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.
Walking Away
Mat Kearney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make something priceless, timeless
Or will it all last a month
Can this guitar song
Make it worth it when you heard it
Or is it all just a front
Felt the breeze of the trees, the roar of your thunder
Been a long road wandering for cover
Now my cover's blown, I'll find my way back home
I'm walking away, I hear you call my name
I'm walking away (walking away), away from yesterday
I'm walking away (walking away), I cannot stay another day
Walking away from yesterday
Can this hip hop kid
Make something priceless, timeless
Or will it all last a month
Can this guitar song
Make it worth it when you heard it
Or is it all just a front
Nineteen years on the road about to go under
Felt the breeze of the trees, the roar of your thunder
Been a long road wandering for cover
Now my cover's blown, I'll find my way back home
I'm walking away, I hear you call my name
I'm walking away (walking away), away from yesterday
I'm walking away (walking away), I cannot stay another day
Walking away from yesterday
Nineteen years on the road about to go under
Felt the breeze of the trees, the roar of your thunder
Been a long road wandering for cover
Now my cover's blown, I'll find my way back home
I'm walking away, I hear you call my name
I'm walking away (walking away), away from yesterday
I'm walking away (walking away), I cannot stay another day
Walking away from yesterday
I'm walking away, I hear you call my name
I'm walking away (walking away), away from yesterday
I'm walking away (walking away), I cannot stay another day
Walking away from yesterday
The lyrics of Mat Kearney's song "Walking Away" reflect the uncertainty and doubt that many artists experience when creating their work. The song's chorus asks whether a hip hop track or a guitar song can create something timeless or whether it will fade away quickly. The question speaks to the anxieties of many artists who fear their work will not be appreciated beyond a fleeting moment.
The first verse discusses the idea that an artist's work may be perceived as a facade. The line "Or is it all just a front" suggests that the artist may not be as sincere as they would like to appear. The second verse uses imagery to describe the journey of an artist who has been on the road for nineteen years. The artist has experienced the joys and challenges of life on tour, and is now ready to return home.
The chorus repeats throughout the song, highlighting the idea that walking away from yesterday and moving forward is necessary in order to create something meaningful. The song captures the fear and uncertainty of creating something new, while also providing hope and encouragement to keep moving forward in the face of doubt.
Overall, "Walking Away" is a powerful reminder that art is often born out of the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. It speaks to the universal experience of creators who strive to make something that will stand the test of time, despite the fear that it may not.
Line by Line Meaning
Can this hip hop kid
The artist wonders if his work as a rapper can create something valuable and lasting.
Make something priceless, timeless
He questions whether his art can produce something that transcends time and has immeasurable worth.
Or will it all last a month
On the other hand, he worries that his music might be a temporary fad and soon lose its relevance.
Can this guitar song
Next, the artist turns to his other source of music - playing the guitar - and asks if he can create something equally valuable.
Make it worth it when you heard it
He wonders if his guitar music can move people emotionally and make them feel like it was worth their time to listen.
Or is it all just a front
Yet again, he's skeptical - this time he questions if the emotional depth behind his music is simply a façade.
Nineteen years on the road about to go under
The artist reflects on the long years he's spent on tour as a musician, and how it may all come to an end soon.
Felt the breeze of the trees, the roar of your thunder
He remembers the experiences he's had while traveling and performing, including the sensation of wind through trees and the energy of a lively crowd.
Been a long road wandering for cover
Despite the thrill of performing, he has also had times of fearing exposure or being hurt.
Now my cover's blown, I'll find my way back home
He may feel exposed and vulnerable now, but he's ready to move forward and find a sense of comfort and belonging again.
I'm walking away, I hear you call my name
The artist is moving on from the past and hears the future calling him in a new direction.
I'm walking away (walking away), away from yesterday
He's putting the past behind him and moving forward.
I'm walking away (walking away), I cannot stay another day
He's determined to leave the past and move on with his life, ready for new experiences.
Walking away from yesterday
The artist is purposefully distancing himself from his past in order to embark on a new journey.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: MATHEW KEARNEY, ROBERT L. MARVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind