At the age of 15, Hegarty taught himself to play the guitar and later joined a band playing heavy alternative rock, drawing inspiration from bands like System of a Down and The Smashing Pumpkins. However, his musical direction shifted when he discovered the works of singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, as well as contemporary acts like Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. This newfound interest in folk music led Hegarty to pick up the acoustic guitar and the banjo, paving the way for him to perform solo acoustic gigs.
During a performance in Woking, Hegarty met pianist Lindsay West and multi-instrumentalist Dave Millar, with whom he formed the initial lineup of Matthew and the Atlas. The band gained recognition as part of the emerging folk movement in the United Kingdom and became regulars at London's Notting Hill Arts Club.
In 2009, Matthew and the Atlas released their first EP on Communion Records, a label co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. Their EP "To the North" was Communion's second release and helped establish the band's following, further bolstered by touring as the opening act for Mumford & Sons. Subsequent EPs like "Kingdom of Your Own" followed.
In 2014, Matthew and the Atlas released their debut full-length album, "Other Rivers," showcasing polished production and the incorporation of keyboards and electronic percussion. For the album "Temple" (2016), the band recorded with members of Foreign Fields and also released an acoustic version of the same songs titled "Temple (Unplugged)."
Over time, the band's lineup solidified, with members like Alex Roberts (guitar), Tommy Heap (bass and keyboards), James Drohan (drums), and Emma Gatrill (harp) joining Hegarty.
Matthew and the Atlas has built a devoted live following in London and has embarked on tours, including a UK tour with Mumford & Sons. The band's musical journey has seen them explore various styles, from classic acoustic folk to electronica and alt-rock, all the while maintaining Hegarty's distinctive vocal style and emotive songwriting.
In 2011, after a band member's departure, Matthew Hegarty decided to return to performing "solo" under the Matthew and the Atlas moniker.
Currently, Matthew Hegarty is preparing to release his new album, "This Place We Live," on Communion Records in November 2023. For the first time, he takes on recording and producing duties, crafting a collection of deeply personal songs that reflect on past experiences, family, parenthood, love, and loss. To support the album's release, Matthew Hegarty will embark on a solo tour throughout the UK and Europe in the fall of 2023.
Nowhere Now
Matthew And The Atlas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And were nowhere now.
Old bones are wearing you down
Old dreams push you around.
Maybe I am stubborn now,
Maybe I cant see
But Jesus dont talk to me,
I never did leave!
Do you need to keep pushing on,
Cause this place, this place is like a funeral.
I couldnt help thinking on the talk I heard on the radio
If they gonna keep put down
Someday, maybe you should let it go.
I dont mind telling you so, if it is
Something to hold on to.
You follow the white dead trail,
Found the hunters trap,
Made out steel and wire
But he gripped them round.
I run my hands across your jaws, your teeth, your tongue your brow
The blood is spreading to your brain
Weve got to get it out somehow, somehow!
Do you need to keep pushing on,
Cause this place, this place is like a funeral.
I couldnt help thinking on the talk I heard on the radio
If they gonna keep put down
Someday, maybe you should let it go.
I dont mind telling you so, if it is
Something to hold on to,
Something to hold on to.
A pink moonshine
Lighting your shadow.
A witness to what came before
A witness to what came before!
Do you need to keep pushing on,
Cause this place, this place is like a funeral.
I couldnt help thinking on the talk I heard on the radio
If they gonna keep put down
Someday, maybe you should let it go.
I dont mind telling you so, if it is
Something to hold on to,
Something to hold on to.
The lyrics of "Nowhere Now" by Matthew And The Atlas depict the struggles of life and the overwhelming feeling of being stuck in a place that drains all energy and enthusiasm, leaving one stranded and hopeless. The first two lines emphasize how the work that we put in may not always result in a happy or fulfilling outcome, and that we may find ourselves feeling directionless and lost even after exerting all our energy. The next two lines talk about the debilitating effects of old age and unfulfilled dreams, which can leave us feeling helpless and ignored.
The chorus repeats the question of whether it's necessary to keep pushing ahead and fighting, even when the going gets tough, as the state of mind comes close to being that of a funeral. The singer then goes on to share a radio talk he heard that made him think about giving up if others kept belittling him. However, he hopes to give listeners something to hold onto, even if it's just one thing. The use of "pink moonshine" and "witnessing the past" metaphorically describes the memories and experiences that shape and guide us.
Overall, the lyrics demonstrate the need to find a reason to hold on and continue moving forward, even through difficult times when life seems to be at its worst.
Line by Line Meaning
Its harder now, the work is done
The task was tough and now that it is over, the exhaustion has set in.
And were nowhere now.
We have nowhere else to go after finishing the task.
Old bones are wearing you down
You are getting older and weaker, unable to carry out some of the things you used to do with ease.
Old dreams push you around.
The hopes and aspirations you had in the past influence your current worldview, making it difficult to move on.
Maybe I am stubborn now,
It is possible that I am rigid and unyielding at this moment.
Maybe I cant see
It's possible that I'm not able to view things clearly or objectively at the moment.
But Jesus dont talk to me,
I am not receiving any guidance or inspiration from a higher power or authority figure.
I never did leave!
Despite everything, I have stayed true to my values and beliefs.
Do you need to keep pushing on,
Is it really necessary to continue striving towards an uncertain future?
Cause this place, this place is like a funeral.
Being in this environment is depressing and bleak.
I couldnt help thinking on the talk I heard on the radio
The words I heard on the radio have been playing over and over in my head.
If they gonna keep put down
If others continue to criticize, belittle or dismiss us,
Someday, maybe you should let it go.
Perhaps we should learn to move on from these negative opinions or attitudes.
I dont mind telling you so, if it is
I am okay with telling you that idea if it helps you in some way.
Something to hold on to.
This idea or thought could be a source of comfort in difficult times.
You follow the white dead trail,
You are pursuing a path that has no life, no hope or potential.
Found the hunters trap,
You fell into a trap or a harmful situation.
Made out steel and wire
The trap is made with strong and durable materials, making it difficult to escape.
But he gripped them round.
The trap has a strong hold on your movements or decisions.
I run my hands across your jaws, your teeth, your tongue your brow
I touch your face and examine every part of you.
The blood is spreading to your brain
The negative impact of the harmful situation is causing great harm and could soon be life-threatening.
Weve got to get it out somehow, somehow!
We need to find a way to get out of this harmful situation before it's too late.
A pink moonshine
A soft light in the evening sky.
Lighting your shadow.
The light casts a shadow behind you.
A witness to what came before
A remnant of what happened in the past.
Do you need to keep pushing on,
Is it really necessary to continue striving towards an uncertain future?
Cause this place, this place is like a funeral.
Being in this environment is depressing and bleak.
I couldnt help thinking on the talk I heard on the radio
The words I heard on the radio have been playing over and over in my head.
If they gonna keep put down
If others continue to criticize, belittle or dismiss us,
Someday, maybe you should let it go.
Perhaps we should learn to move on from these negative opinions or attitudes.
I dont mind telling you so, if it is
I am okay with telling you that idea if it helps you in some way.
Something to hold on to.
This idea or thought could be a source of comfort in difficult times.
Contributed by Charlotte J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Roy AOE
Lyrics speak to each of us, every song, word, tune, vibe beat, tone, the point is we listen... we all critic, but, when we listen to something that strums from the heart, yes it feels alive, and why we each ask ourselves our own questions....
whitey bone
man oh man i love the hook but i was not expecting you to redo my favourite song by you, either way this and animal bones is great
SC
Your original version of "Animal Bones" was so much better. Hope it'll be made available as bonus content at the least.
Craig C
im loving the new sound in general but i think "animal bones" shouldn't have been messed with here...
Jake Lazenby
Nice, but not a patch on its foundation: Animal Bones. I agree very much with Ben's post before. This new take has worked on Pale Sun Rose and Out of the Darkness but hasn't really done any favours to the rest of the music he has produced.
Gustavo Pinheiro
Just O.K.
Ben Crisp
Really disappointing version compared to the Animal Bones from this session http://songsfortheday.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/animal-bones-mile-marker-session-matthew-the-atlas/. Worried the album will be similar and lose what made him such an interesting artist. Now just delving into electronic beats which juxtapose his sound. It's worked on some of the songs released so far, but others have been disappointing.
Hunter Kimmerle
***** his work before this album was creativity. it was unique, it was MATA. this album is not creativity, its too "pop" sounding
SC
Creativity? You need to bear in mind until now the vast majority of the bands fans have been so based on the "folky" sound of the previous EP's. This, to me isn't Matthew & the Atlas anymore and should have been released under a completely different moniker.
Where does it make sense to change the bands style BEFORE their full length debut comes out?
Galan Voorhis
the bluegrass version... way better, this is just shameful, not to be a hater. but come on,,,