After departing The Guthries to embark on a solo career, Mays released his self-titled debut which maintained the rootsy, laid-back feel of his earlier work but also had a decidedly more rock vibe. The solo debut caused quite a stir across Canada and went on to be nominated to two Juno Awards (New Artist & Adult Alternative Album).
Mays followed this up with the first Matt Mays & El Torpedo album, recorded with the live band he had formed to tour in support of the Matt Mays album. Matt Mays & El Torpedo had quickly evolved into one of Canada’s best live acts. Produced with Grammy Award-winner Don Smith (Tom Petty, Keith Richards), the album’s first single “Cocaine Cowgirl” was a massive hit and the album went on to win four East Coast Music Awards in 2006. The band began working in the US as well, the highlight of which was an appearance on the Conan O’Brien show.
Just when everyone had him tagged as a Tom Petty inspired rock and roller Mays veered off in another direction, producing the music for ill-fated When the Angels Make Contact film. While it confounded many fans the album was a critical success and went on to be nominated for another Juno in the Adult Alternative Album of the Year category. Matt put together an eight piece band to tour the music and visuals from When The Angels Make Contact.
2008 saw the return of El Torpedo and the Terminal Romance album. Produced in the UK with producer Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Anvil) the album features the singles “Tall Trees”, “Building A Boat”, and the epic title track. Terminal Romance won the ECMA for Rock Album of the Year in 2008 and was nominated for a Juno in the same category.
Mays is back in solo mode now, working on material when not on the road with a new band performing material from all four albums.
Airstrike
Matt Mays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake your tambourine call in the airstrike!
Hey, hey mama, there's a rising wind
Shake your tambourine call in the airstrike
Hey, hey mama, there's a rising wind
Shake your tambourine call in the airstrike!
Look out mama, there's a rising wind
In the airstrike, in the airstrike, in the airstrike.
In Matt Mays's song "Airstrike," the lyrics revolve around a sense of impending danger and urgency. "Hey, hey mama, there's a rising wind" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the looming chaos or destruction that is coming. This is followed by the repetition of "Shake your tambourine call in the airstrike!" which could suggest the idea of calling in reinforcements to fight against this danger or chaos.
The urgency in the lyrics is further emphasized with the repetition of the chorus, which includes the line "Look out mama, there's a rising wind" that seems to warn the listener about the incoming danger. The mention of the airstrike throughout the song, which is a military action involving the attack from aircraft, adds to the metaphor of calling in reinforcements to combat the incoming danger.
Overall, the lyrics of "Airstrike" convey a tense feeling of calamity on the horizon and the need for action to avoid it.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey mama, there's a rising wind
Hey there, mother, there's a strong breeze picking up
Shake your tambourine call in the airstrike!
Play your tambourine and summon the airstrike to strike down the enemy
Look out mama, there's a rising wind
Be on guard, mother, the wind is getting stronger
In the airstrike, in the airstrike, in the airstrike.
The enemy will be defeated by the powerful airstrike attack
Contributed by Victoria P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Change of Tone
When you living in Hiroshima and you hear someone shouting "AMERICAN BOMBER!"
acsparkplug
✴✴✴✴✴😎