At first glance Martyn Joseph is (just) another gifted singer songwriter. First impressions are there to mislead of course: Joseph's ambition is broader than entertainment, deeper than commerce. Some musicians want to move your feet, some just want to move you: Martyn Joseph wants to move heaven and earth. Somewhere back in the middle distance Martyn Joseph emerged from the pack and we began to notice. For a moment there he might have been a pop-star, certainly a protest-singer, a balladeer now and then, a Celtic rock star before they were in vogue, a folk troubadour and then, just, Martyn Joseph. Darkness on the edge of Cardiff. If he has a reputation onstage as a raconteur, extemporizing lyrics to fit every occasion, his songs have always been infected with a discreet but defiant god bothering, music more interested in the forgotten than the remembered, the way things might be than the way they have become. It is less the ghost of Tom Jones than a Holy Ghost music, an aching and a longing for another way, another place, where you can treasure the questions that have no answers. Depending on where he was at the time, some of these songs have had a fortune spent on colouring them in while others are the second-take line drawings from the home studio or Polaroid's snapped live in the back of beyond.
The consistency is the voice the place where he stands, from where he chooses to look at life. This is music that articulates a yearning for another world that is yet to be born, songs of sorrow acquainted with grief but, nevertheless, melodies carried in sunlight, thunder and rainbows from the same sky. And as his 'Best Of' collection illustrates, Joseph's work matures with age. If these songs are already word-perfect to fans, in the future they will be covered by Britain's two leading contemporary music magazines Q, and, MoJo, respectively, describe Martyn Joseph as having 'a depth, resonance and emotional punch, which belies comparisons', and as being 'an artist of enduring worth'. Meanwhile The Guardian was transfixed by this gifted and gracious Welshman's 'burnished voice' whilst Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music and iconic songwriter himself, regards Martyn as one of Britain's 'most charismatic and electrifying performers'. The Boston Globe concluded that the man was a 'profound experience'. Such press plaudits, and there are many more to choose from, would make any publicist purr with pleasure, but for Martyn Joseph, he regards them in a detached, almost incidental kind of way. For Martyn, 'it's the song that matters'. Yet such is Martyn's stature as an acoustic artist of almost hypnotic ability that BBC Radio 2, Britain's most listened to radio network, featured Martyn in their peak-time series on Singer/Songwriters. To be awarded the garland of your own programme on the Sony 'Station Of The Year', and placed alongside the likes of Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson and Mary Chapin Carpenter really says it all about Martyn's abilities.
Martyn's 20 year career has embraced some notable achievements including 5 Top 50 UK chart positions, with such songs as 'Dolphins Make Me Cry', 'Working Mother' and 'Let's Talk About It In The Morning', and appearances and tours with, amongst others, Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn, Joan Armatrading, Clannad, Chris De Burgh, Jools Holland, Art Garfunkel, and even, Celine Dion. However, for Martyn, these various accomplishments, satisfying though they are, count as just part of the process, the necessary presentation aspect. As he says, 'Really what I do is try and write songs that might make a difference'.
His touring work and appearances over the years, on both sides of the Atlantic, have helped to establish this gifted and gracious Welshman as one of the foremost singer/songwriters of his generation. As Janis Ian said of sharing a stage with Martyn 'I loved working with him. I loved listening to him, I'd love to work with him again, anytime, anyplace'. Martyn's particular strength is in the lyrical narrative of his songs, be they contemporary protests against injustice and inhumanity, a musical psalm to the fulfillment and fragilities of love, or a piercing précis of social history, 'it's the song that can soothe, explain, and even in a small way save us'. In this manner he carries on in the tradition of the six string balladeer as both catalyst and interpreter of our raddled and rewarding times, our personal and communal stories sung out loud in the spirit of Woody Guthrie, Ewan MacColl, Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen. That tradition, and sound, that thankfully still emerges from The Hallowed Hobo's Hall of Fame.
Across a 10 year cycle of albums from the Sony days of 'Being There' to his recent two volume live compilation 'Don't Talk About Love, Martyn's song catalogue is an awesomely impressive archive of our times, our tribulations, our wonder and our wounds. Amongst the considerable collection of positive reviews of Martyn's recording and live work, the two regularly recurring words describing, in particular, his performances are 'passion' and 'humour'. One observer after seeing Martyn in concert likened the experience and content to 'the beautiful business of being alive with all its jokes, absurdity and sadness, seared by music for the heart and head'. When you encounter Martyn Joseph, you'll hear likewise...
Another Chance
Martyn Joseph Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another SM 58
Another chance and I cant wait
Somewhere your waiting
Don't give up without a fight
Lets keep faith with what we know
Searching for the rainbow
I will be loving you tonight
I will be loving you
I'll rip up my heart in these songs tonight
Another time, another place
You gave me love and tender grace
Now I beat these lonely miles
But I will find you
I will be loving you tonight….
Another night, another date
Another SM 58
I'l reach out and touch your face
I know that your waiting there
I will be loving you tonight…x 2 (tonight – is another chance)
The song "Another Chance" by Martyn Joseph is a poignant expression of hope and determination to find love again. The lyrics depict the singer's persistence and enthusiasm to try again in matters of love. The first two lines of the song depict the anticipation of meeting someone new, with the reference to SM 58 being a microphone brand used to symbolize the start of a musical performance. The lyrics reveal that the singer does not want to give up on his dreams of love and is ready to embrace whatever the universe has in store for him. The line "Somewhere your waiting" indicates that the singer believes there is someone special out there for him and that he hopes to meet them soon.
The chorus of the song implores the listener to not give up hope, even when things seem bleak. The phrase "Don't go gently into the night" is a reference to the famous poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas. It is a call to fight against despair and to hold on to what we know to be true. The line "Searching for the rainbow" is an expression of hope that the singer will find the light at the end of the tunnel and that love will come his way.
In summary, "Another Chance" by Martyn Joseph is a touching song about hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The song acknowledges the difficulty of finding love but encourages the listener to keep trying and to never give up hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Another night, another date
Martyn Joseph is continuously trying to find love, but he has had many failed attempts and is on another date, hoping for a connection.
Another SM 58
SM 58 is a microphone used by musicians. This line means that he is preparing to perform and express his emotions through music once again.
Another chance and I can't wait, somewhere you're waiting
Martyn Joseph still has hope and is excited for another chance to find love. He believes that his soulmate is out there somewhere, waiting for him too.
Don't go gently into the night
This line echoes the famous Dylan Thomas poem 'Do not go gentle into that good night' which means that one should not give up without a fight. It is a reminder to keep pushing and not to give up.
Don't give up without a fight
Martyn Joseph urges his listeners to not give up hope and to keep fighting for what they believe in.
Let's keep faith with what we know, searching for the rainbow
This is a reminder to have faith in what we have and continue to search for happiness and fulfillment in the future.
I will be loving you tonight
Martyn Joseph is singing to someone special and promising to love them tonight and always.
I'll rip up my heart in these songs tonight
He is willing to bare his soul and express his deepest emotions through the power of music.
Another time, another place, you gave me love and tender grace
Martyn Joseph is reminiscing about a past love, where someone gave him love and compassion.
Now I beat these lonely miles, but I will find you
Martyn Joseph feels lonely but he still has hope that he will find the love that he desires.
I will be loving you tonight...x 2 (tonight - is another chance)
He ends the song reminding listeners that tonight is another chance for love and encourages us to keep trying to find it.
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.