Matthew Perryman Jones (born 1973) is an American singer and songwriter. Read Full Bio ↴Matthew Perryman Jones (born 1973) is an American singer and songwriter.

Jones began performing in 1997, debuting at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA, but he soon relocated to Nashville. In 2000 he released Nowhere Else But Here followed by an EP, For the Road, in 2003. Released in 2006, Throwing Punches in the Dark was produced by Neilson Hubbard (Glen Phillips, Garrison Star) and met with high critical praise. Jones re-teamed with Hubbard for Swallow the Sea, which was released in 2008. His music has found a home on Film and TV with over 30 placements on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Bones, One Tree Hill, Pretty Liars & Private Practice.

MPJ has shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Paula Cole, as well as being a staple feature in the nationally acclaimed "Ten Out of Tenn. Collective" with fellow artists, Katie Herzig, Erin McCarley, Butterfly Boucher, Andrew Belle and others.

Jones released his third full-length record, Land of the Living, on May 29, 2012.

Jones released The Waking Hours in September 2018.

Website https://www.mpjmusic.com/

Beneath The Silver Moon
Matthew Perryman Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You were once a boy in tattered jeans
With skin dark by the sun
Eyes so wide and deep with reckless dreams
To carry you along

You were always talking 'bout the sea
The brilliant mystic view
You never seemed to shrink from mystery

That was life to you

And you would find a resting place
Where stars would light the room
And trees would bend with sacred grace
Beneath the silver moon

I see you in this height so sad and sweet
Your spirit burning bright
I know he whispers still in places deep
With flaming words of light

And you would find a resting place
Where stars would light the room
And trees would bend with sacred grace
Beneath the silver moon

And you would find a resting place
Where stars would light the room

And trees would bend with sacred grace
Beneath the silver moon

Overall Meaning

The song "Beneath The Silver Moon" by Matthew Perryman Jones seems to tell the story of someone reminiscing about a person they used to know who was once a carefree boy with a deep love for the sea and its mysteries. The lyrics suggest that this person was unafraid of the unknown and always had a sense of wonder and adventure. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this boy is no longer alive and the person singing is remembering him fondly. The repeated lines "And you would find a resting place, where stars would light the room, and trees would bend with sacred grace, beneath the silver moon" evoke a sense of peace and serenity in death. The final lines of the song suggest that the person singing may still feel this person's presence in some mystical way.

The use of imagery in the lyrics is particularly effective in creating a strong sense of atmosphere. The description of the boy's "tattered jeans" and "skin dark by the sun" immediately conjures up an image of someone carefree and wild. The repeated references to the sea and stars also reinforce the idea of this person being connected to something greater than themselves. The use of repetition in the chorus also gives the song a hypnotic quality that enhances the sense of peacefulness.

Line by Line Meaning

You were once a boy in tattered jeans
You used to be a boy who wore old, worn-out pants

With skin dark by the sun
Your skin was darkened by long exposure to the sun

Eyes so wide and deep with reckless dreams
Your eyes were big and full of wild dreams

To carry you along
Those dreams helped motivate you forward in life

You were always talking 'bout the sea
You loved to speak about the ocean

The brilliant mystic view
You were fascinated by the beauty and mystery of the sea

You never seemed to shrink from mystery
You were never afraid of the unknown

That was life to you
The mystery of life intrigued you

And you would find a resting place
You would discover a peaceful place to relax

Where stars would light the room
The stars would shine in the place where you could rest

And trees would bend with sacred grace
The trees would gently sway in a holy, reverent way