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/
Homage for the Suffering
Matthew Perryman Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the battles that you fight just leave you scarred
When you’re tired to the bone
And you’ve got no strength to move on
Here’s to you when the light has grown too dim
And your faith is just hanging on a limb
Your heart begins to doubt if you’ll ever make it through
Oh
Here’s to you
Here’s to you
When anger burns like fire beneath your skin
And you long for love, you won’t let love in
Your arms are folded tight across your chest
And you won’t let go
Oh and fear rolls like thunder in your soul
And all the lies have got you under their control
and your mind is just too confused to see
What is true
Oh
Here’s to you
Here’s to you
Oh soon the sun will come with healing in its wings
To wash away your tears and make you move
Here’s to you
Here’s to you
Here’s to you
Here’s to you
The lyrics to "Homage for the Suffering" by Matthew Perryman Jones are a tribute to those who are going through tough times in their lives. The song begins by addressing those who are experiencing great hardship; whether it's in the form of physical pain from rain hitting too hard, or emotional exhaustion from fighting battles and feeling scarred. It acknowledges that sometimes we're too tired to keep going, too broken to move forward, and too overwhelmed to see a way out. Despite all this, the song offers comfort by recognizing the strength that lies within each of us to keep persevering.
The next verse speaks to those who have lost hope and faith. When the light has grown too dim and you feel like you're barely hanging on, it's difficult to believe that things will ever get better. In moments like these, our hearts may start to doubt our ability to make it through. However, the song offers a glimmer of hope, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, we're never alone in our struggle.
The final verse addresses those who have shut themselves off to love and are trapped by their own anger and fear. All too often, we become prisoners of our own minds and allow ourselves to be trapped by negative thoughts and emotions. But even in these moments, the song urges us to keep moving forward, knowing that the sun will eventually emerge from behind the clouds and guide us towards healing.
Overall, "Homage for the Suffering" is an anthem for those who are going through tough times. It acknowledges the difficulties we may face in life but also reminds us that we have the strength to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Here’s to you when the rain hits too hard
This is a tribute to you when life gets tough and you have to endure the hardships that come with it.
When the battles that you fight just leave you scarred
This is a tribute to you when you are fighting battles that leave you wounded both physically and emotionally.
When you’re tired to the bone
This is a tribute to you when you are exhausted and drained of energy to keep going.
And you’ve got no strength to move on
This is a tribute to you when you feel powerless and lack the strength to carry on.
Here’s to you when the light has grown too dim
This is a tribute to you when the hope of a brighter future seems to be fading with time.
And your faith is just hanging on a limb
This is a tribute to you when you feel like you are about to lose faith and give up.
Your heart begins to doubt if you’ll ever make it through
This is a tribute to you when you start doubting if you can overcome your current situation.
When anger burns like fire beneath your skin
This is a tribute to you when you are consumed by anger that threatens to destroy you from within.
And you long for love, you won’t let love in
This is a tribute to you when you crave for love, but you put barriers around your heart that prevent you from receiving it.
Your arms are folded tight across your chest
This is a tribute to you when you are defensive and unwilling to open up to others.
And you won’t let go
This is a tribute to you when you hold on to grudges and hurt, refusing to move on from the past.
Oh and fear rolls like thunder in your soul
This is a tribute to you when you are paralyzed by fear that echoes through your entire being.
And all the lies have got you under their control
This is a tribute to you when you are tormented by lies that keep you in bondage and hinder you from progress.
and your mind is just too confused to see
This is a tribute to you when your thoughts are scattered and you can't seem to make sense of anything.
What is true
This is a tribute to you when you are searching for truth that will set you free from the chains that bind you.
Oh soon the sun will come with healing in its wings
This is a tribute to you when there is hope of brighter days ahead, and healing is on its way to restore your soul.
To wash away your tears and make you move
This is a tribute to you when your tears will be replaced by joy, and you will have the strength to keep moving forward.
Here’s to you
This is a tribute to you, celebrating your resilience and strength in enduring through the difficult times.
Here’s to you
This is a tribute to you, reminding you that you are not alone and there are people who support you.
Here’s to you
This is a tribute to you, acknowledging your struggles and celebrating the hope of a brighter future.
Here’s to you
This is a tribute to you, encouraging you to keep fighting and not give up on yourself.
Writer(s): Matthew Perryman Jones
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.