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 Canadaās best live acts. Produced with Grammy Award-winner Don Smith (Tom Petty, Keith Richards), the albumās first single āCocaine Cowgirlā 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 OāBrien 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 āTall Treesā, āBuilding A Boatā, 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.
Travellin'
Matt Mays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out to see everything but me.
Your letters ain't coming that much any more
Your letters ain't coming at all.
I've been to Memphis; I've been to Rome,
But because you were here, I came back home.
Now I'm not trying to place any blame
But I came back for you now I'd expect you do the same.
Travellin', travellin' so, so far away
If your comin' home.
You'd better leave now,
You better leave now.
Good-bye girl gone to see the world,
Out to see every thing you choose
Now it's becoming so clear
That your feet are planted deep
In your travellin' shoes
Travellin', travellin' so, so far away
If your comin' home.
You'd better leave now,
You better leave now.
The lyrics of Matt Mays & El Torpedo's song "Travellin'" is about a man who is left behind by his lover who decided to travel the world. In the first two lines of the verse, the man bids his goodbye to his lover who left to see the world without him. He expresses his disappointment on the lack of communication, implying that his lover's letters have stopped coming. As the song progresses, the man reminisces about his own travels to Memphis and Rome, but was only able to come back home because of his lover. He explains that he is not placing any blame on her but expects that if he came back for her, she should do the same.
The chorus of the song repeatedly warns the lover who traveled to come home, as he is seemingly running out of patience waiting for her to return. The line "travellin' so, so far away" emphasizes how her travels have taken her farther and farther away from her loved one.
Overall, the song is a melancholic reminder of the anguish and heartbreak caused by a lover's departure. It highlights how the absence of communication can leave a deep wound, and how the pain of separation can make lovers feel helpless and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye girl. Gone to see the world,
The girl has left to explore the world, leaving the singer behind.
Out to see everything but me.
The girl is exploring the world but not keeping in touch with the singer.
Your letters ain't coming that much any more
The girl used to send letters but now they have decreased in frequency.
Your letters ain't coming at all.
The girl has stopped sending letters completely.
I've been to Memphis; I've been to Rome,
The artist has been to different places, including Memphis and Rome.
But because you were here, I came back home.
The singer returned home because of the girl's presence.
Now I'm not trying to place any blame
The singer is not trying to assign any fault.
But I came back for you now I'd expect you do the same.
The artist came back for the girl and expects her to do the same.
Travellin', travellin' so, so far away
The girl is traveling to distant places.
If your comin' home.
If she plans on returning home.
You'd better leave now,
She should leave now if she wants to return home.
You better leave now.
Reiterating the previous line that she needs to leave now.
Good-bye girl gone to see the world,
Repetition of the first line.
Out to see every thing you choose
The girl is seeing things that she wants to see.
Now it's becoming so clear
It is becoming clear to the singer.
That your feet are planted deep
The girl is very committed to her travels.
In your travellin' shoes
She is always ready to travel and explore.
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RV
With four guitars on stage, I did not expect the keyboard to have a killer guitar solo.
Hank Mardukas
The keys man...the keys. This is as good as any Petty tune let's treat it as such eh?
Conor Hickey
That's one hell of a solo the keyboardist put on. Hot damn.
enjoythesilence2
What can I say I'm running out of comments.... This was amazing!! Fantastic performance! Thank you for letting us hear this magic.
Danny Lato
Leith is killing it!
Robbie Mortimer
that keyboard solo tho!!!!!!
DNKOTOR
That keyboard solo though daaaayyyummmm
Gerald Jamieson
DNKOTOR How was the concert?
DNKOTOR
I'm seeing him in Vancouver tomorrow night! So excited!
Gerald Jamieson
I seen that solo last night in Edmonton and yup..... God Damn!