Matt Zarley is a highly acclaimed singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles. … Read Full Bio ↴Matt Zarley is a highly acclaimed singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles. In 2008, he released his 2nd CD - "Here I Am" - to major critical acclaim.

Billboard Magazine wrote "Mr. Z sings, dances, acts and possesses grrr-dreamy appeal. Now toss in a beautifully produced EP of power pop tunes, and a marquee mainstream artist is born. Emphasis track "Had I Known" is a consummate power ballad, showcasing a lamenting lyric and full-bodied keyboards, strings and instrumental hooks galore—but more so, Zarley's stunning tenor range, crafty harmonic layers and spine-tingling money notes."

The title track to his 2008 release "Here I Am" was a finalist in the American Idol Songwriter's Competition.

As am openly gay artist, Matt has performed across the country from Broadway to major feature films, from small concert settings in West Hollywood to being featured on the Human Rights Campaign's "Being Out Rocks" alongside Cyndi Lauper, Sarah MacLachlan, Rufus Wainwright and k.d. lang.

In 2008 he performed at several events in support of the LGBT community such as L.A. Pride, Las Vegas Gay Days & Night, Gay Days Anaheim and the HRC Dinner in Las Vegas.

In 2012, Matt was awarded Album of the Year and Song of the Year by the OutMusic Awards for his song and album of the same name - "Change Begins With Me."

Back to You
Matt Zarley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeaaaaaahhhh...

keep runnin'

Yeaaaaaahhhh...

Don't know
Don't know just where to start

You probably
Probably don't wanna hear from me
A selfish convict of your broken heart
So I'm beggin', pleadin'
Don't throw away the key

Do you believe in second chances
Cuz I'll surrender all my defenses
Oh I know this won't be easy
But believe me when I say

I HAD TO GO SO FAR AWAY
TO FIND MY WAY BACK TO YOU
I HAD TO LOSE A PART OF ME
TO MAKE ME REALIZE THE TRUTH
I KNOW THE JOURNEY WAS WORTH THE FALL
I KNOW THAT MUCH IS TRUE
CUZ EVERY ROAD LEADS ME
BACK TO YOU

BACK TO YOU

Yeaaaaaahhhh...

Why do the say
Say that it takes two
What do they know
Had nothin' to do with you
I was the one
Who was so blind
Everything that I needed was here all the time

Do you believe in new beginnings
Cuz we could have our happy ending
Oh I know this won't be easy
But believe me when I say

I HAD TO GO SO FAR AWAY
TO FIND MY WAY BACK TO YOU
I HAD TO LOSE A PART OF ME
TO MAKE ME REALIZE THE TRUTH
I KNOW THE JOURNEY WAS WORTH THE FALL
I KNOW THAT MUCH IS TRUE
CUZ EVERY ROAD LEADS ME

(Keep on, keep on, keep keep keep runnin')
Keep on, keep on, Oh I'll keep on runnin' right back to you
(Keep on, keep on, keep keep keep runnin')
Keep on, keep on, and now I realize the truth
Keep on, keep on, I had to go
Keep on, keep on, I had to lose a part of me
But now I see
And I'll keep runnin' back to you

I KNOW THE JOURNEY WAS WORTH THE FALL
I KNOW THAT MUCH IS TRUE
CUZ EVERY ROAD LEADS ME
BACK TO YOU

Can't you see these are words
I wish I'd hear from you

If I did, I would run
Yes, run right back to you

Overall Meaning

The song "Back to You" by Matt Zarley is about a man who has hurt and lost someone he cares deeply about but is willing to do whatever it takes to come back into their life. The singer knows they messed up and understand that their partner might not want anything to do with them anymore. But he pleads to not throw away the key to his heart and offers himself entirely as he believes in second chances. The singer says that they had to go away and lose something important to them to realize that they were meant to return to the one they love. Even though this realization was costly, the journey was worth it as it led them back to their love, and every road leads them back to their partner. The chorus uses metaphors of running to emphasize the singer's determination to come back to his partner's life.

The singer acknowledges that the relationship's problems were all because of their faults, and the other person was not to blame for it. He knows that they had everything they needed right in front of them, but they were blind to it. He believes in new beginnings and promises that they can have a happy ending if they both try. The ending of the song is poignant as the singer wishes that he could hear these words from his partner and says he would run right back to them if that ever happened.

The song's lyrics convey a somber and reflective mood as the singer looks back on his mistakes and wishes to make things right. The song's melody is upbeat but does not overshadow the contemplative lyrics' mood, providing a balanced musical experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeaaaaaahhhh... keep runnin'
The singer is filled with determination and is running towards his goal, to be with the one he loves.

Yeaaaaaahhhh... Don't know Don't know just where to start
The singer is unsure of where to begin and how to approach the person he loves.

You probably Probably don't wanna hear from me A selfish convict of your broken heart So I'm beggin', pleadin' Don't throw away the key
The singer feels guilty for hurting the person he loves and thinks that they wouldn't want to hear from him. He's pleading with them not to give up on him.

Do you believe in second chances Cuz I'll surrender all my defenses Oh I know this won't be easy But believe me when I say
The singer is asking if the person he loves believes in second chances and is willing to give him another chance. He's willing to be vulnerable and let go of his defenses. He knows that it won't be easy, but he's asking them to trust him.

I HAD TO GO SO FAR AWAY TO FIND MY WAY BACK TO YOU I HAD TO LOSE A PART OF ME TO MAKE ME REALIZE THE TRUTH I KNOW THE JOURNEY WAS WORTH THE FALL I KNOW THAT MUCH IS TRUE CUZ EVERY ROAD LEADS ME BACK TO YOU BACK TO YOU Yeaaaaaahhhh...
The singer is explaining that he went through a journey to find himself and realizes that his true home is with the person he loves. He had to go through hardships and lose parts of himself to learn the truth. But he's certain that all roads lead to this person and he's willing to go back to them.

Why do the say Say that it takes two What do they know Had nothin' to do with you I was the one Who was so blind Everything that I needed was here all the time
The singer is questioning why people say that relationships take two people to work. He thinks that it was his own fault that he lost the person he loves because he was unaware of what he had all along.

Do you believe in new beginnings Cuz we could have our happy ending Oh I know this won't be easy But believe me when I say
The singer is asking if the person he loves believes in starting over and having a happy ending. He acknowledges that it won't be easy, but he's asking them to trust him.

Keep on, keep on, Oh I'll keep on runnin' right back to you Keep on, keep on, and now I realize the truth Keep on, keep on, I had to go Keep on, keep on, I had to lose a part of me But now I see And I'll keep runnin' back to you
The singer is determined to keep going towards the person he loves, now that he knows the truth. He acknowledges that he had to go through hardships and lose parts of himself to realize what he needed, but now he sees clearly and is running towards this person.

I KNOW THE JOURNEY WAS WORTH THE FALL I KNOW THAT MUCH IS TRUE CUZ EVERY ROAD LEADS ME BACK TO YOU
The singer reiterates that the journey he went through was worth it because it led him back to the person he loves. He believes that everything was leading to this moment and that he's meant to be with them.

Can't you see these are words I wish I'd hear from you If I did, I would run Yes, run right back to you
The singer is expressing that he wants to hear the person he loves saying the same things back to him. If he did, he would immediately run back to them.

Contributed by Leah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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