Born into a working-class family of Lebanese and Italian heritage in Buffalo, New York, Scibilia left town a month after graduating high school, moving away from the Northeast and resettling in East Nashville. His school guidance counselor had unknowingly set those wheels in motion several years earlier, when she sat down with Scibilia to talk about his future. Frustrated with his lack of conventional plans after graduation, she sarcastically asked him, βWhat are you going to do? Go to Nashville and write songs?β To the budding musician, that question sounded like a great idea; giving Scibilia the extra motivation he needed to head south. At 18 years old, he became one of the first members of his family β a family that includes several part-time musicians β to leave the Buffalo area.
Nashville β a town rooted not only in country music, but pop, rock, and dance, too β has become an appropriate home base for Scibiliaβs music. He doesnβt limit his songwriting to one genre. Instead, he writes songs that spread themselves wide, mixing pop hooks, rock & roll energy, and dark storytelling into the same pot. Taking cues from the artists he grew up with β including the Beastie Boys, Lauryn Hill, and Bob Dylan β he sings about the greatness of ordinary life, filling his songs with regular characters who resembled Scibilia, his family, and his friends. He tours heavily, too, opening for everyone from James Bay to the Zac Brown Band. Every night, the audiences are different but they all respond to Scibiliaβs music.
Eventually, his growing success earned him a record deal with Capitol/IRS Records. With Butch Walker serving as his producer, he recorded Out of Style, a major-label debut album whose title hinted at the musicβs broad, multi-genre appeal. βI wanted it to feel like a mix-tape,β Scibilia explains, and he succeeded, creating an album that seemed poised to create just as much buzz as his cover of the Woody Guthrie song βThis Land Is Your Land,β which had appeared in the most Shazam-ed commercial of Super Bowl 2015. Then, one week after the albumβs release, the label closed and Scibilia was on his own once again.
Fortunately, Scibilia had always thrived on independence. Wholly in charge of his career once again, he began making new music at his own studio, embracing the freedom to record and release songs whenever he wanted. There was nothing standing in his way: no boardroom meetings in Nashville skyscrapers, no focus groups, no record executives weighing in on his marketability. Even better, Scibiliaβs fans were just as supportive as ever, turning his cover of John Lennonβs βHappy Xmas (War is Over)β β recorded as a duet with fellow songwriter and Nashville TV star Lennon Stella β into a viral smash. Released during the 2016 holiday season, the song racked up more than a million Spotify streams during the week before Christmas.
Scibilia kicked off 2017 with another viral hit, βSummer Clothes,β a nostalgic single. βI was 18 when I moved from Buffalo to Nashville,β he reflects, βand my dad would call me once a week and end every conversation with, βOne more time, whatβs your address?β But he would never send me any mail. The song is a little bit about my hometown, my family, but mostly just someone looking for an excuse to call someone they miss.β Scibilia released the song as a double-sided single: the first featuring synthesizers, acoustic guitars, and drum loops, and the second fueled by a stripped-down combination of vocals and unplugged guitars. Then, while the song gathered steam on the Spotify and iTunes charts, Scibilia did what heβs always doneβcontinued writing and creating from his life experiences out on the road and at home in East Nashville.
Better Man
Marc Scibilia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But baby I'm old man, when I am with you
and i'm a fool man, compare to a school man
but I feel so enlighten, just studying your smile
And I dont care how small I stand
I dont plan on measure it
cuz when you love me as I am
baby I am a better man
and I am a frail man, ain't no fairy tale man
but because you accept than
I almost forget that I am bruised and i am broken
and I'm an exposed man, though i do some composing
I ain't got 5-10 years plan
and I ain't got no, no back pocket, baby
And it dont matter where I've been, where I wasn't going
cuz when you love me where I am
baby I'm a better man
You love me the way I am
for reasons I do not understand
and your love is so much better than
the kind of things I've learned
Now I don't care how small I stand
don't plan on compare it
cuz you have love me just as I am
and that makes me a... better man
And I'm a small man, next to a tall man
but baby I'm old man
when I'm with you...
