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.
Hello Highway
Matt Mays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta get away, let's just leave it at that
It's safe to say that I'm on the way, that I'll never find you now
For the wrong that I done, the wrongs that I done
Goodbye penitentiary, with all due respect to your authority
But they shoulda though twice before putting me in minimum security
It's safe to say that I'm getting away, they'll never catch me now
Hello countryside, scenery is so wide and so vast
But I can't appreciate you much, you know, I've been driving much too fast
It's safe to say the end is on its way, I can see them coming now
For the wrong that I done, the wrongs that I done
The song "Hello Highway" by Matt Mays is a reflection of a person's decision to run away from their troubles, and the consequences of their actions. The opening line "Hello highway, take me home to Lafayette" sets the stage for the singer to hit the road and leave everything behind. The use of the word "home" suggests that Lafayette is more of an ideal or a state of mind rather than a physical location. The first stanza ends with the admission that the person has done wrong, and they can't find their way back to where they came from.
In the second stanza, the singer says goodbye to the penitentiary with respect to its authority, but they still consider themselves above it. The reference to minimum security suggests that the person committed a minor crime, but they still feel the need to escape. The line "It's safe to say that I'm getting away, they'll never catch me now" reinforces the idea that the person has no intention of facing the consequences of their actions, and they are confident that they can get away with it.
The final stanza is a contemplation of the scenery around them. The beauty of the countryside is lost on the singer because they've been driving too fast. They can see the end coming and they know they'll be caught because of the wrongs they've committed. Overall, "Hello Highway" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of running away from one's problems and the inevitable consequences of one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello highway, take me home to Lafayette
Greetings, oh long road that leads to my hometown, Lafayette.
I gotta get away, let's just leave it at that
I need to escape from my current situation, let's just leave it at that.
It's safe to say that I'm on the way, that I'll never find you now
I am on my way and I know I'll never be able to find you now.
For the wrong that I done, the wrongs that I done
I am running away from the misdeeds I have committed in the past.
Goodbye penitentiary, with all due respect to your authority
Farewell, correctional institution, I respect your authority.
But they shoulda though twice before putting me in minimum security
However, they should have reconsidered placing me in minimum security.
It's safe to say that I'm getting away, they'll never catch me now
I am getting away and they will never be able to catch me now.
Hello countryside, scenery is so wide and so vast
Greetings, countryside, the view around me is so expansive and boundless.
But I can't appreciate you much, you know, I've been driving much too fast
But unfortunately, I can't fully appreciate my surroundings as I have been driving too quickly.
It's safe to say the end is on its way, I can see them coming now
It is safe to say that the end is near as I can see the authorities coming for me now.
For the wrong that I done, the wrongs that I done
I am facing the consequences of the misdeeds I have committed in the past.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matt Mays
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind