believe it
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Tomorrow, tomorrow.
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Ooh, never look back, never look back
Tomorrow, tomorrow, oh
Tomorrow, tomorrow, oh
Tomorrow, tomorrow, oh
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Tomorrow, tomorrow.
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Tomorrow, tomorrow.
The lyrics of Madi Diaz's song "Tomorrow" convey a sense of determination and perseverance despite the odds. The first verse sets the scene of the singer feeling overwhelmed and struggling to keep going, but making the conscious effort to push through. The repeated refrain of "never look back, never look back" emphasizes the idea of forward motion and not getting bogged down by past mistakes or setbacks.
The second verse introduces a sense of nostalgia or longing, with the singer still seeing the "green eyes flashing" of someone they've left behind. However, they remain steadfast in their resolution to keep moving forward, even if it means not hearing that person's call. The final chorus is an anthem of sorts, with the repeating "tomorrow" emphasizing the idea of hope and the possibility of a better future.
Overall, the lyrics of "Tomorrow" convey a message of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The singer acknowledges the challenges they face, but refuses to be held back by them and instead focuses on the potential for a brighter tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
So loud
The sound is very loud and noticeable
The sound of my blood is rushing
Blood is flowing through their veins, and it is pulsing loudly.
Too high
They're pushing themselves too far and are in over their heads.
I'm making myself keep climbing.
They're pushing themselves to keep going forward and make progress.
You keep calling, you keep calling
Someone is calling out to the singer repeatedly.
You keep calling so I'll turn around
The person calling wants the singer to stop and come back to them.
Still aching, you keep shaking
The person who is calling out is hurting and upset.
But I don't hear you now.
The singer is no longer listening to the person calling out to them.
Ooh, never look back, never look back
The singer is telling themselves to not look back at the past.
Tomorrow, tomorrow
The singer is focusing on the future and what's to come.
Slow down
The singer is telling themselves to take it easy and not rush.
I'm miles away from crashing
They're pushing themselves hard, but they won't break down just yet.
It's all over now
The singer has moved on from whatever was holding them back.
I still see your green eyes flashing.
The memory of the person they left behind still lingers.
Ooh, I'm over this feeling
The singer is done with this emotional state that they were in.
Ooh, I gotta believe it
The singer is finding hope and belief in a better future.
Ooh, never look back, never look back
The singer repeats themselves, telling themselves to not look back.
Tomorrow, tomorrow
The singer repeats their focus on the future.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, oh
The singer repeats the words as a way to remind themselves of their outlook.
Tomorrow, tomorrow
The singer repeats their focus on the future.
Tomorrow, tomorrow.
The singer repeats themselves, focusing on what is to come.
Writer(s): Nick Ruth, Madi Diaz, Danny Parker
Contributed by Zoe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@deathbyscience42
I heard this on Law and Order: SVU yesterday. Wow, this was good. It fit the episode so perfectly.
@mercy8303
It really did..
@normasifuentes8338
Absolutely it fit the episode
@edmac4107
That was a great episode though! Can’t wait for the second part!
@Peachyhart
I just saw this episode too, it really, really did.
@northavenue222
me too! why im here...
@user-by4pu9zn3u
I have a simple question. How was this song not a HUGE hit?! It is at once haunting and beautiful.
@maggieh4251
Who else is here from SVU?
@jeremybachmann2281
Raises hand
@mercy8303
Same