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."
Guilty
Matthew Ryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes the wave and the turn, here comes the crash the burn
Here comes I'm sick of crying, here comes man I quit trying
Here come I hate you and I'm giving back all that you gave to me
Here comes the baited hook, here comes the bones you shook
Here comes the dread and denial, here's where you've been all the while
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
Here comes I hate you and I'm giving back all that you gave to me
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
With a head full of soot, waving black flags
Throwing off the bodies just to cut down on the drag
Take 'em to the desert or to a dried up well
Tell 'em they're in Heaven and mutter "Welcome to hell"
I've been guilty, guilty, I've been guilty
Guilty of all these things, of all these things
Here comes the razor of doubt, here comes the falling out
Here comes the wave and the turn, here comes the crash and burn
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
Here comes the only thing that ever happened
Here comes I hate you and I'm burning all that you gave to me
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
With a head full of soot, waving black flags
Throwing off the bodies just to cut down on the drag
Take 'em to the desert or to a dried up well
Tell 'em they're in Heaven and mutter "Welcome to hell"
I've been guilty, guilty, I've been guilty
Guilty of all these things, of all these things
I need someone to save me, someone to save me
I need someone to save me, someone to save me
I need someone to save me, someone to save me
I need someone to say to me everything is gonna be alright
The song "Guilty" by Matthew Ryan is a reflection on a dark period in the singer's life. Through the lyrics, it becomes clear that the singer has gone through a difficult time with a lover or former lover. The sharp and heavy sound of the guitar and drums creates a sense of urgency and sets the mood for the lyrics.
The song is about the singer finally reaching a breaking point in the relationship. They are done with the heartache and are ready to give back all of the pain they have received. The lyrics "Here comes the razor of doubt, here comes the fallin' out Here comes the wave and the turn, here comes the crash the burn" indicate that the singer is bracing themselves for the end of the relationship.
The chorus of the song, "I've been guilty, guilty, I've been guilty Guilty of all these things, of all these things" reflects on the singer's feelings of regret and remorse. Despite their anger, they also acknowledge their own faults in the situation. The repeated phrase "I need someone to save me, someone to save me" reveals the singer's need for someone to come into their life and help them move on from this painful experience.
Overall, "Guilty" by Matthew Ryan is a powerful song that depicts the ups and downs of a tumultuous relationship, culminating in the singer's realization that they are done with the pain and ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the razor of doubt, here comes the fallin' out
The singer is anticipating a moment of doubt and conflict, likely with someone close to them.
Here comes the wave and the turn, here comes the crash the burn
The conflict will escalate, potentially leading to a painful ending.
Here comes I'm sick of crying, here comes man I quit trying
The singer is feeling disillusioned and defeated, and has given up trying to make things work.
Here come I hate you and I'm giving back all that you gave to me
The artist is angry and resentful towards the other person, and is considering retaliation.
Here comes the baited hook, here comes the bones you shook
The other person is trying to manipulate and control the artist, possibly through guilt or past actions.
Here comes the dread and denial, here's where you've been all the while
The singer is realizing that the other person has been causing problems all along, and feeling a sense of dread and denial.
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
The singer is tired of being submissive and playing the victim in the situation.
Here comes the only thing that ever happens
The situation seems to be stuck in a repetitive cycle, with no real resolution or progress.
Here comes I hate you and I'm giving back all that you gave to me
The artist is still feeling angry and resentful, and is considering taking revenge.
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
The artist is feeling lost and disconnected, and is seeking a way out of their current situation.
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
The singer feels like they are in a dangerous and uncertain place, with no clear way to escape.
With a head full of soot, waving black flags
The artist is feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, and is resorting to desperate measures to cope.
Throwing off the bodies just to cut down on the drag
The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to free themselves from the weight of their current situation.
Take 'em to the desert or to a dried up well
The singer is considering drastic, even violent options to escape their current situation.
Tell 'em they're in Heaven and mutter 'Welcome to hell'
The singer is willing to deceive others in order to achieve their own freedom and justice.
I've been guilty, guilty, I've been guilty
The artist is acknowledging their own role in the situation, and accepting responsibility for their actions.
