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.
Only Meant To Say
Matthew Jay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would you still say what you said?
I'm cold and don't understand how
Sometimes things I say cut deep
I only meant to say the words that you needed
Oh and I only seem to dig a little further down
Say the things I never could
Maybe you will not remember
Maybe you will not forget
I'm on a river nowhere
I'm on a river nowhere now
In Matthew Jay's song "Only Meant To Say", the lyrics explore the complex nature of communication and the potential lasting impact of our words. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, asking the listener to consider if they would still say what they said if everything could die tomorrow. This is a powerful question, as it forces the listener to confront their own mortality and the significance of what they say and do in their limited time alive. The next lines express a sense of confusion and disorientation, as the singer acknowledges that sometimes words can have a deep and painful impact on others, even if that was not their intention.
The chorus offers some clarity and reveals the singer's true motivations. They only meant to say the words that the other person needed to hear, indicating that perhaps this person was struggling or in need of reassurance. However, the singer notes that they seem to "dig a little further down", suggesting that despite their good intentions, their words may not always have the desired effect or may even make matters worse.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything could die tomorrow
If everything and everyone could perish by tomorrow, do you think you'd regret anything you've ever said or done?
Would you still say what you said?
If tomorrow dawns as an apocalypse, would you repeat all those words and actions that you did yesterday?
I'm cold and don't understand how
I feel frozen inside, and I can't comprehend why everything is like it is.
Sometimes things I say cut deep
Occasionally, my words may hurt you more than I intended to. I'm sorry if I ever did so.
I only meant to say the words that you needed
I hoped to convey precisely what you needed to hear, without arousing any other thoughts or emotions.
Oh and I only seem to dig a little further down
I tried to improve the situation and repair our relationship, but I seemed to have made things worse by my misguided endeavors.
Years from now I will return to
In the years to come, I shall come back to fix everything that's gone wrong or apologize for all I've done.
Say the things I never could
During my return, I strive to let you know all that I could never bring myself to say until now.
Maybe you will not remember
Perhaps with time, you might forget about me and all that once happened between us.
Maybe you will not forget
Perhaps you'll still recall all I said and did, the good and the bad alike, which will help you learn and grow.
I'm on a river nowhere
I feel lost and directionless, like a current drifting away aimlessly, without a defined destination.
I'm on a river nowhere now
Nowadays, I'm living a life without a purpose, just like a river that meanders aimlessly without any target or goal.
Contributed by Bella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.