At the time of his passing in September 2003, aged just 24, British singer-… Read Full Bio ↴At the time of his passing in September 2003, aged just 24, British singer-songwriter Matthew Jay seemed to be poised on the brink of real stardom. His debut album, 'Draw,' had been released in 2001 to critical and popular acclaim, and his fan base was building rapidly across the globe as more people discovered his music through his international tours, airplay, and his songs featuring in the background music of hit TV shows, especially in Canada and the USA.
The middle child of two semi-professional folk singers, in Plymouth on October 10th 1978, Jay was born into a highly musical family. His parents, Tony and Hilary, performed regularly in a folk band, and when Matthew was only eight years old, he joined the line-up, playing bass, along with his two brothers, Eddy and Pete.
He started writing his own songs as a teenager, and at the end of his final year in high school in 2000, he decided to give his music just one shot before leaving for university to study a nice 'sensible' subject: (optometry). Happily for Jay, after bombarding record labels with his demo throughout the summer, he was signed to EMI. At that point, somewhat unusually, he hadn't even played one solo gig.
While at EMI, Jay released two EPs: 'Four Songs' and 'Friendly Fire,' followed by the critically-acclaimed album 'Draw,' and three singles: 'Let Your Shoulder Fall,' 'Please Don't Send Me Away,' and 'Call My Name Out.' He enjoyed moderate chart success with the singles, and on the strength of this toured extensively throughout Europe and the States, supporting many acts including Starsailor, Travis, Dido and The Divine Comedy.
In 2002 Jay separated amicably from EMI and started work on songs which marked a slight change in creative direction, as he began experimenting with a number of new influences, including hip-hop.
Sadly, in the autumn of 2003, the singer-songwriter died suddenly in the small hours of the 25th of September, in an unexplained fall from his London apartment block. It was a shocking end to what had been a life full of promise, and one built upon a remarkable foundation of accomplishment for one so young.
In 2004, the independent record label Jays Music Ltd released a retrospective album called 'Too Soon': a collection of Matthew Jay early songs and rarities, and followed this in December 2006 with a single: 'What Would Love Do Now,' which was one of the last songs he had recorded.
The new material Jay had been working on until the time of his passing showcased a mature writing style for the artist, which although something of a departure from the tracks on 'Draw,' still maintained his distinctive vocals, and trademark bittersweet and often humourous lyrical style.
An album featuring a selection of these songs is due for release in the spring of 2008, and will be available via his official website.
The middle child of two semi-professional folk singers, in Plymouth on October 10th 1978, Jay was born into a highly musical family. His parents, Tony and Hilary, performed regularly in a folk band, and when Matthew was only eight years old, he joined the line-up, playing bass, along with his two brothers, Eddy and Pete.
He started writing his own songs as a teenager, and at the end of his final year in high school in 2000, he decided to give his music just one shot before leaving for university to study a nice 'sensible' subject: (optometry). Happily for Jay, after bombarding record labels with his demo throughout the summer, he was signed to EMI. At that point, somewhat unusually, he hadn't even played one solo gig.
While at EMI, Jay released two EPs: 'Four Songs' and 'Friendly Fire,' followed by the critically-acclaimed album 'Draw,' and three singles: 'Let Your Shoulder Fall,' 'Please Don't Send Me Away,' and 'Call My Name Out.' He enjoyed moderate chart success with the singles, and on the strength of this toured extensively throughout Europe and the States, supporting many acts including Starsailor, Travis, Dido and The Divine Comedy.
In 2002 Jay separated amicably from EMI and started work on songs which marked a slight change in creative direction, as he began experimenting with a number of new influences, including hip-hop.
Sadly, in the autumn of 2003, the singer-songwriter died suddenly in the small hours of the 25th of September, in an unexplained fall from his London apartment block. It was a shocking end to what had been a life full of promise, and one built upon a remarkable foundation of accomplishment for one so young.
In 2004, the independent record label Jays Music Ltd released a retrospective album called 'Too Soon': a collection of Matthew Jay early songs and rarities, and followed this in December 2006 with a single: 'What Would Love Do Now,' which was one of the last songs he had recorded.
The new material Jay had been working on until the time of his passing showcased a mature writing style for the artist, which although something of a departure from the tracks on 'Draw,' still maintained his distinctive vocals, and trademark bittersweet and often humourous lyrical style.
An album featuring a selection of these songs is due for release in the spring of 2008, and will be available via his official website.
Heading Out
Matthew Jay Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Matthew Jay:
A World Away Tell me when you're coming So I can come too The blood…
Become Yourself Remember this feeling It will come again But until it does R…
Call My Name Out Storm dies, younger brother calls for his mother Son, she sa…
Four Minute Rebellion Three more inches of hair Is a whole fucking world Of…
Let Your Shoulder Fall I'm reaching deep within myself I'm trying to tell you what…
Meteorology Everything could die tomorrow Would you still say what you s…
Only Meant To Say Everything could die tomorrow Would you still say what you …
Please Don't Send Me Away Tell me now what have you done To justify your life…
Please Dont Send Me Away Tell me now what have you done To justify your life…
The Clearing If you're in there, you must come out I have no…
You're always It's been a long time since we hung around together…
You're Always Going Too Soon It's been a long time since we hung around together…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Elizabeth Nurse
Still love this, saw Matthew as a support act at got his album soon after. Brilliant and much missed.
Jamie Wilkinson
My brother had this album years ago when living in Nottingham and I loved this track and always going too soon... many times I listen to it to this day and relate to the lyrics. RIP Matthew Jay very talented
kyma1999x
one of the best songs I've ever heard, from a great artist, we miss your music a lot...
Claire doll
I worked in a record store when this album came out,it was an absolute staff favourite (someone we could always agree on) everytime we put the record on the whole shop would just listen...we sold 'draw' every damn time we played it...without fail..god damn why did he have to go and leave us! He had so much more to give x
Chris Baker
2020. Still great...still on my car playlist. ❤️
Diana Drake
Such a fun song...the lyrics are great. It just makes me smile every time.
LaaLaa78
Great song, a little gem that isn't known well enough.
kuwinsitall
Big fan from Kansas, USA! He was such a talent! Great music.
Matthew Jay
Hi Rachael, really appreciate your post. To know that Matthew’s music lives on in musicians like you is quite special to know. It will be 10 years on 25th September that the world lost all Matthew’s new music. There will be an online memory book opening soon. I hope you and others like you will want to right a few words in it. Good luck with all the music you are creating. I hope it brings you happiness and fulfilment. Jays Music
Louise Holden
Thank you so much. I bought this album when it first came out and was blown away. It's in my top ten all time favourites and I was genuinely upset when I heard about what had happened. Thanks for keeping this music online for people to enjoy XXX