Mark is mixing his next album in Brooklyn with producer/guitarist Eric "Roscoe" Ambel and engineer Tim Hatfield.
On his most recent release, Shimmer (also produced by Ambel), McKay's songs tell stories that are philosophical, romantic, and at times political. The album is both musically deliberate and spontaneous live from Ambel’s Cowboy Technical Services recording studio in Williamsburg Brooklyn.
Live from the Memory Hotel (Dren 2003) was recorded at a number of acoustic and electric shows in 2002 with Kris Delmhorst and the band June Star. Brooklyn artist Steve Keene contributed paintings for the album art. It was mastered by Scott Hull at the Hit Factory in NYC.
Mark recorded his critically acclaimed debut album, Nothing Personal (Dren 2001) in three days in Boston with producer Ducky Carlisle.
Mark’s version of “Fatal Wound” appears on For Anyone That’s Listening, A Tribute to Uncle Tupelo (Flat Earth 2003). His interpretation of “I Know You Rider” appears on Ain’t No Grave (Dren 2003), a compilation of traditional music. His rendition of “Who'll Stop the Rain” is the lead track on Chooglin': A Tribute to the Songs of John Fogerty (Dren 2002) and his solo version of "St. Matthew" appears on Papa Nez: A Tribute to the Work of Michael Nesmith (Dren 2001),
Mark performs nationally in some of America’s finest little rock rooms, including Iota in Arlington, VA, the Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis MD Fletcher’s in Baltimore, the Rodeo Bar and the Lakeside Lounge in NYC, the Abbey and Lizard Lounges in Boston, and FitzGerald’s and Schuba’s in Chicago. His music is receiving airplay at over 100 stations worldwide, including WFUV in NYC, WXRT in Chicago, KDHX in St. Louis, WRNR in Annapolic, and WMBR in Boston.
Mark McKay lives in a cabin in the hills of western Maryland with his family.
[Taken from the official website @ http://www.markmckay.com]
Atlantic City
Mark McKay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Night now they blew up his house too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready
For a fight gonna see what them racket boys can do
Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state
And the D.A. can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade and
[Chorus]
Everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got in too deep and I could not pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bough us two tickets on that Coast City bus
[Chorus]
Now our luck may have died and out love may
Be cold but with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sand's turnin' to gold
So put on your stockin's 'cause the night's getting' cold and maybe everything dies
That's a fact but maybe everything that dies
Someday comes back
Now I been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers and
Don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end
So honey last night I met this guy and I'm
Gonna do a little favor for him
Well I guess everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday
Comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
The lyrics to Mark McKay's song "Atlantic City" paint a vivid picture of a city that is in turmoil. The first verse describes how the "chicken man" was blown up, and his house too. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is about the struggles of the people living in Atlantic City. The second verse talks about how the singer is trying to make ends meet by working hard and saving his money, but he still ends up in trouble. He ends up buying two tickets on a bus, hoping that he and his lover can escape to a better life.
The chorus of the song is the most memorable part, and the most poignant. It says, "Everything dies baby that's a fact, but maybe everything that dies someday comes back." This line reflects a sense of hopelessness, but also an underlying faith that things will get better. The line "Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City" gives an indication that despite the troubles, there is still love and hope left.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last
Night now they blew up his house too
There was an explosion last night in Philadelphia that targeted the chicken man and they blew up his house as well
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready
For a fight gonna see what them racket boys can do
On the boardwalk, people are preparing for a fight to see what the gangsters are capable of
Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state
And the D.A. can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade and
The gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of its teeth
There is an influx of troublemakers from other states and the district attorney is unable to ease the situation. A brawl is expected on the promenade with the gambling commission barely holding on to its position
Everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
While it is true that everything eventually dies, there is hope that everything that dies will come back someday. Get ready and look pretty for me tonight as we meet in Atlantic City
Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got in too deep and I could not pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bough us two tickets on that Coast City bus
I had a job and tried to save my money but got into debt that I couldn't pay off. I took out my savings from Central Trust and bought two tickets for us on the Coast City bus
Now our luck may have died and out love may
Be cold but with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sand's turnin' to gold
So put on your stockin's 'cause the night's getting' cold and maybe everything dies
That's a fact but maybe everything that dies
Someday comes back
Our fortunes and love might have faded away, but I will always be with you. We are going where everything is turning to gold. Put on your stockings since the night is getting cold. Even though everything dies, there is still a chance for things to come back
Now I been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers and
Don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end
So honey last night I met this guy and I'm
Gonna do a little favor for him
Well I guess everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday
Comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
I have been struggling to find a job here and it's a place where there are only winners and losers. One shouldn't be caught on the wrong side of the line. I'm tired of losing and last night I met a guy and I'm going to do him a favor. While everything dies, there is still a chance for things to return. So, get ready and look pretty for me as we meet tonight in Atlantic City
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind