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.
Sometime Soon
Matt Mays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the coldest night of the year
Thought I was getting there, but I guess I was wrong
I had snow in my shoes
Hasn't happened yet, maybe sometime soon
And if not today or tomorrow (one of these days)
And if not today or tomorrow
And I didn't know who was who
Thought I was getting there, but I guess I was wrong
I had snow in my shoes
Hasn't happened yet, maybe sometime soon
And if not today or tomorrow (one of these days)
And if not today or tomorrow
I was dreaming of palm trees and a well-working car
It was the warmest night of the year
Felt like I was there 'cause I had the warm sun in my hair
And I had sand in my shoes
Hasn't happened yet, maybe sometime soon
And if not today or tomorrow (one of these days)
And if not today or tomorrow (one of these days)
And the green grass is one thing you can borrow (this time of the year)
And if not today or tomorrow
(Gotta get movin' on, 'cause this life is gonna be rough) (repeat)
The lyrics of Matt Mays's song Sometime Soon seem to be describing the feeling of being stuck in a rut, despite thinking that one is on the right track. The first verse sets up the theme of an unexpected setback - the car breaking down on the coldest night of the year. The line "Thought I was getting there, but I guess I was wrong" suggests a feeling of disappointment or uncertainty about the path one is on, now that it has hit a roadblock. The snow in the shoes is a concrete symbol of this frustration, a feeling of being weighed down or stuck in an undesirable situation.
The second verse amplifies this sense of feeling lost, but with a touch of surrealism - the snow is so deep that the singer goes blind, and the confusion creates an inability to differentiate between people. Again, the feeling of "getting there," or achieving one's goals, is felt to be just out of reach.
The final verse introduces a new environment - one of warmth, sun, and sand. It's a stark contrast to the cold, snowy imagery of the first two verses, and seems to represent a hope for a brighter future, one that the singer dreams of but has not yet attained. The repetition of "maybe sometime soon" throughout the song implies a sense of optimism that things will get better, but not yet.
Overall, the lyrics of Sometime Soon convey a sense of uncertainty, frustration and hope for the future, regardless of setbacks.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought I was living large 'til my car broke down
I was under the impression that I was doing well until my car suddenly failed me.
On the coldest night of the year
This happened on a night that was exceptionally freezing.
Thought I was getting there, but I guess I was wrong
At one point, I thought I was making progress, but it turns out I was mistaken.
I had snow in my shoes
My shoes were filled with snow, which was a bothersome and uncomfortable experience.
Hasn't happened yet, maybe sometime soon
I haven't experienced anything good yet, but there is still hope for the future.
And if not today or tomorrow (one of these days)
Even if it doesn't happen immediately, I believe someday soon I'll experience something positive.
We got so much snow I went blind for a day
There was an excessive amount of snow that caused me to be temporarily blinded.
And I didn't know who was who
As a result of the snow, it was hard for me to identify people.
I was dreaming of palm trees and a well-working car
I had a fantasy about a scenic location with palm trees, as well as having a fully functional vehicle.
It was the warmest night of the year
This was taking place on the most pleasant night of the year, climate change was at play.
Felt like I was there 'cause I had the warm sun in my hair
It seemed like I was in that dreamy location since I was surrounded by warm sunlight.
And I had sand in my shoes
I had some sand in my shoes which reminded me of the beach in my dream.
And the green grass is one thing you can borrow (this time of the year)
During this specific time of the year, one of the things that can be relied upon is a grassy landscape.
Gotta get movin' on, 'cause this life is gonna be rough
I have to keep pushing forward since life is going to be challenging.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matt Mays
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Duncan Hadley
Matt This is Brooke Colby from The Head of Saint Margerets Bay via Vancouver. I met you though Miriam Beach and Sam Roberts. My daughter and I were at the front at the commodore last time when you guys were sad. I was the poet that told u that u were about to get famous and u did. I hope it is everything u expected and we love your poetry. I still write for Sony if u remember. I might send u a poem soon if u like and see what u can do. Jeff Dawson is my handler.