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/
When It Falls Apart
Matthew Perryman Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all the same
A familiar scene
But we call it by a different name
It's an aliby of innocence
We work so hard for all
To just make sense
The pieces fit
But you won't see it
Til your blinded
You can let it go
Or hold it tight
When you lose your life
You will find it
Ohh - la de de da de de da
Ohh - la de de da de de da
Ohh - la de de daaaa da
Another day begins
Oh it's nothing new
These lessons come to me
Dressed in deja vu
I thought I had it all
Sort of figured out
But she striped me clean
And disposed my doubt
That's what it's all about
The pieces fit
But you won't see it
Til your blinded
You can let it go
Or hold it tight
When you lose your life
You will find it
Oh, in the dark
On my knee,
When I hear her sing to me
Oh, why is the truth
So hard to take
The heart can not go free
Til it breaks
The pieces fit
But you won't see it
Til your blinded
You can let it go
Or hold it tight
When you lose your life
You will find it
Yeah, When it falls apart
The pieces fit
But you won't see it
Til your blinded
You can let it go
Or hold it tight
When you lose your life
You will find it
You will find it,
You will find it yeahh
La de de da de de da
Ohh - la de de da de de da
La de de da de de da
Ohh - la de de da de de da
“When It Falls Apart” by Matthew Perryman Jones is a song about the cyclical nature of life and how we constantly find ourselves in familiar situations. The opening lines ‘Here we go again, it’s all the same, a familiar scene but we call it by a different name’ suggests that even though we may label certain experiences differently, they are fundamentally similar. This can be seen as a commentary on the idea that our lives follow patterns and that we often get stuck in these patterns without realizing it. Furthermore, the line ‘It’s an alibi of innocence, we work so hard for all, to just make sense but it won’t make sense’ suggests that we try to justify our actions and the situations we find ourselves in, even though deep down we know they may not make sense.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of letting go of things that no longer serve us. The line ‘You can let it go or hold it tight, when you lose your life you will find it’ suggests that we may need to relinquish our grip on certain aspects of our lives in order to move forward towards happiness and fulfillment. The imagery in the line ‘When I hear her sing to me’ suggests that the singer finds solace in music during difficult times. The final line ‘you will find it’ leaves the listener with a sense of hope and encouragement that even when things fall apart, there is potential for growth and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go again
The singer is about to discuss a familiar topic.
It's all the same
The topic has not changed from previous discussions.
A familiar scene
The situation is one that the singer has experienced before.
But we call it by a different name
Despite the similarities, the artist has chosen to view the situation differently.
It's an aliby of innocence
The artist is using a justification for their actions or beliefs.
We work so hard for all
The singer has put in a lot of effort towards achieving a goal.
To just make sense
The singer wants the situation to be understandable and logical.
But it won't make sense
Despite the hard work, the artist cannot make the situation logical.
The pieces fit
All the components of the situation work together cohesively.
But you won't see it
The artist recognizes that others may not see the cohesiveness of the situation.
Til your blinded
Others may only recognize the cohesiveness once they are free of preconceived notions.
You can let it go
The artist believes that it is possible to release control of the situation.
Or hold it tight
Alternatively, the singer believes that it is possible to maintain control of the situation.
When you lose your life
The singer suggests that it may take extreme circumstances for others to recognize the truth of the situation.
You will find it
It is possible to find understanding or clarity in a situation, even after losing one's sense of self.
Another day begins
Time continues whether or not the situation is resolved.
Oh it's nothing new
The repetition of this experience is unsurprising.
These lessons come to me
The singer has learned from these situations before.
Dressed in deja vu
The familiarity of the situation makes it feel like a memory.
I thought I had it all
The artist was confident in their understanding of the situation.
Sort of figured out
The artist believed they had a good handle on the situation.
But she striped me clean
Another person or entity revealed the flaws in the artist's understanding.
And disposed my doubt
This person or entity eliminated the singer's uncertainty or hesitation.
That's what it's all about
The artist recognizes that this is what the situation was leading up to.
Oh, in the dark
The singer was in a position of uncertainty or ambiguity.
On my knee,
The singer was humbled or vulnerable.
When I hear her sing to me
Another person or entity provided clarity or guidance to the singer.
Oh, why is the truth
The artist acknowledges that understanding can be difficult to attain.
So hard to take
The artist is struggling to accept the reality of the situation.
The heart can not go free
The singer is feeling weighed down by their emotions or feelings.
Til it breaks
The singer suggests that it may take breaking through the emotional turmoil to reach understanding.
Yeah, When it falls apart
The artist suggests that understanding may only come when the situation appears to be failing or collapsing.
You will find it
Regardless of how or when understanding is attained, it is possible to reach clarity in a situation.
You will find it yeahh
The artist emphasizes that understanding or clarity is attainable.
La de de da de de da
A nonverbal expression of emotions or feelings that cannot be easily articulated.
Ohh - la de de da de de da
A continuation of the nonverbal expression, indicating that emotions are still difficult to convey.
La de de da de de da
A continuation of the nonverbal expression, indicating that emotions are still difficult to convey.
Ohh - la de de da de de da
A continuation of the nonverbal expression, indicating that emotions are still difficult to convey.
Contributed by Levi W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Erica Ellsworth
This is one of those songs that just makes me happy inside :) it's so incredibly unique and I love it!!! -3
Marie Stein
I don't even know why, but I get speechless when I hear this song. so much love
Maggie Pubols
I love this song(:
Silver doe
What can I say...this song is something else. loveeeeee
Maddy W.
AMAZING.
daisyangel67
I really like this song
Cynthia Rincon
I wish I can download this D':
Varx13
I think it's about breaking your heart is when your heart can really be free. If someone is living a boring life when really they haven't opened up to anyone, they'll live in Boring, safe isolation from being truly vulnerable to the people they trust. Becoming honest and open might break your break your heart, but it's at that moment you are free from wearing a mask of disguise and you can start to live a new life in Christ. ;)
st3v3nc455
i have the words "lessons come to me dressed in deja vu" written on my wall in marker pen
Kyla Thorson
Lennon and Maisy brought me here, and I'm glad they did. :)