He’s an impulsive road-tripper. After high school, he went to Australia with 4 grand, an iPod and a camera. He went without a plan and stayed for 5 months working on a boat and waiting on tables in a piano bar.
Michael’s kind, approachable disposition gives way to an undeniable confidence onstage. This young man can break hearts playing solo with an acoustic guitar and loop pedal, and equally make venues soar with a full band. In Canada, Michael tours regularly from coast to coast.
He plays a guitar that is considered the workhorse of acoustics, a Gibson J45 (he has one in sunburst and natural); part of his passion for real instruments B3's, Leslies, tube amplifiers, saxophones and drum kits.
“I love Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Feist, Souls of Mischief and Mason Jennings,” declares Michael. His favorite lyric of all time is from Paul Simon’s Graceland album "My traveling companion is nine years old, he is the child of my first marriage.” (As a young boy, Michael and his mom used to dance to Graceland.)
Michael’s forthcoming debut US album was recorded in a little studio in Hollywood, California. The song “Man Overboard” was written while joking around and singing the verses to Billy Joel's “We Didn't Start The Fire”. Inspiration for his music often comes to him at a lightning fast pace. “In Your Room” and “Love Is An Easy Thing To Miss” were written in about as long as it takes to sing them. Without any words written down, done from voice note recordings on his phone both songs were written in minutes. "Marvin's Room' by Drake inspired the guitar for 'Love is an Easy Thing to Miss”. “In Your Room” was written at 10PM after a long day with not much flowing and many breaks. Thinking he was done for the day, he sat down one more time, started playing the guitar and making up the verses as he went along. Recorded the song that night, and went to bed.
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald “MBF” has a simple goal - to pursue his craft as honestly as possible - devoid of smoke and mirrors. Positively uplifting.
Crimes of the Heart
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My life is a six string in the hands of Steve van Zandt
Show after show, town after town
Riding the ship till it runs aground
Make my mark before I expire
Leaving only ashes after I light the fire
Run and gun born for this life
Crimes of the heart
I was born to do something baby
Night after night
Crimes of the heart
Follow the heart beat ohhh
Kill me or lock me up
For my hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Crimes of the heart
Crimes of the heart
Standing in the yard disarming me
Broken so many times, a one man army
Mouth for the fire, belly for the coals
Strap in my seat call it my soul
Crimes of the heart
Run and gun born for this life
Crimes of the heart
I was born to do something baby
Night after night
Crimes of the heart
Follow the heart beat ohhh
Kill me or lock me up
For my hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Crimes of the heart
Crimes of the heart
I will lie, late at night
Like a thief I′ll take, give my life
If I could pack it up
Make a home
Made to run, made to roam
I will lie, late at night
Like a thief I'll take, give my life
If I could pack it up
Make a home
Made to run, made to roam
Run and gun born for this life
Crimes of the heart
I was born to do something baby
Night after night
Crimes of the heart
Follow the heart beat ohhh
Kill me or lock me up
For my hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Crimes of the heart
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Crimes of the heart
My crimes of the heart
Crimes of the heart
In "Crimes of the Heart," Michael Bernard Fitzgerald seems to sing about his commitment to music and the hard life of constantly touring and performing. The song seems to start in a bit of a desperate tone, with the lines "Take what you can, steal what you can/ My life is a six string in the hands of Steve Van Zandt." He's willing to do anything to make it in the music industry, to leave behind a legacy, even if it means taking extreme measures or making moral compromises. The chorus, "Crimes of the heart/ run and gun born for this life," seems to be both a defense of his choices and a sort of existential justification for the struggles he faces.
The bridge of the song is more introspective, with the lines "Standing in the yard disarming me/ Broken so many times, a one-man army/ Mouth for the fire, belly for the coals/ Strap in my seat call it my soul." This suggests that despite the bravado of the earlier lines, Fitzgerald is well aware of the personal cost of his dream. He's been hurt so much that he's almost numb to it, but he knows he can't stop, that he's built for this life. Like the rest of the song, the bridge draws on imagery of guns, fire, and other intense, visceral sensations to evoke the passion and dedication that drives Fitzgerald to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Take what you can, steal what you can
I will do whatever it takes to succeed and get ahead in life, even if it means taking something that doesn't belong to me.
My life is a six string in the hands of Steve van Zandt
Music is at the center of my life, and I am influenced by great musicians like Steve Van Zandt who have inspired me to become who I am.
Show after show, town after town
I am constantly performing, traveling from town to town, always putting on a great show for my fans no matter where I am.
Riding the ship till it runs aground
I will keep pursuing my dreams and my music, even if it means facing challenges and obstacles along the way, until I can no longer continue.
Make my mark before I expire
I am determined to leave a lasting impression on the world with my music and make a name for myself before my time is up.
Leaving only ashes after I light the fire
I will give my all to chase my dreams, leaving behind only my legacy and memories of what I accomplished.
Crimes of the heart
The things that I have done in my life, both good and bad, all come from the depths of my heart and soul.
Run and gun born for this life
I was born to be a performer, and I have the drive and determination to succeed no matter what.
I was born to do something baby
I know deep down I have a purpose in life, and I will do everything in my power to fulfill it through my music.
Night after night
I am constantly performing and working hard to improve, never stopping until I have achieved all I set out to do.
Follow the heart beat ohhh
My music is the rhythm of my heart, and I follow it wherever it takes me.
Kill me or lock me up
For my hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
Hard crimes yeah hard crimes
I am willing to face the consequences of my actions, even if it means punishment for the things I have done in the name of my dreams.
Standing in the yard disarming me
Broken so many times, a one man army
Mouth for the fire, belly for the coals
Strap in my seat call it my soul
Despite all the hardships and setbacks I have faced in my life, I am still strong and determined to succeed, with a burning passion deep inside me that fuels my every move.
I will lie, late at night
Like a thief I'll take, give my life
If I could pack it up
Make a home
Made to run, made to roam
My music is the passion that drives me, and I will do whatever it takes to keep pursuing it, whether it means sacrificing my own well-being or constantly moving from place to place in pursuit of my dreams.
My crimes of the heart
Everything I have done in my life, both good and bad, has come from the depths of my heart and soul.
Writer(s): Josiah Rosen, Andrew Ball, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
Contributed by Daniel J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.