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.”
Man‐Made Machines
Matthew Mayfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This world, it shines shimmers and pays
If I’m just a soul stuck in a cage
I sure as hell like the estate
This ain't no heart that you could redeem
I’m just a criminal fleeing the scene
My heart is cold and locked in the sea
And we line up, we line up in America
We line up, line up in America
To summon man-made machines
To silence the screams
Of the children in our dreams
Entire souls out on the line
A cigarette is burning some time
If ‘i am lost, and I am no guide’
Like Eddie said, ‘I’m by you’re side
So we line up, we line up in America
We line up, line up in America
To summon man-made machines
To silence the screams
Of the children in our dreams
And we watch as God-fearing men
Open the gates
Just to close them in our face
The lyrics of Matthew Mayfield's song Man-Made Machines are deeply introspective and emotionally charged, conveying the singer's sense of disaffection and despair with modern society. The opening lines suggest a longing for success and desire for material possessions, even if it means being trapped in a metaphorical cage. The next lines reveal a sense of hopelessness and a belief that redemption is not possible, with the singer characterizing himself as a criminal on the run, with a cold and locked heart. The metaphor of being locked in the sea is intriguing, suggesting a feeling of being lost and overwhelmed.
The chorus of the song is powerful, with the repeated line "We line up in America" conveying a sense of conformity and a lack of agency. The singer seems to suggest that modern society forces us to line up and follow the commands of man-made machines, in order to silence the screams of the children in our dreams. This can be interpreted as a critique of the capitalist system and the way in which it commodifies human life, producing a society that values productivity over empathy.
The final lines of the song suggest a sense of betrayal by those in power, with "God-fearing men" opening gates only to slam them shut in our faces. Overall, Man-Made Machines is a powerful and thought-provoking song, revealing the singer's disillusionment with modern society and his longing for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve got my heart set on the way
I have my mind made up on how I want to live my life
This world, it shines shimmers and pays
The world has many materialistic and financially rewarding opportunities
If I’m just a soul stuck in a cage
If I'm just living a mundane life devoid of purpose
I sure as hell like the estate
I still enjoy the luxurious life that comes with it
This ain't no heart that you could redeem
My heart is hardened and cannot be fixed
I’m just a criminal fleeing the scene
I am running away from my problems
My heart is cold and locked in the sea
I feel emotionally detached and distant
I’m hoping God can throw my the key
I am hoping for spiritual guidance and redemption
And we line up, we line up in America
We blindly follow society's norms and expectations
To summon man-made machines
To resort to technology and artificial means to solve problems
To silence the screams
To ignore the injustices and suffering of others
Of the children in our dreams
Of our hopes and aspirations for a better future
Entire souls out on the line
People risking everything for their dreams
A cigarette is burning some time
Passing time while waiting for opportunities
If ‘i am lost, and I am no guide’
If I am feeling lost and lack direction
Like Eddie said, ‘I’m by you’re side
Friends and loved ones are there to support and help
And we watch as God-fearing men
We observe those in power who claim to be religious
Open the gates
They offer opportunities and promises of change
Just to close them in our face
Only to disappoint us and reject our desires
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MATTHEW MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind