On September 19, 2006, Matt released his third studio album, Everything In Between.
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An excerpt from the Matt Wertz facebook fan page (as of 12/17/09)
Hi. My name is Matt Wertz, and this is my bio. Usually these aren’t written by the artist, at least at this level- but as I was trying to decide who could tell my story the best, I felt like that person was me. So, I’d like to be the one to tell you where I come from, why I write music, what I’ve seen happen along the way, and where I see things going according to my finite vision.
I’m from Liberty, Missouri, but have called Nashville, Tennessee, home for the last seven years. It seems fitting that I would be writing my own biography on the cusp of my first major label release, just as I did eight years ago before releasing my first independent album. This time, though, I’m not trying to play it off like I didn’t write it.
I grew up in a home where I was encouraged to explore and dive into whatever grabbed my attention. Sports? Sure. Art? You bet. Girls? Yep. Music? Obviously. There was no expectation other than to do my best “and let God do the rest,” as my Mom always says. With that kind of freedom end encouragement, I did just that—I played sports for the fun of them, made art because I loved to create, and eventually, I wrote and performed music… because I had to.
My love for visual art led me eight hours from home to the University of Illinois, where I studied Industrial Design. As a result of that experience, music became my respite—my escape from the responsibility of class work. Dorm life served to provide a small, built–in audience who graciously embraced my first attempts at songwriting. Before I knew it, I was recording versions of those songs on my roommate’s computer and burning copies for my new cohabiting fans. Eventually I started playing concerts outside the walls of Scott Hall and made the leap to register my name as a dot-com. That may not seem like a big deal today, but at the time, those were the early, shaky steps I took toward a full-fledged career in the music industry.
Early on, I was shown many graces—like a loan from my parents to pay for the first 1,000 copies of my debut record, Somedays (2001). To assuage their fear that I was throwing my life away, I democratically assured them that I’d get a job after the summer was over. Needless to say, that never happened.
What did happen was that my summer burst at the seams with bookings at camps for high schoolers… which spilled over into a fall schedule of touring their hometowns… which set up a spring full of shows at colleges… followed by more summer camps. Rinse, wash, repeat—and you have the first few years of my career.
The days between then and now have been a series of “baby steps” that have somehow afforded me success as an independent artist. All these things really kicked into gear after the release of Twenty Three Places (2003), the first record I recorded with producer and friend, Ed Cash. The album featured some of the songs that set the tone for the rest of my career—“Everything’s Right,” “Marianne,” “Red Meets Blue,” and “Counting to 100”— songs that are still staples in my set today.
On the heels of the Twenty Three Places release, people started taking notice. Creative Artists Agency got involved booking my shows. Nettwerk took over my management. And a bunch of record labels started knocking down my door. But none of them felt like a good fit. So what did I do? I did what I’d always done: I recorded another record on my own and kept touring.
Ed and I began working on Everything in Between in February 2005, hitting the studio sporadically whenever I had breaks from the road. “The Way I Feel” was the first song we approached and it provided the compass for the record, ushering in an energy and musical depth that redirected my career to a new level. The tone of the record was my musical response to what I learned playing hundreds of clubs a year—I realized the need for up-tempo, lively songs to get the room going. The album also meant a lot to me personally—it was written and recorded during my first dating relationship since college, and much of the album followed the progress of the relationship. “5:19” was written on July 7, 2005, at 5:19 p.m., while I waited for the phone call that would inevitably be the end of that relationship.
Everything in Between was the first record I released with any kind of organized push behind it. We came out of the gates strong, charting high on the iTunes pop charts and filming a video for the song “Carolina.” Some of the songs landed in unexpected places—on TV’s “Brothers and Sisters” and in theaters via movies like My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
Since the start of my career, I’ve sold around 75,000 albums, played shows with Ben Folds, Jamie Cullum, and One Republic, as well as headlined sold-out clubs around the country. This was all done, mind you, as an independent artist. Over time, momentum built and more labels took notice, including Universal Republic. Finally I encountered a label that felt right, a label that could pull the trigger, a label that understood where I was coming from. And so, I signed.
The record that will be released on Universal Republic is called Under Summer Sun and it is a combination of my favorite songs from my first few independent releases, like “5:19” and “Everything’s Right,” as well as four new songs. Among the new tracks are “Waiting,” an introspective bedroom song that deals with the fear that I’m “growing old but not quite growing up,” and “Summer Sun,” my best effort at a nostalgic summer love song in the vein of Stevie Wonder musically and Don Henley emotionally. And the rest of the songs will strike a chord with anyone who enjoys soulful, carefree, singer-songwriter pop music.
How do I know? Because these songs emanate from the pages of my life, and I’ve seen first-hand the way that people have connected with them from their own experiences. In eight years of touring through hundreds of venues, playing three albums’ worth of songs for thousands of listeners, that connection is what fuels my passion. Ultimately, the thing that you and I have here—between the words and the chords and the lights and the beats—that is the thing that encourages me to keep singing.
Gonna Be Good
Matt Wertz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're gonna do about it
Nothing's gonna change on its own
?
