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.
Let Your Shoulder Fall
Matthew Jay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm trying to tell you what I know
I even kept the photograph
Of when I nearly let you go
You separate your love for me
From every single one you had
Away with all that's gone before
Let your shoulder fall
I'm coming for your love today
It's lucky that you came this way
I'm loving how I think about you now
For many years it's been so slow
And only now we start to know
Just what it is to shoot out of our minds
I'm shaking like a newborn tree
My idol left without a trace
I never thought you'd understand
You licked the tears right off my face
I couldn't trust the telephone
It doesn't say the lies you mean
Away with all that's gone before
Let your shoulder fall
I'm coming for your love today
It's lucky that you came this way
I'm loving how I think about you now
For many years it's been so slow
And only now we start to know
Just what it is to shoot out of our minds
Waves of sadness came
On the beach today
Hold on now it won't be long
'Till we're on our way
I'm home for national holidays
Let's hook up in a coffee bar
Won't you bring your friend who's lost in space
Don't you worry if it's not your car
I'm joking, and I think you know
I love it when you're playing dumb
Away with all that's gone before
Let your shoulder fall
I'm coming for your love today
It's lucky that you came this way
I'm loving how I think about you now
For many years it's been so slow
And only now we start to know
Just what it is to shoot out of our minds
The lyrics of Matthew Jay's "Let Your Shoulder Fall" capture the vulnerable and emotional state of the singer as he reaches deep within himself to convey his feelings. The opening lines suggest that he is struggling to express something that he knows but finds hard to articulate. However, he holds on to a photograph that symbolizes the moment he almost lost the person he loves. He implores his lover to separate her love for him from the love she had for other people. He wants her to forget all that's gone before and allow herself to be vulnerable to him by letting her shoulder fall.
The chorus reveals that he is making a move towards his lover today, and he feels fortunate that she came his way. He admits that their love has been slow to develop, but at last, they are beginning to know what it is to experience a love that transcends the mundane. He is overcome by the emotional depth of his feelings, and it's like a wave of sadness that threatens to overwhelm him, but he holds on long enough to suggest that they will be on their way to a better place.
In the final verse, he invites his lover to join him in a coffee bar with a friend who seems lost in space. He jokes that it's not essential to bring a car and that he loves it when she plays dumb. He asserts that they must forget all that's gone before and let their shoulders fall to embrace a love that is pure and honest.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm reaching deep within myself
I am introspecting to find the answers that I seek
I'm trying to tell you what I know
I am attempting to communicate my true feelings to you
I even kept the photograph
I still cherish the memory of the time when I thought I'd lost you
Of when I nearly let you go
When I came close to losing you forever
You separate your love for me
You segregate your love for me from everyone else you love
From every single one you had
From all the love that you have shared before
Away with all that's gone before
Let's forget the past and start afresh
Let your shoulder fall
Relax and let go of all your worries
I'm coming for your love today
I am here to claim your love right now
It's lucky that you came this way
I am grateful that we crossed paths
I'm loving how I think about you now
I am enjoying the thoughts of you that run through my mind
For many years it's been so slow
Our relationship has been stagnant for a long time
And only now we start to know
We are beginning to discover each other's true selves
Just what it is to shoot out of our minds
The feeling of exhilaration that comes with unleashing our emotions
Waves of sadness came
I was struck by a wave of intense despair
On the beach today
It happened while I was by the shore
Hold on now it won't be long
Hang on, we will get through this soon
'Till we're on our way
Until we move forward from this pain
My idol left without a trace
The person who I looked up to disappeared suddenly
I never thought you'd understand
I didn't believe that you would comprehend my emotions
You licked the tears right off my face
You comforted me by wiping away my tears with your tongue
I couldn't trust the telephone
I couldn't rely on the phone to convey the truth
It doesn't say the lies you mean
It doesn't reveal the untruth in your words
I'm home for national holidays
I am home to celebrate a national occasion
Let's hook up in a coffee bar
Let's meet up at a cafe
Won't you bring your friend who's lost in space
Can you please also invite your friend who seems aloof
Don't you worry if it's not your car
Don't be concerned if the car we take is not yours
I'm joking, and I think you know
I am kidding, and I believe you realize it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW JAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind