Taylor started her musical career at the age of fifteen in the band Little Red Rocket with Orenda Fink which released two albums on Geffen, Who Did You Pay (1997) and It's in the Sound (2000). The group disbanded during the merging of Geffen with Universal Music Group.
Taylor later moved to Athens, Georgia along with her musical collaborator, Fink where they formed the band Azure Ray.
Taylor released her first solo album 11:11 on Saddle Creek Records on May 24, 2005. The album features Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Gretta Cohn of Cursive, Andy LeMaster and Mike Mogis as both musicians and producers. Grey's Anatomy named its March 31, 2011 episode Song Beneath the Song after a track from the album and also featured the song on the original soundtrack. Taylor later recorded a new song for Grey's Anatomy's 2005 Christmas episode entitled Christmas After All. Her second solo album, Lynn Teeter Flower, was released on March 6, 2007, also on Saddle Creek. A Good Start, the first track, was subsequently named one of NPR's 10 best songs of the year for 2007. The Ballad of Sean Foley was co-written with Conor Oberst. The following year she released an acoustic album titled Savannah Drive with Andy LeMaster which includes stripped-down versions of songs from her first two albums, plus one new track, Tell Me. On March 31, 2009 she released her third full length, LadyLuck via Nettwerk Music Group featuring the song Cartoons and Forever Plans, co-written by and including guest vocals from Michael Stipe of R.E.M.. LadyLuck reached number 48 on Billboard's "Heatseakers" charts.
Overlook, Maria's 4th solo album, was released August 16, 2011. After moving back to her hometown of Birmingham, Taylor was unable to write for nearly a year, eventually composing the entire album over two weeks during a break in touring with Azure Ray. This release marks the first time Taylor produced her own album. Paste called Overlook "her best, most animated collection in years." [19]
Maria Taylor released her fifth solo record, Something About Knowing on October 29, 2013 on Saddle Creek Records.
After moving back to Los Angeles, Taylor wrote and recorded In the Next Life, released December 9, 2016 on her own label, Flower Moon Records. The album features guest appearances from familiar collaborators Joshua Radin, Conor Oberst, among others. If Only (featuring Conor Oberst) was prominently featured in NBC's This Is Us. NPR, who premiered the full album stream, called it "her warmest and most affecting album... filled with gorgeous, touching songs about family, legacy, fear and the pursuit of contentment."
In November 2017, Taylor joined Ben Lee and an all star band of other musicians as Daniel Johnston's back band during the Los Angeles stop of his final tour.
In April 2018, Paste premiered Real Life (Trump Era) from the Friends and Family Vol. 1 compilation, put out on her label, Flower Moon Records. Released May 11, 2018, other contributors included Azure Ray bandmate Orenda Fink, Nik Freitas, Louis Schefano, Jake Bellows[/artist, and more. Flower Moon Records has since re-released Taylor's earlier albums, 11:11 and LadyLuck. On November 11, 2019, Taylor released her self-titled album, Maria Taylor.
Song Beneath The Song
Maria Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now there is a song beneath the song
One day you'll learn
You'll soon discern its true meaning
An interesting detachment
A listless poem of love sincere
Desire, despair
Overlapping melodies
And it's not a love, it's not a love
It's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love, it's not a love song
Oh now the roots are reminiscing
Recurring dreams of minor chords
Metred time
Muted chimes find the beat
And in the pulse there lies conviction
A steady push and pull routine
The cymbals swell
High notes flail into reach
And it's not a love, it's not a love
It's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love,
It's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love, it's not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love, it's not a love song
Maria Taylor's Song Beneath The Song is a song that seems cryptic at first, but with continuous listening and analyzing one can decipher the meaning beneath it. The lyrics express a sense of detachment and a listless poem of love that is sincere but at the same time unfulfilled. The first verse "Cryptic words meander, Now there is a song beneath the song, One day you'll learn, You'll soon discern its true meaning" is an invitation to the listener to hear beyond the surface of the song and discover the hidden message.
The song continues with another verse where the roots reminisce, and recurring dreams of minor chords metred time, muted chimes find the beat. This verse shows how music can take one on a journey down memory lane and how it can evoke strong emotions even without words. The third verse speaks about the rhythm and how it's not about love. It's a steady push and pull routine, high notes flail into reach, and the cymbals swell. The refrain repeats that it's not a love song, which can be interpreted as a way of expressing unrequited love that is not mutual or the loss of love.
Overall, the Song Beneath The Song is a combination of beautiful and haunting melodies that tug at the heartstrings. It's a song about the power of music to convey emotions, memories, and hidden messages. The lyrics express detachment, lost love, and unfulfilled desires, but the melody is what draws listeners in with its overlapping melodies, minor chords, and muted chimes.
Line by Line Meaning
Cryptic words meander
The lyrics of the song are mysterious and winding
Now there is a song beneath the song
There is a deeper meaning behind the lyrics
One day you'll learn
Eventually, you will understand the true meaning
You'll soon discern its true meaning
You will soon be able to identify the real purpose behind the song
An interesting detachment
The song has a unique sense of separation
A listless poem of love sincere
The lyrics can be interpreted as a genuine yet unenthusiastic love letter
Desire, despair
The emotions within the song fluctuate between longing and hopelessness
Overlapping melodies
Multiple tunes weave together to create the complex sound of the song
And it's not a love, it's not a love
The song repeatedly emphasizes that it is not a love song
It's not a love, it's not a love song
The song makes it clear that love is not the focus
Oh now the roots are reminiscing
The origins of the song are reflecting on its past
Recurring dreams of minor chords
The song is filled with dreams that feature gloomy and melancholic notes
Metred time
The song follows a consistent beat throughout
Muted chimes find the beat
The quiet bells are able to match the rhythm of the song
And in the pulse there lies conviction
The song's strong beat contains a sense of certainty
A steady push and pull routine
The song sticks to a repetitive yet powerful pattern
The cymbals swell
The sound of the cymbals increases in intensity
High notes flail into reach
The song reaches higher pitches with uncontrolled effort
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Samm G
Maria Taylor is the epitome of someone making music to connect, feel with similar people who ache to feel heard/seen without yelling. I get it. 12 year old me would not be here today without you, Maria Taylor.
wllmmttwht
I saw her perform this song in Birmingham, Al back in 07’ with her entire family. Probably the most touching moment I’ve ever experienced at a concert. She was great and she opened up for bright eyes.
RookieTrucker
I’m pretty sure Conor sings backups vocals in the chorus of this song
flexathillcrest1
Paste Magazine originally introduced me to this song with one of their sample DVDs 📀 but was just binge Watching Grey's Anatomy and my ears perked up and so did my memory. Great song.
RookieTrucker
So many memories as a teenager to this song/album.
girlsyyEd
Who else heard this song for the first time in greys anatomy
codesamurai
I love this song! Good thing it's not a love song, I hate love songs! :D
Angelo Poet
I LOOOOOVE THIS SONG!!!
Subawu_jku
i love it!!!!
Kim Tatchell
Love this song. <3