In Marc Scibilia's song "Better Man," the singer is expressing his insecurity and self-doubts, acknowledging that he may not be the biggest or the strongest, but he is at his best when he is with his significant other. He compares himself to a "small man" next to a "tall man," indicating a physical difference, but then goes on to say that he is an "old man" when he is with his partner. This shift in characterization shows his emotional growth and the impact that the person he loves has had on him. He also compares himself to a "fool man" compared to a "school man" further emphasizing his self-doubt, but then goes on to say that he feels enlightened just by seeing his partner's smile.
The singer also talks about how his partner's love has transformed him into a "better man," acknowledging his shortcomings and faults but feeling accepted and loved despite them. He describes himself as a "frail man" who is "bruised and broken" and has no long-term plans or aspirations. Still, he feels his partner's acceptance and love have given him a newfound sense of confidence and self-worth. The repetition of the line "baby, I'm a better man" emphasizes the transformative power of love and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a small man, next to a tall man
I am physically small when compared to others.
But baby I'm old man, when I am with you
Being with you makes me feel mature and experienced.
and i'm a fool man, compare to a school man
I am not as educated or smart as some people.
but I feel so enlighten, just studying your smile
Your smile brings me joy and helps me to learn and grow.
And I dont care how small I stand
I am not concerned with my physical stature.
I dont plan on measure it
I do not plan on comparing myself to others as it is not important.
cuz when you love me as I am
Your love for me as I am makes me feel whole and happy.
baby I am a better man
Your love has made me a better person overall.
and I am a frail man, ain't no fairy tale man
I am physically weak and not a fictional hero.
but because you accept than
You accept me for who I am despite my flaws.
I almost forget that I am bruised and i am broken
Your love for me helps me forget my past hurts and imperfections.
and I'm an exposed man, though i do some composing
I open myself up to you even though I may appear put-together.
I ain't got 5-10 years plan
I do not have a set plan or timeline for my life.
and I ain't got no, no back pocket, baby
I do not have any hidden agenda or motive.
And it dont matter where I've been, where I wasn't going
My past and future plans are not important as long as you love me.
cuz when you love me where I am
Your love for me in the present moment is what truly matters.
baby I'm a better man
Your love has made me a better version of myself.
You love me the way I am
You accept and embrace me for who I am.
for reasons I do not understand
I may not fully comprehend why you love me, but I am grateful for it.
and your love is so much better than
Your love is more fulfilling than any material possession or knowledge.
the kind of things I've learned
The things I have learned in life are not as important as your love.
Now I don't care how small I stand
My physical size has become insignificant due to your love.
don't plan on compare it
I do not plan on comparing myself to others anymore.
cuz you have love me just as I am
Your love for me as I am has made me feel complete and content.
and that makes me a... better man
Your love has had a positive impact on my life overall.
And I'm a small man, next to a tall man
Physically, I am smaller than some people.
but baby I'm old man
Being with you makes me feel mature and wise regardless of my physical age.
when I'm with you...
Your presence in my life has brought me joy and fulfillment.
Writer(s): Marc Scibilia Copyright: Good Lander Music, Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
deegklap
Absolutely fantastic song, Marc! I look forward to whatever music you'll release next. God bless!
Dallas Dwayne
This has been one of my favorite songs of Yours for a long time. I never got around to recording a cover but I've enjoyed playing live a couple times.
Noor Ko
This is so good !! Love your voice. Keep it up
Mr. Neuman
I saw you play this before a John Mclaughlin concert in Philly last year. I was there with my then girlfriend, now fiance, and this has been my anthem in our relationship. Sometimes a piece of music just hits you deep down in the soul. Thanks!
Eufracina
Such a great song!
Thomas Naderer
i always listened to your version in your kitchen. but this one is really well done. love to see you grow! keep it going
Debmalya Bandyopadhyay
A truly remarcable song.
John Jaeger
I loved the concert last Thursday in NYC! I hope that the tour is going well!
Yadira Sotelo
Love itttt!!!! π
Brenda Villa
I love it, Marc! greetings from Mexico