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.
Spark
Michael McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The hand of fate still seems corrupt
When you're caught on the wrong side of your own generation
Found the cracks like midnight barks
Intoxication, the slipstream narcs
Does the temple of your soul need restoration?
His job, his lover, his complex wife
He said, "I've never even thought of leaving"
He said, "Believe it or not I'm quite content
Every now and again I kneel and repent
But I never seem to find that feeling of healing, baby"
Spark the heart in a godless night
Spark the dark 'til it turns to light
Spark the colors in the eyes that blame
Spark the embers 'til they turn to flame
From the small towns where the dreams don't hide
To the big city where they do collide
To these hotel rooms where the clocks have ceased their ticking
He dreamt of Paris and MTV
Ireland and the BBC
But now the dream well it only makes him sicken
No one knows his name or even cares
As he stumbles drunk up and down those stairs
Or the spirits' fire that burns within his temper
He's haunted by every train running south
And every lover that he brought to his mouth
Fear of secrets that may soon be rendered, or surrendered, baby
Spark the heart in a godless night
Spark the dark 'til it turns to light
Spark the colors in the eyes that blame
Spark the embers 'til they turn to flame
Yeah, she dyed her hair since the last time we spoke
I got her a drink and I lit up her smoke
And she said, "I don't know how I wound up so defeated"
She said, "These pictures in this place always make me sad
Make me think about the family I never had
I hate the fact that I'm always feeling cheated"
While the jukebox plays 'Your Cheatin' Heart'
Can't see the wounds as well when you're in the dark
She said, "I'll be right back", but I knew she was lying
Me I knew, I needed different company
These kind of talks always get to me
This place smells like everybody's dying, or trying, baby
Spark the heart in a godless night
Spark the dark 'til it turns to light
Spark the colors in the eyes that blame
Spark the embers 'til they turn to flame
Yeah, spark
Need a little spark
The lyrics to Michael McDermott's "Spark" describe a feeling of being stuck and lost in life, unable to find one's place in the world. The first verse talks about feeling like some doors are always shut, while the second verse implies that sometimes one must seek out the cracks to find a way forward. The chorus insists on sparking something within oneself to break out of the darkness and find some purpose.
The song tells the story of a man named Gareth who has lived in one place his whole life, who feels content but also restless. He dreams of far-off places but for some reason has never left. The third verse introduces a woman who joins the singer at a bar, and they commiserate about feeling defeated and cheated in life. The song ends with the urgent plea to "spark the heart" in order to overcome these feelings and find some hope.
There is a sense of desperation and longing throughout "Spark" that is captured well by McDermott's gritty voice and the rock-infused melody. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has felt lost or stuck in their life and needs a little encouragement to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Some doors seem like they're always shut
Michael McDermott feels like he cannot pass through some doors despite his best efforts
The hand of fate still seems corrupt
Michael McDermott is unhappy with how his life is going and feels like fate has a hand in it
When you're caught on the wrong side of your own generation
Michael McDermott feels like he doesn't belong in the current generation which makes him feel even more alone
Found the cracks like midnight barks
Michael McDermott has found the faults in his own soul and they are like the sound of dogs barking in the night
Intoxication, the slipstream narcs
Michael McDermott is using drugs or alcohol to escape his problems
Does the temple of your soul need restoration?
Michael McDermott thinks that he needs some kind of spiritual or emotional restoration to fix himself
Gareth lived here his whole damn life
There is a man named Gareth that has never left his hometown
His job, his lover, his complex wife
Gareth has a job, a lover, and a wife that is difficult to deal with
He said, "I've never even thought of leaving"
Despite everything, Gareth is content to stay where he is
He said, "Believe it or not I'm quite content
Gareth is really happy with his life, but there's still something missing
Every now and again I kneel and repent
Gareth feels guilty about something and will sometimes ask for forgiveness
But I never seem to find that feeling of healing, baby"
Even though Gareth is content with his life, there is still a void he can't fill
Spark the heart in a godless night
Michael McDermott is asking for something or someone to bring light into his dark life
Spark the dark 'til it turns to light
Michael McDermott wants the darkness in his life to be illuminated
Spark the colors in the eyes that blame
Michael McDermott wants those who point fingers to see things from a different perspective
Spark the embers 'til they turn to flame
Michael McDermott wants a small spark to start a fire in his soul
From the small towns where the dreams don't hide
Michael McDermott has been around people whose dreams have never flourished
To the big city where they do collide
Michael McDermott has witnessed large dreams crumbling in the city
To these hotel rooms where the clocks have ceased their ticking
Michael McDermott is in a place that feels lifeless
He dreamt of Paris and MTV
Michael had dreams of going to Paris and being on MTV, which haven't come true
Ireland and the BBC
Michael also desired to visit Ireland and appear on the BBC, which has yet to come to fruition
But now the dream well it only makes him sicken
Michael is disillusioned by his previous dreams, realizing that they might never come true
No one knows his name or even cares
Michael feels invisible and unimportant to everyone around him
As he stumbles drunk up and down those stairs
Michael is drunk and stumbling around, unable to keep his balance
Or the spirits' fire that burns within his temper
Michael is prone to angry outbursts and is unable to control his emotions
He's haunted by every train running south
Michael is affected by things that he can't control, like trains passing by
And every lover that he brought to his mouth
Michael is haunted by the people he has been with in the past
Fear of secrets that may soon be rendered, or surrendered, baby
Michael is afraid that his secrets will be revealed to others
Yeah, she dyed her hair since the last time we spoke
Michael is meeting someone he hasn't seen in a long time
I got her a drink and I lit up her smoke
Michael is trying to be chivalrous and offering to buy her a drink and light her cigarette
And she said, "I don't know how I wound up so defeated"
The woman Michael is with is feeling like a loser and doesn't know how she got there
She said, "These pictures in this place always make me sad
The pictures in the bar or club they are in are making her feel emotional
Make me think about the family I never had
The photos are making her think about the family she never had
I hate the fact that I'm always feeling cheated"
The woman is feeling like she never gets what she deserves in life
While the jukebox plays 'Your Cheatin' Heart'
The jukebox is playing a song called 'Your Cheatin' Heart', likely a sad country song
Can't see the wounds as well when you're in the dark
The dark, quiet atmosphere of the bar makes it easier to hide or ignore emotional pain
She said, "I'll be right back", but I knew she was lying
The woman tells Michael she will be back, but he can tell she's not telling the truth
Me I knew, I needed different company
Michael realizes he doesn't want to be in that space anymore and wants a change of pace
These kind of talks always get to me
Michael gets too emotional during deep conversations like these
This place smells like everybody's dying, or trying, baby
Michael is unhappy with the environment they are in and feels like everybody is either struggling or giving up
Spark
Michael is calling for a change, something to reignite his passion
Need a little spark
Michael is asking for something small to bring about the desired change
Contributed by Lillian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.