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.
New York To California
Mat Kearney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know, I'm writing this song about you
There's a picture of a Hollywood sign, reflecting off your skin I
Don't want to live another day without you
You woke up and said baby I, had one of those dreams again
The rain came down and I lost you, In the wind
You said something about don't leave, before you fell back asleep
Before I could sing my song back to you
But you could find your self lost out in this world
And I found a way to get back to your side
No mountains to high, no stone is too small
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California
I could hear you softly breathing, oh what you do to me
But baby I could climb down into your dreams
I Build a ladder down through the clouds
Where the storms Is raging now I
Don't want to sing another song without you
If you find your self lost out in this world
Then I'll find a way to get back to your side
No mountains to high, no stone is too small
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California
Singing, la la la la la la
Oh, It's not too far, la la la la la la
Oh, to where you are, la la la la la la
Oh, It's not too far,
Cause you, could find your self lost out in this world
And I, Could find a way to get back to your side
If you find your self lost out in this world
Then I'll find a way to get back to your side
No mountains to high, no stone is too small
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California, To California, To California
New York to California is a song by Mat Kearney describing the depth of his love for someone. The song opens with Kearney watching his significant other sleep under the glow of the TV light. He then proceeds to tell his lover how he does not want to live another day without them as he has them on his mind constantly. Kearney tells his significant other that he had a dream where he lost them, and it ended with the person speaking to him before falling back asleep. Kearney doesn’t want to sing any songs without them because they are his inspiration.
Kearney continues to sing about how he would be willing to do anything to be with his lover. He explains that he would cross any hurdle and climb down into their dreams just to be with them. Kearney highlights the fact that the distance between them doesn’t matter as he is willing to go to great lengths to be with his lover. The song ends with him repeating that he is willing to go from New York to California just to be with his lover.
Overall the song is about how Kearney is so in love with someone that he is willing to go through any obstacle that comes in their way. The song is rather emotional, and Kearney’s delivery is meant to show the passion in his love.
Line by Line Meaning
Under the TV lights, you fell asleep again
You often fall asleep in front of the television, and I am here with you, observing this.
Don't know, I'm writing this song about you
I have been inspired by you to write this song, even though I am not sure how you truly feel about it.
There's a picture of a Hollywood sign, reflecting off your skin I
I see the image of the Hollywood sign reflected on your skin, as if you are a part of the glitz and glamour of that place.
Don't want to live another day without you
I cannot bear the thought of living my life without you in it.
You woke up and said baby I, had one of those dreams again
You wake up and tell me about a recurring dream you have been having.
The rain came down and I lost you, In the wind
In your dream, you are lost in the rain and I cannot find you.
You said something about don't leave, before you fell back asleep
You ask me not to leave you before falling back asleep.
Before I could sing my song back to you
I wanted to sing my new song for you, but you had already fallen asleep again.
But you could find your self lost out in this world
You might feel lost or disconnected from the world at times.
And I found a way to get back to your side
I will always find a way to be with you, no matter what.
No mountains too high, no stone is too small
I will overcome any obstacle, no matter how big or small, to be with you.
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
I am willing to go through any hardship, even crawling through fire, just to be with you.
From New York to California
I am willing to travel across the country, from New York to California, just to be with you.
I could hear you softly breathing, oh what you do to me
The sound of your breathing is soothing and mesmerizing to me.
But baby I could climb down into your dreams
I am willing to enter your dreams to be with you, even if just in your imagination.
I Build a ladder down through the clouds
I will even construct a ladder that extends down through the clouds to reach you.
Where the storms Is raging now I
Even amidst a storm that is raging, I will still find a way to be with you.
Don't want to sing another song without you
I cannot imagine writing or performing any more music without you by my side.
Singing, la la la la la la
I am singing a simple melody to demonstrate my love for you.
Oh, It's not too far, la la la la la la
Even though we may be separated by distance, it is not so far that I cannot cross it to be with you.
Oh, to where you are, la la la la la la
I want to go wherever you are, no matter where that may be.
Cause you, could find your self lost out in this world
Again, you may feel lost or disconnected at times.
And I, Could find a way to get back to your side
But once again, I will always do what it takes to be with you.
To California, To California
Once more emphasizing my willingness to travel to California, or anywhere else, to be with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATHEW KEARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind