MATT MINGLEWOOD …Guita… Read Full Bio ↴Rocker from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
MATT MINGLEWOOD …Guitarist, pianist, singer, songwriter creates an inspired blend of country, blues, folk, roots and rock. Both on record and on stage Matt keeps the music thriving, interesting and vivacious. After a dozen recordings and thirty years of touring from Cape Breton to Vancouver, Europe and across the United States he has earned the respect and loyalty of thousands of devoted fans.
Matt grew up in North Sydney, Nova Scotia in a large and loving extended family of twelve. At an early age he remembers sitting on grandfather Batherson’s knee listening to him, completely enthralled by his fiddle playing as he bounced him up and down. At the tender age of four he sang in front of his first audience, singing a couple of Gaelic songs and the writing was on the wall. At the age of six he started fiddle lessons, moved on to the piano at eight and by his teens was in love with the guitar.
He joined his first band, the Rockin’ Saints’ in his late teens playing organ and rhythm guitar. His early influences were eclectic, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Hank Williams, Muddy Waters, BB King but also local fiddle players such as Winston Scotty Fitzgerald and Buddy MacMaster.
By his early twenties Matt went on to join a band entitled Sam Moon, Matt Minglewood & the Universal Power. This band soon evolved into the Moon Minglewood Band. They toured the country extensively and became known as one of the hardest working bands in the country. By the mid 70’s they morphed into the Minglewood Band & recorded their first album, affectionately known as ‘The Red Album’ in 76…..a recording contract with RCA Records soon followed.
His music and song writing has the natural universality one only hears from a born storyteller. The songs can be somewhat autobiographical as in 'Me and the Boys', a song about carefree days of his youth or social issues he puts forth in 'Long Way From Texas'. Many of Matt's tunes grapple with the universal feelings of passion, frustrations, hope, loneliness, love, disappointment and regret as well as his deep love of the Maritimes. They are always reflected his life around him and what he is feeling at the time. “Me & The Boys” was recorded by southern-rock legend Charlie Daniels on his CD of the same name.
Many major artists (such as Jeff Healy, Jimmie Rankin, Duck Dunn, (Bassist for Eric Clapton, Neil Young and the Blues Brothers), Colin James, Downchild Blues Band, Kenny Neal, and Grammy award winning Blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite) just to name a few have joined Matt on stage and CD. You never know who may show up to “ sit in “ on any given night!!
A dozen recordings later and now on his own label, Norton Records, Matt has just released his first acoustic Cd entitled ‘The Story’ and has no thoughts of slowing down. Winner of this years ' East Coast Music Award Blues Recording of the Year and the 2005 'Maple Blues Award' for Entertainer of the Year Matt still continues to tour extensively either as an acoustic solo artist or with his full band.
Through the years, Minglewood has been honored with many accolades and awards including:
2006 ECMA Award for 'Blues Recording of the Year' for 'The Story'
2005 Maple Blues Awards 'Entertainer of the Year'
2004 ECMA award for 'Blues Recording of the Year' for 'Live at Last'
'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the East Coast Music Association
Three gold records
Two Juno nominations
Two Canadian Country Music nominations
ECMA 'Video of the Year' Award for 'Me & The Boys'
Canadian Country Music Songwriter of the Year award for 'Me and The Boys'
The "Great Canadian Blues Award" from CBC 's National radio show, Saturday Night Blues
Honored with an honorary Doctorate Degree from UCCB
Bestowed with the Queens Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Canadian music
WORKING MAN
Matt Minglewood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silver lunch can in hand
Going down the rake, father and son
Carrying on that age old tradition
You see they are working men
[Chorus]
It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
Then I will never again go down underground
At the age of sixteen years, he quarreled with his peers
And he swears there will never be another on
In the dark recess of the mine, where you age before your time
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
[Chorus]
At the age of sixty-four, if he lives that long, he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
In the dark recess of the mine, he can take you back in time
Tell you of the hardships that were there
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of Matt Minglewood's song "Working Man" describe the coal miners who carry on the age-old tradition of working underground, passing it down from father to son. The miners are depicted as old and young, dirty and dusty, with a silver lunch can in hand as they head down the "rake," or tunnel. The chorus declares "It's a working man I am," emphasizing the pride and identity that comes with the job. The singer swears that if he ever sees the sun over any length of time, he will hold onto that memory so that he never has to go underground again.
The second verse describes the toll that mining takes on the body and soul. The singer quarreled with his peers at the age of sixteen and had to work in the dark recesses of the mine, where time seems to stand still and the coal dust fills your lungs. The final verse looks to the future, where the singer, if he lives to be sixty-four, will welcome visitors and share his experiences of the hardships of mining. The repetition of the chorus underscores the importance of the work and the pride that comes with being a working man.
Line by Line Meaning
Coal miners, old and young, dirty and dusty coveralls
The workers in the coal mine belong to all age groups, and their clothes are covered in dirt and dust.
Silver lunch can in hand
They carry a can of lunch with them which is made up of silver.
Going down the rake, father and son
Father and son both are going down to the mine through the rake to continue the tradition.
Carrying on that age old tradition
They are continuing the tradition of working in the mine, which has been there for ages.
You see they are working men
They are the men who are working in the coal mine.
It's a working man I am and I've been down underground
The singer is a working man who has worked underground in the mine.
And I swear by God if I ever see the sun
The singer makes a promise to never go back underground and work, even if he has to endure any hardship.
Over any length of time, I can hold it in my mind
If he ever sees the sun for any duration, it will help him remember and avoid going back to the underground mine.
Then I will never again go down underground
He promises to never go back to work underground in the coal mine.
At the age of sixteen years, he quarreled with his peers
The singer had a dispute with his colleagues when he was 16 years old.
And he swears there will never be another on
He promises to never have an argument with anyone again.
In the dark recess of the mine, where you age before your time
Working in the mine results in aging fast due to harsh conditions.
And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
Breathing coal dust results in severe lung issues for the workers.
At the age of sixty-four, if he lives that long, he'll greet you at the door
If he lives until sixty-four, he will greet you at the door.
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
He will guide someone calmly with his arm.
In the dark recess of the mine, he can take you back in time
He can take you back in time and tell you about the difficulties they experienced in the mine.
Tell you of the hardships that were there
He will explain to you the struggles that he faced in the mine.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITA MACNEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ron Fisher
of course, being a working man, this song give a lot of resonance in my life. Who wouldn't do their job well and in the end retire knowing thats what we did. But the WORKING MAN says so much more, that we sacrificed beyond the call of our duty to work. Wow, thank you Rita for recognizing this, and Matt, for singing it like Rita would luv to hear. You are both great, and all the working people are so generous in sharing their lives with the work that they do so very well.
Cher N
Wow..Matts voice is superb...what a rendition..Liff long and well Matt
Squirrelnutkin
Every time I hear this song and the Miners of the Deep walk in it sends shivers down my spine. Maybe someday people will not need to do that job.
todd canton
absolutely stunning performance....
MingleBells
Thanks Todd was a special night of honoring Rita
Ian Baillie
I've never heard this singer before this great effort, guess I'll keep keep him closer to the top of the pile now.
Colleen Dicks
Listen to Can’t You See by Matt, it’s a masterpiece!!!
Neil B HINRGBOY2020
Matt.. Incredible voice
Laurence Habel
Seen this man many a time Live, and his songs, music and story telling have been a part of my journey to stop and look around. For all my Nova Scotian Friends and Family...this is for you.
Evelyn woods jackson
Love these guys. They are amazing. They always put on an awesome show. You can easily dance to Matt’s music, for sure. Fantastic.