The “retro” tag is added to almost any contemporary work that sounds like it was originally recorded between 1966 and 1974, and Hawthorne, among the newest contributors to the genre, is aware of how trends come and go. After being introduced to Stones Throw Records label head Peanut Butter Wolf by mutual friend Noelle Scaggs of the Rebirth, even his current boss was skeptical. “He showed me two songs and I didn’t understand what I was listening to,” Wolf recalls. “I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of – I couldn’t believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments.”
And after meeting in person, it was even harder for Wolf to believe that Hawthorne was also the lead vocalist. Few expect such heartfelt sentiment to come from a 29-year-old white kid from Ann Arbor, but he has caught the ear of his family at Stones Throw, as well as BBC Radio 1 host Gilles Peterson and producer/DJ Mark Ronson. Expectations are high for the admitted vinyl junkie who never planned on taking his crooning public. Hawthorne’s hanging-by-a-string falsetto and breakbeat production on his first recorded effort, the tender “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” are simultaneously Smokey and J Dilla – equal parts “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Fall in Love.” “It’s soul,” he explains, “But it’s new.”
Hawthorne has produced and played instruments for much of his life, but never intended to become a singer. He isn’t formally trained, and never sang in a choir or in any of the bands he was in before founding the County (formerly the County Commissioners). But here he is, new school soul sensation, who has taken the Motown assembly-line production model and eliminated nearly every element but himself and a few hired hands. “I think Mayer is the only artist in the history of the label that I’ve signed after hearing only two songs,” says Peanut Butter Wolf. “Sometimes, you just know it’s the right thing to do.”
And for those willing to believe anything is possible, be grateful to have Mayer Hawthorne on the scene. It’s not just throwback music anymore – this revival is all about progression.
Maybe So Maybe No
Mayer Hawthorne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could it be that your love was meant for me
Maybe so, maybe no
Maybe so, maybe no
I don't know what lead me to your love,
Was it faith or destiny
Smiling down on you and me
La la laa la la laa la la la la la
Like birds of a feather
Here we are together
Could it be that your love was meant for me
Maybe so, maybe no
Maybe so, maybe no
Why does time go by so fast now
When I'm here with you
Don't know why minutes seem like hours
When I'm away from you
La la laa la la laa la la la la la
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
I'm not sure if it's really real now
Is it a dream or maybe a game
All I know since I lost you girl
My life hasn't been the same
Now everyday we grow closer together
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
In Mayer Hawthorne's song "Maybe So Maybe No," the singer is contemplating the possibility of his love interest being a perfect match for him. He wonders if fate or destiny led him to her, or if it was just chance. The opening verse repeats the phrase "maybe so, maybe no," indicating his uncertainty about their compatibility.
The chorus restates the question again, "could it be that your love was meant for me, maybe so, maybe no." The uncertainty of the lyrics reflects the hesitancy of a relationship in its early stages, where both parties are trying to determine if the bond is strong enough to build on.
As the song progresses, the singer ponders the speed at which time passes when he is with his partner and the slow dragging of minutes when he is away from her. However, despite his uncertainty, he muses how they both are growing closer together with each passing day.
The song is a nostalgic tribute to the old-school R&B of the 60s and 70s, and its lyrics reflect the genre's tendency to be poetic, soulful, and evocative. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, giving the song a catchy, sing-along quality that is common in vintage R&B.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe so, maybe no
Uncertainty whether the love is meant to be
Could it be that your love was meant for me
Asking if the love is meant to be
I don't know what lead me to your love,
Was it faith or destiny
Ooh either angels from above
Smiling down on you and me
Wondering what led to the love between them and speculating on higher powers being involved
Like birds of a feather
Here we are together
Mutual attraction and closeness like birds drawn to each other
Why does time go by so fast now
When I'm here with you
Don't know why minutes seem like hours
When I'm away from you
Time seems to move differently depending on whether the artist is with their love or not
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Musical interlude
I'm not sure if it's really real now
Is it a dream or maybe a game
All I know since I lost you girl
My life hasn't been the same
Now everyday we grow closer together
Uncertainty of whether the love is real or not and the effect it has had on the singer's life
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Musical interlude
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD POPCORN WYLIE, TONY HESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Siempre Amor de
Maybe So, Maybe No
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Lyrics
Maybe so, maybe no
Could it be that your love was meant for me
Maybe so, maybe no
Maybe so, maybe no
I don't know what lead me to your love,
Was it faith or destiny
Ooh either angels from above
Smiling down on you and me
La la laa la la laa la la la la la
Like birds of a feather
Here we are together
Could it be that your love was meant for me
Maybe so, maybe no
Maybe so, maybe no
Why does time go by so fast now
When I'm here with you
Don't know why minutes seem like hours
When I'm away from you
La la laa la la laa la la la la la
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
I'm not sure if it's really real now
Is it a dream or maybe a game
All I know since I lost you girl
My life hasn't been the same
Now everyday we grow closer together
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
aesthetic_sauce
1:53
Me and my team gotta intervene
What's the point of livin' if you ain't livin' a dream?
We live in a era where everybody want everything
Everybody want a better thing
Tryna feel ya like it's picture perfect but it's just the editing
Man, the game been waiting for a better king
I've been posted with my Queen like Coretta King
Screaming "Money ain't a thing", cause it ain't
Man, I never knew livin' out a dream meant livin' out a suitcase
I've been working at a new pace
So much money on the road I ain't even had a minute
Not a single second chilling in my new place
Motherfuckers getting two-faced
Cause a brother finally eating
Not to mention everybody gettin' two plates
You know I only got two traits
Drop hits, get money
Run it
Marta Pereira
Não tem como descrever o quanto amo essa música!!!!
Liz Zamora
these mixes are the BEST!!! this is what I call music today.. thankful for these artist for gifting us with such beautiful and meaning full music..may they continue to be blessed in their music world..... love love love ..
candykis33
I am digging this guy right here! Just started listening to him tonight. Voice is amazing.
Shawn Ezernack
11 years later, I’m doing the same exact thing and enjoying it
Onehundreadfiftybucks
@Shawn Ezernack glad I wasn’t the only one looking at 11 year old comments
T D
Rarely i like a cover better than the OG. This is definately one of those cases. This was a first listen favourite. Today my love broken heart was healed, with skating under the sun and listening to this! I wasnt skating i was flowing. This whole album is sublime.
J L
He did the same with “I wish it would rain” I prefer his interpolation over the The Temptations original. The fucking Temptations
Life Of Si
10 years.... I was 15 when this came out 👌🏻 glad I had some good music in my life ❤️
Filipe Maia
wonderful track and video! thats what life is all about, skateboarding, have fun, good music and peace, always!
APoem YouNeed
Thank you Mayer Hawthorne for keeping my childhood alive. A classic man I swear