There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) Michael McD… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) Michael McDermott is an American singer-songwriter from Chicago who is also a member of The Westies.
2) Michael McDermott is one half of British duo Workshy.
3) Michael McDermott is been the drummer of American band The Bouncing Souls.

1) Michael McDermott (born August 24, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter from Chicago. He has been crafting personal, evocative music for almost two decades. His first album, 620 W. Surf, recorded when he was only 20 years old, established McDermott as a young man filled with poetry and power. Since then he has documented on vinyl his battles with booze, women, substances and faith. Comparisons to Springsteen, Dylan, Van Morrison and James Joyce have followed McDermott throughout his career, but on his later albums he has broken free of these influences to make highly original, potent music.
In 2013, McDermott formed The Westies together with Heather Horton, Ian Fitchuk, Joe Pisapia and Lex Price.
In 2016, McDermott released Willow Springs, named for the small town where he now resides.
In April 2018, McDermott released Out From Under and followed it with extensive domestic and international touring.

2) Michael John McDermott is one half of British duo Workshy, the smooth jazz / sophisti-pop duo from London.

3) Michael McDermott has been the drummer of The Bouncing Souls, a punk rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, formed in 1987, since 2000.

Eden
Michael McDermott Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wasn't lookin' for somethin' different
I was sailing slowly losing all control
I was goin' down in the dirty water
Deep into the middle of my soul
There like a streak of lightning,
Illuminating everything in sight
I surrendered to this senseless fi ghting
I surrendered to this senseless light

Over top of yonder mountain, over
There where the rainbow ends
I took a drink from the holy fountain
Down around where the river bends
The further I followed this fallen path
The more I trusted in this fear
Then revealed in the aftermath
I didn't know who I was, what, or
Where
Just west of Eden, from Chicago to
Gethsemane
Just west of Eden, the fl owers smelled
Like tragedy
Just west of Eden
Communion came like rollin' water
Like a feast to a hungry beast
I knelt beside a ploughman's daughter
Whose thirst never seemed to cease
The gateway to the wicked led the
Lost under their wing
Silence fell upon this hopeless town
And the bells of innocence began to
Ring
Just west of Eden, where Cain paved
A pavement of sin
Just west of Eden, the trumpet wailed
And the walls caved in...
Just west of Eden
Graced by the hours and the mindless
Traps
In which even the noblest fall
Love's longing fl ower brought humility
Unto us all
I stood engulfed by temptations smile
Searching for the only key
Reverent eyes fell upon my brow
While she moved in the air like poetry
Clutching on to this sword, I hold the
Names of all the men
I rip myself from this chord
Falling free to fi nd myself again
I seize the darkness with a sharpened
Tongue
Then spit it out at last
I watch the lighthouse from the water
Beware of the coming of the past
Just west of Eden, crucifi xions while
The cities burn
Just west of Eden, the priest wailed
And the poet yearned
Just west of Eden, insolence,
Prejudice, and cowardice are

Learned...
Just west of Eden

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michael McDermott's song Eden are filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that paint a picture of a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and spiritual awakening. The singer begins by describing a state of aimless drifting, feeling lost in the "dirty water" of his soul. However, a sudden epiphany strikes him like "a streak of lightning," and he surrenders himself to a "senseless fi[g]hting" and the "senseless light." The journey leads him beyond the confines of Eden, across mountains, rainbows, and holy fountains, and through perilous roads filled with wickedness and sin, to a place "just west of Eden."

In this place, the singer encounters various characters, including a ploughman's daughter with a never-ending thirst and a woman who moves in the air like poetry. He learns profound lessons about love, humility, and the dangers of temptation, and discovers the strength to stand up against the darkness and take control of his life. Despite the various hardships depicted in the song, the singer's journey is ultimately one of hope and renewal, as symbolized by the "coming of the past" and the "bells of innocence."

Overall, Eden is a poignant and thought-provoking song that invites the listener to reflect on their own struggles, triumphs, and spiritual journeys.

Line by Line Meaning

I wasn't lookin' for somethin' different
I wasn't actively searching for a change in my life.

I was sailing slowly losing all control
I was drifting in life, losing grip on my own direction.

I was goin' down in the dirty water
I was sinking into a dark and negative place.

Deep into the middle of my soul
My state was affecting my very essence as a person.

There like a streak of lightning, Illuminating everything in sight
Something unexpected happened that suddenly made everything clear.

I surrendered to this senseless fi ghting, I surrendered to this senseless light
I stopped trying to fight against the unexpected change and instead fully embraced it.

Over top of yonder mountain, over There where the rainbow ends
The change led me to a place symbolizing beauty and wonder.

I took a drink from the holy fountain, Down around where the river bends
At this magical place, I experienced something life-changing and spiritual.

The further I followed this fallen path, The more I trusted in this fear
As I continued down the path of change, my fears grew and I had to rely on faith.

Then revealed in the aftermath I didn't know who I was, what, or Where
Looking back after the change, I didn't recognize myself or my life.

Just west of Eden, from Chicago to Gethsemane Just west of Eden, the fl owers smelled Like tragedy
The place where I experienced the change was close to but not quite paradise, and had a sense of sadness about it.

Communion came like rollin' water Like a feast to a hungry beast
As a result of the change, I felt spiritually fulfilled and satisfied.

I knelt beside a ploughman's daughter Whose thirst never seemed to cease
I met someone who was also seeking fulfillment and we shared a connection.

The gateway to the wicked led the Lost under their wing Silence fell upon this hopeless town And the bells of innocence began to Ring
The setting of the change was a town with darkness and despair, but even there hope appeared.

Just west of Eden, where Cain paved A pavement of sin Just west of Eden, the trumpet wailed And the walls caved in... Just west of Eden
The place where I experienced the change was close to but not quite paradise, and had a dark history attached to it.

Graced by the hours and the mindless Traps In which even the noblest fall Love's longing fl ower brought humility Unto us all
I realized how easy it is to fall into traps in life, and how love and humility are important to combat this.

I stood engulfed by temptations smile Searching for the only key Reverent eyes fell upon my brow While she moved in the air like poetry
I was tempted but ultimately found the answer and had a beautiful moment with someone special.

Clutching on to this sword, I hold the Names of all the men I rip myself from this chord Falling free to find myself again
I let go of my past and my previous identity and started anew.

I seize the darkness with a sharpened Tongue Then spit it out at last I watch the lighthouse from the water Beware of the coming of the past
I faced the darkness and negativity from my past and gained strength, but still had to be alert for it in the future.

Just west of Eden, crucifixions while The cities burn Just west of Eden, the priest wailed And the poet yearned Just west of Eden, insolence, Prejudice, and cowardice are Learned...
The place where I experienced the change was close to but not quite paradise, and had a history of bad things, including hypocrisy and ignorance.

Contributed by Gabriella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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