According to the Walking In Memphis Songfacts, Cohn was discovered by Carly Simon in the mid-'80s when he was with a 14-piece band called The Supreme Court. Atlantic Records signed him in 1989, but the first attempts to record his debut album with Tracy Chapman 's producer David Kerschenbaum failed. Ten months later, he tried again, producing the set himself with help from the little-known Ben Wisch, who had helped him with his demos. Finally released in 1991 when Cohn was 31 years old, his self-titled debut album was a huge hit, thanks to the massive success of "Walking In Memphis." Cohn won the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist award, beating out both Boyz II Men and Seal. Cohn never matched the chart success of this song, but like his musical heroes Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne , he remained a critical and artistic success as a songwriter and performer.
He has issued two other studio albums to date, The Rainy Season (1993) and Burning the Daze (1998), both on Atlantic Records. A self-released live compilation, Live 04-05 (2005), is being sold at concerts on his current tour.
He is the most famous graduate of Beachwood High School in Beachwood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. He attended Oberlin College as well. In addition, Cohn is notably married to ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas whom he met at the 1999 US Open after being introduced by Andre Agassi. Cohn and Vargas have two sons: Zachary Raphael (born on January 31, 2003) and Samuel Wyatt (born on August 16, 2006). Cohn has two other children— Max and Emily—from a previous marriage.
On August 7, 2005, Cohn was shot in the head during an attempted carjacking, following a concert with Suzanne Vega in Denver, Colorado. He was hospitalized and released the next day. The remaining concerts on the tour were cancelled.
Cohn released The Very Best Of Marc Cohn in June 2006, and his 4th studio album, Join The Parade, was released on October 9, 2007. He continues to tour to this day. For photographs and additional information visit Marc's official website, www.MarcCohn.net.
No Matter What
Marc Cohn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will always be with you
Doesn't matter what you do, girl
Ooh girl, with you
No matter what you do
I will always be around
Won't you tell me what you found, girl
Knock down the old grey wall
Be a part of it all
Nothing to say, nothing to see, nothing to do
If you would give me all
As I would give it to you
Nothing would be, nothing would be, nothing would be
No matter where you go
There will always be a place
Can't you see it in my face, girl
Ooh girl, want you
Knock down the old grey wall
Be a part of it all
Nothing to say, nothing to see, nothing to do
If you would give me all
As I would give it to you
Nothing would be, nothing would be, nothing would be
No matter what you are
I will always be with you
Doesn't matter what you do, girl
Ooh girl, with you
Ooh girl, you girl, want you
Ooh girl, you girl, want you
Marc Cohn’s “No Matter What” is a song about unyielding love and support. At the song’s core is the idea of being a constant presence in another person’s life. The lyrics “No matter what you are, I will always be with you” emphasize that the singer’s love is unconditional and that their partner can rest safely in the knowledge that the singer will never abandon them. The emphasis on emotion over logic is further underlined by the plea “Won't you tell me what you found, girl.”
Furthermore, the song suggests that as much as the singer wants to be there for their partner, they can equally rely on their partner to be present in their life, especially when the going gets tough. This is evident in the lyrics “If you would give me all, as I would give it to you, nothing would be”. The repetition of the phrase “nothing would be” drives home the point that no other factor can shake their bond. The upbeat tempo and the repeated use of the phrase “ooh girl” adds to the song’s overall message to love, cherish, and be with your partner through thick and thin.
Interestingly, Marc Cohn wrote this song when he was heavily introspective and struggling with depression. His goal while writing the song was to create something that could help him get through his own feelings of sadness and isolation. He has mentioned in interviews that this song is one of the rare instances where he sings a direct and specific message, which could be attributed to his emotional state at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
No matter what you are
Regardless of who you are or what you become
I will always be with you
I will stand by your side, through thick and thin
Doesn't matter what you do, girl
Your actions won't affect my commitment to you
Ooh girl, with you
I am deeply connected to you
No matter what you do
Your choices will not change my loyalty to you
I will always be around
I will be there for you, no matter what
Won't you tell me what you found, girl
Please share with me what you have discovered, my dear
Ooh girl, want you
I desire your company and your presence
Knock down the old grey wall
Break down the barriers and limitations
Be a part of it all
Fully immerse yourself in life's experiences
Nothing to say, nothing to see, nothing to do
There is no need for words, sight or action when we have each other
If you would give me all
If you would share all that you have with me
As I would give it to you
As I am willing to give everything to you
Nothing would be, nothing would be, nothing would be
There would be no emptiness or lack in our lives
No matter where you go
Regardless of the places you travel or the journeys you take
There will always be a place
You will always have a home in my heart
Can't you see it in my face, girl
My love and devotion is evident in my expression
Ooh girl, want you
I deeply desire you and your love
Ooh girl, you girl, want you
I desire you, my love, more than anything else in this world.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Cabral
You're very welcome...and I hope you enjoy Chattanooga!
Charlotte Bishop
Hey--moved from Lowell to Chattanooga TN last summer and was so bummed to miss this concert and all the others from last summer! What a lineup! Thanks for posting. I miss this!
kathyaster
TWO OF MY FAVORITES MARC COHN & BADFINGER = MAGIC!!!!