He has toured with Owl City, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, The Fray, Jason Mraz, Vedera Newsboys, MUTEMATH, Meiko, Cary Brothers, and Train; and headlined VH1's first ever "You Oughta Know Tour" in the spring of 2007.
Kearney's songs have appeared on the television series: Dirty Sexy Money, Kyle XY, The Unit, Without A Trace, Laguna Beach, The Hills, Bones, Jericho, Friday Night Lights, Wildfire, What About Brian, South Beach, 8th & Ocean, One Tree Hill, Scrubs, The Closer, NCIS, Life Unexpected and Grey's Anatomy.
He attended California State University, Chico in Chico, California where he majored in literature and played soccer until his junior year. It was also at this time when Mat picked up a guitar for the first time. Using a roommate's guitar, he tried covering other songs. Realizing he wasn't too good at it, he began writing his own.
Kearney has stated that his legal name is Mathew due to a nurse's error on his birth certificate. He discovered the error while in the 8th grade when he noticed how his mom corrected the error with red ink, never legally correcting it. Since then, he embraced the one T in his legal name.
Fortress
Mat Kearney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hideaway your secrets I'll carry them
You're the one I've wanted to defend
If you let me be the hero I've never been
'Cause our hearts can't cover the tracks
We both see where we keep comin' back
I don't care what you've said in the past
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
Let me be the war already won
You can be the nation where I come from
We can be the kingdom yet to come
If you let me be, let me be the one
'Cause our hearts can't cover the tracks
We both see where we keep comin' back
I don't care what you've said in the past
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
Evergreens evergreens all up ahead of me
Blazin' a trail with the enemy textin' me
You like the best of me not all the rest of me
Reminds of seventy, put on amphentamines
Forever don't know what it meant to me
Everything anyone ever has said to me
But you call my revelry, like you were sent to me
Must climb to the mezzanine stay will we're seventy
Under the stars at seventy yes
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
Fortress
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
The lyrics of "Fortress" by Mat Kearney express a desire for a close and protective relationship. Kearney sings about wanting to be someone's fortress, a strong and secure place for them to hide their secrets and feel safe. He wishes to be the hero for this person, defending them and standing up for them. The chorus emphasizes the metaphor of the fortress as a symbol of strength and protection. The song acknowledges the challenges and mistakes that both parties may have faced in the past but encourages leaving those behind and focusing on the potential for a strong and lasting connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me be your fortress, I'll let you in
I want to shelter and protect you; if you allow it, I'll open up to you completely.
Hideaway your secrets I'll carry them
You can entrust me with your deepest secrets and insecurities, and I promise to keep them safe.
You're the one I've wanted to defend
You are the person I want to protect and stand up for in any situation.
If you let me be the hero I've never been
I have never seen myself as a hero before, but if you give me the chance, I will be that for you.
'Cause our hearts can't cover the tracks
Our emotions and feelings cannot be hidden, no matter how hard we try.
We both see where we keep comin' back
We keep returning to each other, drawn by a strong and undeniable connection.
I don't care what you've said in the past
Your past mistakes or words do not matter to me; I accept you completely, flaws and all.
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
I am offering a place of safety and security, where you can feel protected and loved.
Let me be the war already won
I want to resolve any conflicts or issues between us, so that we can move forward without fear or hesitation.
You can be the nation where I come from
You are the place from which I draw my strength and identity, and I am proud to be associated with you.
We can be the kingdom yet to come
Together, we can build a future where we reign supreme, full of hope and possibility.
Evergreens evergreens all up ahead of me
I see a bright and optimistic future, like a forest where evergreens grow tall and strong.
Blazin' a trail with the enemy textin' me
Despite obstacles and challenges, we are forging ahead, communicating and overcoming any difficulties together.
You like the best of me not all the rest of me
You accept me for who I truly am, flaws and all, and see the finest qualities in me.
Reminds of seventy, put on amphentamines
The feeling of being with you reminds me of youthful energy, and the rush of adrenaline when we are together.
Forever don't know what it meant to me
I cannot imagine my life without you, and I want to be with you always.
Everything anyone ever has said to me
I have heard many things from many people, but your words and presence mean the most to me.
But you call my revelry, like you were sent to me
You bring joy and happiness to my life, and I feel like you were meant to be with me.
Must climb to the mezzanine stay will we're seventy
We must work hard to build a strong foundation for our relationship, so that we can stay together until we are both old and grey.
Under the stars at seventy yes
We will still be together, enjoying the beauty and wonder of the world around us, even when we are old and grey.
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
My home will always be a place of safety and security for us, no matter where life takes us.
Fortress
A recurring reminder of the safety and protection that I promise to provide to you, even in the most challenging of times.
Out of the forest behind my door is a fortress
A reaffirmation of my promise to always provide a safe haven for us, no matter what life throws our way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATHEW WILLIAM KEARNEY, RUSLAN ODNORALOV, TRENT DABBS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind