Matthew’s career as a solo artist has evolved naturally over the past few years, his fanbase growing organically and his songwriting skills growing exponentially. But it has not just been the quality of Matthew’s songs that sets him apart. The prolific musician has self-released eight EPs since 2008, offering his fans a consistent stream of new music. In September of 2008, Matthew recorded his debut solo EP, The Fire EP, for $1000 in a Birmingham basement. This disc spawned “First In Line,” which appeared in the 100th episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
Matthew’s second EP followed in July 2009. Five Chances Remain Hers, produced by Paul Moak, which landed another track, “Better,” on Grey’s Anatomy. The single skyrocketed to No. 1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart and in December of 2009 Matthew offered fans a third EP-- Maybe Next Christmas. The reaction to these releases and to Matthew’s songwriting was so strong it just made sense for him to keep doing it.
“The response was pretty overwhelming and caught me a bit off guard,” Matthew explains. “It reset something inside me and got my wheels turning for the EP series. I wanted to try something that no one else was trying. I knew I had the songs, and I knew that if I worked hard, I could put out records that people wanted to hear month after month. I've had plenty of issues over the years as an artist, but there's never been a shortage of songs.”
Since Maybe Next Christmas, Matthew has written, recorded, and released five more EPs--regularly putting them out every month from January 2010 through May 2010. Each disc has showcased a different facet of the musician, revealing his depth and versatility. Funded by his fans— who were also involved in selecting the tracklists and cover art via Pledge Music--each EP has also reached the top of the iTunes singer/songwriter charts. The whirlwind process has taught Matthew, who toured in the midst of this with Needtobreathe, Pete Yorn, Switchfoot, Blue October and The Civil Wars, an immense amount about both himself and about creating music.
“Each EP is a different chapter for me,” he says. “Essentially, it was an exercise in storytelling.Late '08 into early '09 was by far the hardest period of my life. There was a lot of grief to process, and it was tough to file it down into song form. The ideas spilled out night after night, morning after
morning. I learned to keep a voice recorder close by at all times for that reason. Most of the melodies came to me in the car, the airport, the shower— pretty much the most inconvenient places for making noise.”
Riding on the momentum of this succession of music, Matthew is currently preparing to release his debut album, Now You’re Free, a record that was completely funded by his fans via Pledge Music. Recorded over the course of three weeks with producer Paul Moak in Nashville in June, the disc pairs five songs pulled from Matthew’s past EPs and five brand new tracks. The ten songs walk a fine line between Matthew’s acoustic singer-songwriter tendencies and the group-driven rock ‘n roll he loves making, in the end creating a cohesive, narrative-driven collection of spirited rock songs.
"I want to write songs that people can sing back at me the way I sing back at my favorite artists,” he says. “I'm excited about attempting to change something with a song. It could be someone's mood for four minutes, the temperature in their room or the way they watch the sun set driving down the interstate. Music has changed everything for me. I want to be a part of that for other people.”
Fire Escape
Matthew Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you feel my kisses on your hands?
You're almost here, you catch your breath,
A ghost is whisperin' in your head:
''No, you're not home''
I'm on a fire escape
Where you said to wait
Oh, I heard the cold winds say:
"You're a fool to stay"
But I did, yes I did
No, you're not my home
No matter how my heart tries,
I'm not too blind to realize
When I'm free from the grip of this life,
You won't be there by my side
''No, you're not home''
I'm on a fire escape
Where you said to wait
And I did, yes I did
No, I heard the cold winds say:
"You're a fool to stay"
But I did, yes I did
Oh, you're not my home
Oh, you're not my home
You're not my home
I'm on a fire escape
Where you said to wait
And I did, yes I did
No, I heard the cold winds say:
"You're a fool to stay"
But I did, yes I did
Oh, you're not my home
And every word I wanted to say
Got replaced with the wedding ring
The lyrics to Matthew Mayfield's song "Fire Escape" describe a scene that takes place on a fire escape where the singer is waiting for someone they care about to arrive. The lyrics suggest that this person is not someone they feel at home with or have a future with. The singer is aware that this person may not always be in their life, and they will not be a constant presence in their life. The line, "No, you're not my home" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that this person is not a permanent fixture in their life.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer has had feelings for this person for some time, and they are waiting on this fire escape for them. The fact that the singer is on a fire escape may symbolize their desire to escape the situation or relationship they are currently in. The lyrics suggest that the singer is aware of the reality of their situation, and they accept it for what it is.
Overall, "Fire Escape" is a heartfelt and melancholic song about waiting for someone who is not your home. It portrays the struggle of being stuck in a situation you can't get out of, waiting for something that may never come.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you bite your bottom lip
I notice you're nervous or anxious about our meeting
Can you feel my kisses on your hands?
I want you to know I care deeply for you and I'm excited to see you
You're almost here, you catch your breath,
You're almost arrived and taking a moment to compose yourself
A ghost is whisperin' in your head: 'No, you're not home'
You may have doubts about our relationship or whether you feel at home with me
I'm on a fire escape Where you said to wait And I did, yes I did
I'm waiting for you where we agreed to meet, even though it might not be the best place
Oh, I heard the cold winds say: 'You're a fool to stay' But I did, yes I did
Despite warnings from the world around us, I'm still persisting in waiting for you
No, you're not my home
I'm realizing that you may not be the right person for me, even if I care for you deeply
No matter how my heart tries, I'm not too blind to realize
Even though I have strong feelings for you, I can still see when things aren't working out
When I'm free from the grip of this life, You won't be there by my side 'No, you're not home'
I'm coming to terms with the fact that we may not have a future together, even though it's hard to accept
And every word I wanted to say Got replaced with the wedding ring
I wanted to say so much to you, but now all I can think about is the painful realization that we may not be meant to be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN PAUL WHITE, MATTHEW MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Giorgia De Luca
Brittany Snow is amazing.
asyiqin
Brittany is absolutely beautiful and this song is just so amazing. What's not to like?
psyroro ً
You can see the sadness in Britt's eyes, you can feel the song.
j
Been listening for years. Can never get enough! 💕
Jennifer Walsh
James Clemente you still listening?
Mandy K
I love Matthew! The fact that the gorgeous Brittany Snow is in it only makes it better! She is amazing! But Matthew, god his voice! I love you guys!
Ismael Herrera
I wouldn't like this song at my wedding.. but honestly it's one of my favorite songs ever.
wolf09
Brittany Snow is ridiculously beautiful. Seriously, people shouldn't be allowed to be that pretty!
Jennifer Kientz
Wow, my comment got deleted. 🙄🤷🏼♀️ Love this song!! Beautiful music & such a heart wrenching video. The pain is definitely felt when listening to this song. Big fan!! 🥰
Jennifer Kientz
My bad, I did drop the F bomb. Sorry. I tend to do that when I'm passionate about things, especially when it comes to music. ✌