In the past three years Matthew Mayfield has both redefined himself and red… Read Full Bio ↴In the past three years Matthew Mayfield has both redefined himself and redefined how a musician can record and release music. When Matthew’s previous band, Moses Mayfield, which signed with Epic when he was only 21, disbanded at the close of 2007, the Birmingham-based musician was forced to decide how to proceed with his life. A working musician since the age of 18, he only knew songwriting, recording, and touring. “All I ever wanted to be was a rock 'n roll star,” Matthew says. “When the band broke up, I knew I had to keep pushing."

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.”

First In Line
Matthew Mayfield Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll run my fingers through your hair tonight
There's no one else, I'm sure of this
I need you now

I'll give you all of me
I'll make you mine
If you'll take me and make me
Your first in line, oh

I've made my home in your heart and your mind
And you laid your hands on my chest and
You pointed home

I'll give you all of me
I'll make you mine
If you'll take me and you'll make me
Your first in line, oh

I've seen you, I've kissed you
In two hours, I've missed you
I'll take it, I'll make it
I'll give you all

I'll give you all of me
I'll make you mine
If you'll take me and you'll make me
Your first in line

Whoooo
Oh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Matthew Mayfield's song First in Line speak about a deep desire for a romantic love. The line "I'll run my fingers through your hair tonight" implies a level of intimacy, while the next line "There's no one else, I'm sure of this" speaks of exclusivity and commitment. The singer expresses a need for the other person in their life and is willing to give everything to make the relationship work. The lines "I've made my home in your heart and your mind, and you laid your hands on my chest and you pointed home" speak to a sense of belonging and being grounded in the relationship.

The chorus is repeated twice, which emphasizes the singer's willingness to give everything to the other person, even to the point of becoming "the first in line" for their love. The final lines of the song convey a sense of urgency and longing, with the singer saying "I'll take it, I'll make it, I'll give you all".

Overall, the lyrics to First in Line convey a deep emotional connection and an intense desire for love and commitment.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll run my fingers through your hair tonight
I want to comfort you and be close to you, physically and emotionally

There's no one else, I'm sure of this
I am committed to you and our relationship, and no one else can take your place

I need you now
I rely on you for love, support, and comfort, especially in this moment

I'll give you all of me
I am willing to be vulnerable with you and share all aspects of myself, good and bad

I'll make you mine
I want to be in a committed relationship with you, and I am willing to work towards that

If you'll take me and make me Your first in line, oh
If you choose me as your partner and prioritize our relationship above all else, I will be loyal and dedicated to you

I've made my home in your heart and your mind
I feel comfortable and welcomed in your life, and I occupy a special place in your heart and thoughts

And you laid your hands on my chest and You pointed home
You help guide and ground me, and I feel a sense of belonging and purpose with you

I've seen you, I've kissed you In two hours, I've missed you
I feel deeply connected to you and cherish the time we spend together, even when it's brief

I'll take it, I'll make it I'll give you all
I am willing to work hard and make sacrifices to build a life with you, and I want to give you my all

If you'll take me and you'll make me Your first in line
If you choose me and show me that I am a priority in your life, I will be fully committed to you

Contributed by Levi M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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