Wilder was one-half of the Greenwich Village folk group Matthew & Peter in the 1970s. In 1978 he moved to Los Angeles and sang for television commercials and backup for Rickie Lee Jones and Bette Midler.
Wilder's first album, I Don't Speak the Language (1983), reached number 49 on the Billboard chart, fueled by "Break My Stride", which reached number 5 on the singles chart. His second album, Bouncin' Off the Walls (1984), was a commercial failure.
Wilder continued his career as a songwriter and producer. His work includes producing the No Doubt's multi-platinum album Tragic Kingdom (1995). He lent his singing voice to the character of Ling and was nominated for an Academy Award for Original Music Score (along with David Zippel and Jerry Goldsmith) for his work on the Disney film Mulan (1998).
On Broadway, Wilder has once again paired with Zippel to provide the music and lyrics for Princesses, a musical comedy update of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel A Little Princess. The production opened on Broadway in November 2006.
Break My Stride
Matthew Wilder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sailed away to China
In a little row boat to find ya
And you said you had to get your laundry cleaned
Didn't want no one to hold you, what does that mean?
And you said
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I got to keep on movin'
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on movin'
You're on the road and now you pray it lasts
The road behind was rocky
But now you're feeling cocky
You look at me and you see your past
Is that the reason why you're runnin' so fast?
And she said
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Never let another girl like you work me over
Never let another girl like you drag me under
If I meet another girl like you, I will tell her
Never want another girl like you, have to say, oh
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down
Oh no (oh no), I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on movin'
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down
Oh no (oh no), I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on movin' (whoa)
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on movin'
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down
The lyrics of Matthew Wilder's iconic song "Break My Stride" follow a narrative of a man and a woman who have a complicated relationship. The song opens with the singer recounting a strange dream in which he traveled to China in search of his lover, only to find her preoccupied with doing laundry. She tells him that she doesn't want anyone to hold her, leaving him confused and unsure of her true feelings.
The chorus of the song is a declaration of the singer's unwavering determination to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles may arise. He sings that nothing will break his stride, and nobody can slow him down. The woman he is singing to is clearly on the same path, rushing through life so fast that she doesn't have time to be slowed down by anyone or anything.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on his tumultuous past with this woman and wonders if that's why she's so intent on running away from him. He vows to never let another girl like her work him over or drag him under, but also admits that he never wants to meet another girl like her again.
Overall, "Break My Stride" is a catchy pop song with an uplifting message about perseverance and determination. While the lyrics may be somewhat simplistic, they capture a feeling of youthful optimism and energy that has made the song a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I had the strangest dream
The singer had a strange dream last night.
I sailed away to China
In the dream, the singer sailed away to China.
In a little row boat to find ya
The singer used a row boat to search for someone in China.
And you said you had to get your laundry cleaned
The person being searched told the artist that they had to get their laundry cleaned.
Didn't want no one to hold you, what does that mean?
The artist didn't understand why the person being searched didn't want anyone to hold them.
And you said
The person being searched said something.
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
The singer is determined that nothing will stop them.
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
The artist believes that no one can slow them down.
I got to keep on movin'
The artist is focused on moving forward.
Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride
The artist's confidence is unbreakable.
I'm running and I won't touch ground
The singer is running without stopping.
You're on the road and now you pray it lasts
The person being searched is on a journey and hoping it lasts.
The road behind was rocky
The past has been difficult for the person being searched.
But now you're feeling cocky
Despite the past, the person being searched is feeling confident.
You look at me and you see your past
The singer reminds the person being searched of their past.
Is that the reason why you're runnin' so fast?
The artist questions if the reason the person being searched is running so fast is because of their past.
Never let another girl like you work me over
The artist doesn't want to be taken advantage of by someone like the person being searched.
Never let another girl like you drag me under
The singer doesn't want to be dragged down by someone like the person being searched.
If I meet another girl like you, I will tell her
The singer promises to be honest with someone like the person being searched if he meets them.
Never want another girl like you, have to say, oh
The artist never wants to have to deal with someone like the person being searched again.
Nobody's gonna slow me down
The artist is confident that no one will slow them down.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Greg Prestopino, Matthew Wilder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThanhHoang-qq4qj
Lyrics
Last night I had the strangest dream
I sailed away to China
In a little row boat to find ya
And you said you had to get your laundry cleaned
Didn't want no one to hold you
What does that mean?
And you said
Ain't nothin' gonna to break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
You're on the road and now you pray it lasts
The road behind was rocky
But now you're feeling cocky
You looked at me and you see your past
Is that the reason why you're runnin' so fast?
And she said
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
work me over
(Never let another girl like you) drag me under
(If I meet another girl like you) I will tell her
(Never want another girl like you) have to say, oh
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down
Oh no, oh no, I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down
Oh no, oh no, I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I got to keep on moving...
@rea2733
Teacher: are you listening
Me: yes
My brain:
@elijahcriswell1658
Did you come from the lilypichu video? Lmao
@mial.2784
just in the moment i read the "my brain:" the song went "oh no"
@lanarays4284
OnlyMidnight saaaaaaame especially in math
@vicbirena4242
I'm the 2020th like
@lia-qq1fx
I had this
Teacher:What's are you listening to kido?
Me: AIN'T NOTHING GONNA BREAK MY STRIDE...
Teacher:Do you want detention?
Me: OH NO
@hachipanki8634
Depression: Exists
This song: No.
@elvistec7884
true
@hachipanki8634
Wait.. 400 likes? Daang
@souslou
This is actually so true. I sad, this song play, I happy. It’s science! Hahahahaha