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” explore the consequences of living in a society that values materialism and success over human connection and compassion. The first verse portrays the singer as someone who is enticed by the superficiality of the world, and who is willing to sacrifice their own freedom and authenticity for the sake of fitting in. However, the second verse reveals that this person is not truly happy, and feels trapped and isolated by their own choices.
The chorus emphasizes the theme that people in modern society are driven to pursue meaningless possessions and accomplishments, while ignoring the suffering of others. The repetition of the phrase “we line up” suggests a mindless conformity, and the reference to “man-made machines” suggests that people have become like automatons, devoid of emotions and empathy. The final line of the chorus, “to silence the screams of the children in our dreams,” is a powerful image that symbolizes the way that people ignore their own conscience and suppress their own humanity in order to avoid the pain and sorrow that comes with acknowledging the injustices of the world.
The bridge of the song takes a more personal and introspective turn, acknowledging the struggles and flaws of the singer. The final verse expresses a sense of hopelessness and disillusionment, as the singer watches other people use religion and morality as an excuse to exclude and oppress those who are different from themselves.
Overall, “Man-Made Machines” is a poignant critique of contemporary society, and a plea for people to rediscover their humanity and compassion in a world that too often values power and status above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve got my heart set on the way
I have decided on a path for my life and I am determined to follow it
This world, it shines shimmers and pays
This world is full of material possessions that sparkle and provide financial gain
If I’m just a soul stuck in a cage
If I feel trapped in my body and in society's expectations
I sure as hell like the estate
But I still enjoy the benefits of wealth and luxury
This ain't no heart that you could redeem
My heart is too damaged to be fixed or saved
I’m just a criminal fleeing the scene
I feel guilty and am trying to escape consequences
My heart is cold and locked in the sea
My emotions are numb and buried deep inside
I’m hoping God can throw my the key
I am putting my faith in a higher power to help me break free
And we line up, we line up in America
We conform to societal norms and expectations in the United States
To summon man-made machines
We rely on technology to solve our problems
To silence the screams
To quiet the cries of those in need
Of the children in our dreams
Of the innocent and vulnerable that we wish to protect
Entire souls out on the line
Our entire beings are exposed and at risk
A cigarette is burning some time
Time is passing and we are wasting it on things that harm us
If ‘i am lost, and I am no guide’
If I am struggling and cannot help myself or others
Like Eddie said, ‘I’m by you’re side
Like a friend or support system, I am here to help
And we watch as God-fearing men
We witness those who claim to be religious commit cruel acts
Open the gates
They allow access and opportunity
Just to close them in our face
Only to take away what they have given and leave us hopeless
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MATTHEW MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind