Perhaps the most underrated singer/songwriter of the past 12 years, Matthew Ryan arrived on the music scene in 1997 with Mayday. A combination of influences from Tom Waits, Waterboys and Bruce Springsteen can all be heard here, but the sound and songwriting are Matthew Ryan's alone.
After being dropped by Interscope Records Ryan started working on demo material with David Henry. The material was stark and bare, Concussion was recorded and mixed in 8 days with Richard McLaurin. It was released in 2001 on Nashville, Tennessee label WaxySilver and features a duet with Lucinda Williams. Ryan was asked by actor/director Edward Burns to contribute a song to his film Ash Wednesday. "Be Thou My Vision" was used on the closing credits of Edward Burns’ film. Ryan opened tours for Kasey Chambers and Lucinda Williams for much of 2001, along with his own headlining shows.
2002 was a quiet period for Ryan, eventually releasing two collections of Stereo-Pak demo recordings, Dissent from the Living Room and Hopeless to Hopeful. These were made available on CDR through Ryan’s website.
Ryan started recording again on February 2003, Regret Over the Wires was released in late 2003 by Hybrid Recordings. In April, Concussion was released in the UK and Europe through One Little Indian Records. This included a UK tour with label mate Jeff Klein. On September 9, 2003, One Little Indian Records also released Happiness in the UK and Europe only, a collection of songs taken from Ryan’s self-distributed collections Dissent from the Living Room and Hopeless to Hopeful. Ryan made another self-distributed release in December entitled These Are Field Recordings, a two-disc collection of live recordings and early tracks.
Matthew Ryan approached Neilson Hubbard in 2004 about a collaboration, which could result in an interesting self-distributed release for fans. The collaboration was much more successful than expected and Strays Don't Sleep was formed with Neilson Hubbard, Brian Bequette, Billy Mercer and Steve Latanation.
In the Autumn 2005 Strays Don't Sleep's debut self-titled album was released in the UK on One Little Indian Records. The release includes a DVD of short films that were directed and shot by professional filmmakers and friends, including Gorman Bechard, The Barnes Brothers, Martin Glenn, Matt Boyd and Jared Johnson. Matthew Ryan and Neilson Hubbard also directed three of the short films with the help of Nashville film student, Matt Riddlehoover. A 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire record and films, by Paul PDub Walton of Björk and Sneaker Pimps fame, is available on the DVD.
Strays Don't Sleep was released to great reviews from Time Out, Uncut, The Sunday Express and The Times. The success helped secure a US release, which was helped further by a placement in the hit CW (former WB) drama One Tree Hill. "For Blue Skies", a song concerning the sentencing of Matthew Ryan’s brother to 30 years in prison, was made available on the One Tree Hill Soundtracks. Strays Don't Sleep toured the UK with Josh Rouse to support the album. Strays Don't Sleep was officially disbanded mid-2006. Their Music Video DVD Album "Strays Don't Sleep" with each song presented by a different director, won the top Award - The Grand Remi for Best Music Video - at the 2006 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in April 2006. The group performed in person at the Remi Awards Gala dinner for 500 international filmmakers to a standing ovation. They disbanded shortly after this remarkable performance.
In 2006 Ryan completed recording for another solo album called From a Late Night High Rise. It's a collection of songs inspired by the death of a friend and the sentencing of Ryan’s brother to 30 years in prison. The album feature band members from Strays Don’t Sleep and was self-produced with Neilson Hubbard. From a Late Night High Rise was released on December 5, 2006 through 2minutes59 and iTunes, and Ryan embarked on a US tour with Tim Easton in February 2007. From a Late Night High Rise was met with the strongest wave of critical support Ryan has received to date. It was praised as "A must-hear, have-to-own epic of an album that should be required listening for every songwriter—and music lover—in the world."
Drift
Matthew Ryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up all night trying to write this song
There's no way that you'll forget what I said
There's no way you'll forgive me
Look at that slow southern sun
Hover and burn over everyone
Cool air that blows just rattles the vent
I'm inclined to give up this time
I'm inclined to drift or crawl
Postcards use short words
Deserted lovers got what they deserved
Only wish that you had turned to say
"It's all right, I'll still love you anyway"
Watch that crow as it floats from view
Radio towers and dark hills drift
Photographs are pinned and stretched across
Every promise I broke, every smile you lost
I'm inclined to give up this time
I'm inclined to drift or crawl
She just moved outside of me
She just moved outside of me
She just moved outside of me
She just moved outside of me
The lyrics of Matthew Ryan's "Drift" reflect a sense of hopelessness and resignation towards life. The opening lines "Hitting it hard, hitting it long, Up all night trying to write this song" convey an image of someone who is putting all their efforts into something, but it seems like it's not working, and they are struggling to find a way out of the situation. The following lines "There's no way that you'll forget what I said, There's no way you'll forgive me" suggest that whatever the singer said was something that had potential repercussions, and now the singer is paying the price for it.
The second verse describes the scene of the south and identifies the transition of the day. The slow southern sun contrasts the cool air which just rattles the vent, indirectly indicating the conflict of the emotions reflected in the songwriting process. The singer speaks of his tendency to drift, suggesting that he feels defeated and at a crossroads. The line, "Photographs are pinned and stretched across Every promise I broke, every smile you lost" symbolizes the memories of the past, and how they lead to his loss of trust in himself and those surrounding him.
The chorus "I'm inclined to give up this time, I'm inclined to drift or crawl," repeats the singer's feeling of helplessness and confirms the mood. The closing lines "She just moved outside of me" arguably highlight a sense of detachment and isolation felt by the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Hitting it hard, hitting it long
Putting in a lot of effort and putting in a lot of time to make something happen
Up all night trying to write this song
Staying awake through the night trying to put words together to create something meaningful
There's no way that you'll forget what I said
Making an impact on someone that will stick with them for a long time
There's no way you'll forgive me
Feeling guilty and not believing that the other person will be able to forgive them
Look at that slow southern sun
Observing a slow and easy pace of the world around them
Hover and burn over everyone
The sun's presence is strong but not aggressive, providing warmth for all
Cool air that blows just rattles the vent
A breeze that stirs the air provides a sense of peace and comfort
I've only always said what I thought I meant
Being honest and straightforward with what one says without trying to deceive or manipulate others
I'm inclined to give up this time
Feeling discouraged and not motivated to continue with the current task or situation
I'm inclined to drift or crawl
Wanting to move but not having enough energy or direction to move efficiently
Postcards use short words
Simple and direct communication through writing on postcards
Deserted lovers got what they deserved
Those who have abandoned their loved ones have only themselves to blame for the consequences
Only wish that you had turned to say
Having a desire for a certain response or acknowledgement from someone else
"It's all right, I'll still love you anyway"
Despite what has happened, the love between two people remains strong and unbreakable
Watch that crow as it floats from view
Observing the beauty of nature, such as a crow flying by, as it fades from sight
Radio towers and dark hills drift
Sights and sounds that blend together and evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing
Photographs are pinned and stretched across
Memories captured in photographs, preserved and displayed for remembrance
Every promise I broke, every smile you lost
Recognizing the mistakes made in a relationship and the damage caused as a result
She just moved outside of me
Someone who was once close has now distanced themselves, possibly physically or emotionally
She just moved outside of me
The same sense of distance is repeated, emphasizing the sense of loneliness and loss
She just moved outside of me
The final repetition reinforces the sense of distance and loss, with the artist being left alone
Contributed by Ella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael Vronsky
I think he is one of the most understimate genius
Barbara H. Moore
Forever a favorite.
Bungasch
wow=) Awesome song for an Awesome Tv Series. Go OTH!
jcampz6
Can someone post the guitar chords?? I know they aren't that hard. Please?
JustMe22510
Deserted lovers got what they deserved... wish I had said that.
rania renesya
luv ya..