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.
Running Back to You
Matt Wertz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe the only way is through
After all it does just settle
You're the only thing I know is true
Either way, either way
I am running back to you
Running back to youRight away, right away
Coming running back to
Running back to you
Oh
Lately surrender isn't weary
But it's surrender all the same
All the spaces you've been filling
After all the one who run away
Either way, either way
I am running back to you
Running back to you
Right away, right away
Coming running back to
Running back to you
Oh
Where I've been all these years with you beside me
I can't believe that you can love me all the same
How far I've run and how I become, you always find me
After all I'm the one who run away
Either way, either way
I'm running back to you
Running back to you
Either way, either way
I am running back to you
Running back to you
Right away, right away
Coming running back to
Running back to you
Oh
Oh oh oh
Yeah
I'm running back to you
I'm Running back to you
Oh, run away
Oh, run away
Running back to you
Running back to you
The lyrics to Matt Wertz's song Running Back to You conveys a message of love and commitment. The first stanza suggests that the singer has learned the hard way that the only way to settle a relationship is through commitment, and that the only true thing in their life is their partner. The singer acknowledges that sometimes surrender can be tiring but knows that filling the spaces in their relationship is the right thing to do. The chorus then emphasizes the singer's commitment to their partner by running back to them right away, indicating that no matter what happens, they will always return to their partner.
In the second stanza, the singer reflects on their journey with their partner, realizing that their partner has loved them all the same despite their mistakes and how far they have run. The singer recognizes that they have been the one who ran away, but their partner has always found them. The final chorus reiterates the singer's commitment to their partner and that they will always return to them.
Overall, Running Back to You is a heartfelt song about the power of love and the importance of commitment. It highlights the struggles that come with relationships but emphasizes the ability to come back to one's partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe you'll always learn the hard way
Perhaps you'll continually face challenges in life
Maybe the only way is through
Perhaps the only way to grow and learn is to endure difficulties
After all it does just settle
In the end, everything works out and falls into place
You're the only thing I know is true
The artist is certain of their love and devotion to this person
Either way, either way
Regardless of the situation or circumstance
I am running back to you
The singer is committed to this person and will always return to them
Running back to you
The act of physically or metaphorically returning to the person
Right away, right away
Without hesitation or delay
Coming running back to
The idea of actively making the effort to return
Lately surrender isn't weary
Recently, giving into something doesn't feel tiring or burdensome
But it's surrender all the same
Despite this, the act of surrendering is still significant and meaningful
All the spaces you've been filling
This person has had a significant impact on the artist's life and has filled a void
After all the one who run away
The singer realizes they have been the one to leave in the past
Where I've been all these years with you beside me
Reflecting on the years spent together and the person's consistent presence in the singer's life
I can't believe that you can love me all the same
The singer is amazed that this person continues to love and accept them despite their shortcomings and mistakes
How far I've run and how I become, you always find me
Despite the artist trying to distance themselves, this person always manages to locate and reconnect with them
After all I'm the one who run away
The artist acknowledges their role in causing distance in their relationship
Oh oh oh
An expression of emotion or excitement
Yeah
An additional exclamation or emphasis
Oh, run away
A reference to the past and the artist's tendency to leave
Running back to you
The main point of the song and a recurring theme - the artist's devotion and commitment to returning to this person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nadavilo6579
This artist is so underrated.
@theonlyoberg
Matt Wertz is an amazing talent, who has so much emotion in his music
@MsVeggieTable
this gives me chills because that kiss was so perfect :)
@Cara012476
Everything about this man is Beautiful.....his curls, his music, and his soul. He inspires me everyday.
@meggganxx
Matt Wertz is the best thing thats ever happened to me. He's been my favorite since 8th grade when i heard his song Red Meets Blue. Nuff said.
@SuperChalek
On January 9th abc family announced they are considering putting a Nine Lives of Chloe King movie into production!!! I'm so STOKED, that I had to shout this to the world.
@mimipink19
he has such a beautiful voice
@KisaYum
Amazing! I love the song, and I can't believe it doesn't have more views. I'm definitely a fan now.
@bridgetmweemba9325
Beautiful song
@eh1285
Beautiful song....amazing voice...