Guilty of all these things, of all these things
The artist is admitting to wrongdoing, and recognizing the harm they have caused to others.
I need someone to save me, someone to save me
The singer is feeling helpless and is seeking external support to help them escape their situation.
I need someone to say to me everything is gonna be alright
The singer needs reassurance and comfort, and is hoping that someone will provide them with hope for the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PHOEBE RYAN, BEN ROMANS, CJ BARON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruris
Here comes the razor of doubt,
Here comes the fallin' out
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the crash the burn
Here comes I'm sick of crying,
Here comes man I quit trying
Here come I hate you
And I'm giving back all that you gave to me
Here comes the baited hook,
Here comes the bones you shook
Here comes the dread and denial,
Here's where you've been all the while
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
Here comes the only thing that ever happens
Here comes I hate you
And I'm giving back all that you gave to me
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
With a head full of soot,
Waving black flags
Throwing off the bodies
Just to cut down on the drag
Take 'em to the desert
Or to a dried up well
Tell 'em they're in Heaven
And mutter "Welcome to hell"
I've been guilty, guilty,
I've been guilty
Guilty of all these things,
Of all these things
Here comes the razor of doubt,
Here comes the falling out
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the crash and burn
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
Here comes the only thing that ever happened
Here comes I hate you
And I'm burning all that you gave to me
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
With a head full of soot,
Waving black flags
Throwing off the bodies just to cut down on the drag
Take 'em to the desert
Or to a dried up well
Tell 'em they're in Heaven
And mutter "Welcome to hell"
I've been guilty, guilty,
I've been guilty
Guilty of all these things,
Of all these things.
I need someone to save me,
Someone to save me I need
Someone to save me,
Someone to save me I need
Someone to save me,
Someone to save me I need
Someone to say to me
Everything is gonna be alright
Ruris
Here comes the razor of doubt,
Here comes the fallin' out
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the crash the burn
Here comes I'm sick of crying,
Here comes man I quit trying
Here come I hate you
And I'm giving back all that you gave to me
Here comes the baited hook,
Here comes the bones you shook
Here comes the dread and denial,
Here's where you've been all the while
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
Here comes the only thing that ever happens
Here comes I hate you
And I'm giving back all that you gave to me
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
With a head full of soot,
Waving black flags
Throwing off the bodies
Just to cut down on the drag
Take 'em to the desert
Or to a dried up well
Tell 'em they're in Heaven
And mutter "Welcome to hell"
I've been guilty, guilty,
I've been guilty
Guilty of all these things,
Of all these things
Here comes the razor of doubt,
Here comes the falling out
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the crash and burn
Here comes I'm sick of groveling
Here comes the only thing that ever happened
Here comes I hate you
And I'm burning all that you gave to me
'Cause lately I've been dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging the CIA
With a head full of soot,
Waving black flags
Throwing off the bodies just to cut down on the drag
Take 'em to the desert
Or to a dried up well
Tell 'em they're in Heaven
And mutter "Welcome to hell"
I've been guilty, guilty,
I've been guilty
Guilty of all these things,
Of all these things.
I need someone to save me,
Someone to save me I need
Someone to save me,
Someone to save me I need
Someone to save me,
Someone to save me I need
Someone to say to me
Everything is gonna be alright
Jennifer S
how come we never heard more from this great voice and writer ? no justice
b gram
ONE of the best songwriters out there ..........period
AimRebec
Top echelon. I can count on only one hand those at his level.
Nuiceltico
He has great lyrics and voice of love, hate, regret and guilt , very human condition or desire for redemption.
Lars Ringström
One of the best songs ever written ...!
Queen Lausanna
How did I get through life having never heard this man's music before?
george becker
one of truly great songs from the last 30 years.
Sally Espinoza
Love this song 🙃🙂
Jamie
i love this artist!! i love this song and think many people can relate to this song a lot.. reminds me of perhaps two people are seeing each other, one makes a mistake and tries to make things completely right but nothing they seem to do is right so in the end they are sick of trying to make things right even though they still are guilty!! <333 brilliant artist..