Maybe that's life trying to tell you something
But it won't take too long
You would see it's not long
I wanna see you what you're made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try there's nothing you should be afraid of
I'd take your place if I could
To stay safer it's gonna be good
I think about this
What if all your plans just feel right in the place
Would you be better then?
Was it the brokenness that builds you
The emptiness that fills you
Or the times you could get away
Let that trouble have its way
I wanna see you what you're made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try there's nothing you should be afraid of
I'd take your place if I could
To stay safer it's gonna be good
It's gotta get worse before it gets better
I know it ain't easy nor need it should
Know how to wait and what you have to do
Come into the city, buildings are falling
Listen to the crowd, angels calling out to you
To bring you through, to bring you through
I wanna see you what you're made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try there's nothing you should be afraid of
I'd take your place if I could
To stay safer it's gonna be good
I wanna see you what you're made of
Get up and fight you know you should, oh should
Try there's nothing you should be afraid of
I'd take your place if I could
To stay safer it's gonna be good
To stay safer it's gonna be good
To stay safer it's gonna be good
(I wanna see you what you're made of)
(I wanna see you what you're made of)
The lyrics to Matt Wertz's "Gonna Be Good" are about confronting the challenges and obstacles that life throws our way. The opening lines suggest that we need to take action and not wait for things to change on their own. The repeated phrase "I wanna see you what you're made of" suggests that we need to face our struggles head-on to discover our true potential.
The chorus encourages the listener to "get up and fight," assuring them that there is nothing to be afraid of. The line "to stay safer it's gonna be good" implies that sometimes we have to take risks and face our fears in order to find safety and security.
The bridge of the song provides a glimmer of hope, stating that things may get worse before they get better, but that we need to wait and trust the process. The reference to "buildings falling" and "angels calling out to you" suggests that there may be spiritual or divine forces at work in helping us through our struggles.
Overall, the lyrics of "Gonna Be Good" suggest that facing our challenges head-on, taking risks, and trusting the process can lead us to safety, security, and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
or think about what
Consider your thoughts and actions
You're gonna do about it
Decide on a course of action
Nothing's gonna change on its own
Improvement requires effort
?
Uncertainty about the future
Maybe that's life trying to tell you something
Learn from your experiences
But it won't take too long
Changes will come quickly
You would see it's not long
The struggle won't last forever
I wanna see you what you're made of
I want to see your strength and determination
Get up and fight you know you should
Don't give up, keep pushing forward
Try there's nothing you should be afraid of
Take risks, don't be afraid to try
I'd take your place if I could
I empathize with your struggle
To stay safer it's gonna be good
Working through adversity will ultimately bring safety and comfort
I think about this
Reflecting on past experiences
What if all your plans just feel right in the place
What if everything falls into place as planned?
Would you be better then?
Would you be happier or more satisfied?
Was it the brokenness that builds you
Does hardship make you stronger?
The emptiness that fills you
Is there value in feeling empty or lost?
Or the times you could get away
Do moments of respite bring relief?
Let that trouble have its way
Accept and learn from difficult experiences
It's gotta get worse before it gets better
Progress is often preceded by setbacks
I know it ain't easy nor need it should
I understand it's difficult, but it's worthwhile
Know how to wait and what you have to do
Patience and strategy are necessary
Come into the city, buildings are falling
Take action despite chaos around you
Listen to the crowd, angels calling out to you
Take guidance from others who have succeeded
To bring you through, to bring you through
To help you overcome
I wanna see you what you're made of
I want to see your strength and determination
Get up and fight you know you should, oh should
Keep pushing forward despite adversity
To stay safer it's gonna be good
Working through adversity will ultimately bring safety and comfort
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Matt Wertz, Steven Thomas Moakler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wickamouse5
It's like a 1990's tune.
@madzmadaje5062
This is my most favorite track from his new album :)
@AC-iz6fg
I cannot understand why you aren't on top of the charts. I love every one of your albums.
@wearye11ow
shhhhh. let the undiscovered treasure be a secret :)
@nandy1256
@@wearye11ow
This Matt is a good guy right? We have a Matt this year 2021 giving the Matts a bad name but no relation to Bill Gates.
@wearye11ow
@@nandy1256 ??? what??
@mtyler1056
Wow, great song! 2019
Very very very good!
@denissezaratemoreno8169
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
@chocomastertulip2939
First you notice
Then you ask her name
Then you get her number
Call her up the next day
You start to wonder if she feels the same
Second guessing every word you say
Not even rolling but you hit the brakes
Why do my beginnings always end this way?
Making easy things hard
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Ain't complicated when you follow your heart
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Do you think about her
When she's not around?
Are you better with her
Than you are without?
Is it too soon to want to say those words?
Is it deep enough to go head first?
Afraid to go so far you can't reverse
Should I take a chance and see if this thing works?
Making easy things hard
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Ain't complicated when you follow your heart
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Nobody knows
How these things have to go
You'll know when you know
Until then, let it go
Making easy things hard
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Ain't complicated when you follow your heart
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Making easy things hard
Why'm I always making easy things hard?
Ain't complicated when you follow your heart
Why'm I always making easy things hard?