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 Canadaβs best live acts. Produced with Grammy Award-winner Don Smith (Tom Petty, Keith Richards), the albumβs first single βCocaine Cowgirlβ 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 OβBrien 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 βTall Treesβ, βBuilding A Boatβ, 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.
On the Hood
Matt Mays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a strange winter's morning
The sky turned red
The vibrations went dead
With these terrible songs on a rainy day
The pressure just started to fall
Your scene doesn't do anything for me
It doesn't do anything at all
Is the music gone?
Is it gone for good
It's only 6 metal strings on a piece of wood
And all these things goin' on in my head
Make it kinda hard to deal
Like seaweed swayin' in the ocean blue
For me, it's gotta be real
I don't care anymore
People tell me I should
They're out lookin' for hits
I'd rather lay on the hood of an old car with my girlfriend
And my real friends
Until the end
I'll take you on a trip
Inside my soul
There you'll see
The part that somebody stole
Now can you see this picture that I painted for you
It's a view that you're not used to
But you refuse to don't you?
You're thinkin' too hard
You can't think too hard
I don't care anymore
People tell me I should
They're out lookin' for hits
I'd rather lay on the hood of an old car with my girlfriend
And my real friends
Until the end
It all began without warning
On a strange winter's morning
The sky turned red
The vibrations went dead
With these terrible songs on a rainy day
The pressure just started to fall
Your scene doesn't do anything for me
It doesn't do anything at all
I don't care anymore
People tell me I should
They're out lookin' for hits
I'd rather lay on the hood of an old car with my girlfriend
And my real friends
Until the end
The lyrics of Matt Mays & El Torpedo's song "On The Hood" convey a sense of disillusionment towards the music industry. The song starts on a winter's morning, where the sky turns red and the vibrations go dead, setting a bleak tone. Mays seems to be criticizing the state of the music industry and the homogeneity of songs played on the radio. He describes the pressure that he feels to create music that fits into this mold, yet he wants to make music that is real and authentic to him.
The line "it's only six metal strings on a piece of wood" shows that he values the simplicity and authenticity of playing music on a guitar. He describes his desire to not conform to the music industry's standards and to stay true to himself. The line "they're out looking for hits, I'd rather lay on the hood of an old car with my girlfriend and my real friends until the end" highlights his belief that success and fame aren't as important as spending time with the people who are important to him.
Overall, "On The Hood" portrays a feeling of being disillusioned with the music industry and the pressure to create hits, while valuing the authenticity and simplicity of playing music with friends.
Line by Line Meaning
It all began without warning
The situation started unexpectedly
On a strange winter's morning
The weather was unusual and atypical for that time of year
The sky turned red
The sky changed color, which could signify something significant occurring
The vibrations went dead
The energy and life in the environment suddenly stopped
With these terrible songs on a rainy day
The music being played only added to the dreariness and bad weather
The pressure just started to fall
The tension in the air began to decrease
Your scene doesn't do anything for me
The current situation or surroundings are not enjoyable or fulfilling for the singer
It doesn't do anything at all
The current situation or surroundings don't provide any value or meaning to the artist
Is the music gone?
The artist is wondering if music has lost its significance
Is it gone for good
The artist is questioning whether the meaning and value of music has been lost forever
It's only 6 metal strings on a piece of wood
The singer suggests that music is a simple concept and doesn't require extravagant equipment
And all these things goin' on in my head
The artist is dealing with internal thoughts and feelings
Make it kinda hard to deal
The internal thoughts and feelings are causing difficulty in processing and managing the situation
Like seaweed swayin' in the ocean blue
The singer feels like they are being tossed around and not in control of the current situation
For me, it's gotta be real
The singer values authenticity and realness in their life and experiences
I don't care anymore
The artist has lost interest or concern for something
People tell me I should
Others are giving the artist advice or opinions
They're out lookin' for hits
Others are focused on finding success or high achievement
I'd rather lay on the hood of an old car with my girlfriend
The singer prefers to spend time in a simple and enjoyable way with someone they care about
And my real friends
The artist values genuine and true friendships
Until the end
The artist intends to maintain these meaningful relationships and experiences for as long as possible
I'll take you on a trip
The artist wants to share a personal and intimate experience with someone else
Inside my soul
The singer is referring to their innermost thoughts, emotions, and experiences
There you'll see
The artist is implying that there is something of value within them that others can witness
The part that somebody stole
The singer is acknowledging that a certain aspect of themselves has been lost or damaged
Now can you see this picture that I painted for you
The singer is asking if their message has been conveyed and understood
It's a view that you're not used to
The singer's perspective or experience may be different from what the listener is accustomed to
But you refuse to don't you?
The artist believes that the listener is rejecting their message or perspective
You're thinkin' too hard
The artist believes that the listener is overanalyzing or complicating the situation
I'd rather lay on the hood of an old car with my girlfriend
The singer reiterates their preference for simple and enjoyable experiences with someone they care about
And my real friends
The singer reaffirms their appreciation for genuine and true friends
Until the end
The artist intends to maintain these meaningful relationships and experiences for as long as possible
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikenapier3598
10 years later, still a classic and still.one of the best Canadian albums of the past 20 years
@paulagwhyte1720
LOVE THIS!! Not enough radio play. DON'T KNOW WHY??!
@Regstunts
Hidden gem
@kimdickson8394
Still waking up with your songs in my head and had to find ya. Thabks for the fun memories my very under-rated Eastern Canadian band.
β€π
@amymhandrahan4915
I fuckin love this song
@recon3113
One of Canadaβs best ππ€π¨π¦π€
@howitzerdesign
so underrated. i love this soooo much
@tr1ppyh1ppy
it all began without warningg
@emmytoussaint
"now can you see this picture that i'm painting for you, its a view that you're not used to"
my favourite lyric of all time
@emilyhollands5330
Who is with me in 2021 July?