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/
Motherless Child
Matthew Perryman Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like motherless child
A long way from home
Sometimes I feel like I?m almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I?m almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I?m almost gone
True believer
A long way from home
True believer
A long way from home
The lyrics of Matthew Perryman Jones's song "Motherless Child" speak to a feeling of intense loneliness and isolation that can be experienced even when surrounded by people or in familiar surroundings. The repetition of "sometimes I feel like a motherless child" emphasizes the depth of this isolation and the sense of being adrift in the world. The repeated phrase "a long way from home" adds to this feeling, suggesting that the singer is not only separated from others, but also from themselves and their own sense of identity and belonging.
The final lines of the song introduce the idea of being a "true believer" and the distance from home being a defining characteristic of this identity. This could be interpreted in a number of ways depending on the listener's personal experiences and beliefs, but it suggests that even in the midst of loneliness and displacement, there may still be a sense of purpose or meaning that keeps one going.
Overall, "Motherless Child" is a powerful and poignant song that speaks to the deep emotional struggles that can accompany feelings of displacement and isolation. Its sparse instrumentation and haunting melody enhance the weightiness of the lyrics and make it a memorable and moving piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
At times, I experience an intense sense of abandonment and loneliness, imagining as if I do not have a mother or a parental figure to care for me.
Sometimes I feel like motherless child
Every now and then, I feel like I am entirely bereft of the nurturing and loving presence of a mother in my life.
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
In certain moments, I experience an overwhelming feeling of desolation, as if I am slowly losing my sense of self and identity.
A long way from home
I feel disconnected and distant from my roots and origins, unable to find my place or sense of belonging in this world.
True believer
I hold onto my beliefs and values with conviction and sincerity, even if they seem out of sync or unpopular with the world around me.
A long way from home
Despite my core beliefs and values, I still struggle to find my rightful place and purpose in this vast, unfamiliar world where I feel like an outsider.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: JENNY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind