Prior to the release of his 1989 debut album March, Penn performed the song "This & That" with his band The Pull on a 1987 episode of Saturday Night Live. Before that, he was a member of the Los Angeles band Doll Congress and had appeared as an extra on a few television series, including St. Elsewhere.
March, particularly the first single, "No Myth," brought Penn attention, as well as the 1990 MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist. Penn's follow-up albums Free-for-All (1992), Resigned (1997) and MP4: Days Since a Lost Time Accident (2000) weren't able to match the success of March, although critics praised his songcraft.
Penn met fellow singer-songwriter Aimee Mann in the late 1980s, and during the recording of her album I'm With Stupid (to which Penn contributed vocals), the two struck up a friendship, which blossomed into romance and their 1997 marriage. Together with manager Michael Hausman they formed United Musicians, which is based on the idea of allowing artists to keep copyright ownership of their works and to assist with their promotion and distribution. Penn and Mann live in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have no children, but Penn has a son from a previous marriage.
He moved into film scoring after repeated requests from director Paul Thomas Anderson, who had apparently listened to Free-for-All extensively while writing his first feature Hard Eight and wanted Penn to score the film. Penn also scored Anderson's follow-up Boogie Nights (in which he appeared briefly as a recording engineer), The Anniversary Party, Melvin Goes to Dinner and the documentary The Comedians of Comedy.
His fifth album, Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947, was released August 2, 2005, on Mimeograph Records (Penn's own label) and SpinART Records. Penn has said that the album, which may be the first of two parts, is set after World War II and involves "the trauma that a war brings to a person's psychology." [1]
Penn's music "Walter Reed" was used in the fifth episode of House MD's third season, "Fools For Love".
On Your Way
Michael Penn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hazy from rocket's red glare
All on your own
On your way anywhere
Love, just in case you've not heard
It's been run ragged, a ghost of a word
But hope kind of stuck
Maybe next summer, maybe by fall
Well, if not then, I am sure you'll recall
That our gloomy December will brighten by May
You're on your way
Taking that drink to the end of the line
Sometimes you think it's a faulty design
And wonder for when
And hope until then
Maybe next summer, maybe by fall
Well, if not then, I am sure you'll recall
That our gloomy December will brighten by May
You're on your way
So maybe take him with you
Feel all the love around here
But take it from me, eventually
Maybe next summer, maybe by fall
Well, if not then, I am sure you'll recall
That our gloomy December will brighten by May
And you're on your way
The song "On Your Way" by Michael Penn is a reflection on hope and love, set against a backdrop of war imagery. The first verse refers to bombs and rockets, creating a sense of chaos and uncertainty. In contrast, the next verse focuses on the concept of love, which the singer describes as a "ghost of a word," suggesting that it has lost its meaning or relevance. However, the singer "hope[s] kind of stuck," implying that despite everything, love still has the power to inspire and motivate people.
The chorus repeats the phrase "maybe next summer, maybe by fall," indicating that there is no guarantee of when things will get better, but there is still a sense of optimism that they will. The singer encourages the listener to keep going on their path, even though it may be uncertain or difficult ("taking that drink to the end of the line"), and to hold onto hope until things improve.
The final verse acknowledges that the listener may not be alone on their journey ("maybe take him with you / feel all the love around here"), but ultimately emphasizes that the listener is responsible for their own progress ("take it from me, eventually"). The song ends with the repeated assurance that "you're on your way," suggesting that even though the road ahead may be challenging, the listener is moving forward in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Bombs bursting in air
Explosive noises and flashes of light in the sky.
Hazy from rocket's red glare
Foggy conditions from the brightly lit rockets.
All on your own
By yourself, without help from anyone else.
On your way anywhere
Heading towards any destination you desire.
Love, just in case you've not heard
Affection or strong feelings towards someone else.
It's been run ragged, a ghost of a word
The word 'love' has been overused and lost its true meaning.
But hope kind of stuck
Optimism has remained resilient and persistent.
And with any luck
If things go well or turn out positively.
Maybe next summer, maybe by fall
Possibly in the near future.
Well, if not then, I am sure you'll recall
If it doesn't happen, you will remember this moment.
That our gloomy December will brighten by May
Dark or sorrowful times will improve and become more joyful.
Taking that drink to the end of the line
Continuing to pursue something until it reaches completion.
Sometimes you think it's a faulty design
Occasionally, you may question the effectiveness or logic of something.
And wonder for when
Thinking about when something will happen.
And hope until then
Remaining optimistic until that time.
So maybe take him with you
Bring someone else along with you.
Feel all the love around here
Experience the affection and kindness in your current surroundings.
But take it from me, eventually
Listen to my advice, at some point in the future.
And you're on your way
You are making progress and heading towards your goals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL DANIEL PENN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Myhr
Great to hear from Michael Penn again! My old band the Merrymakers were very inspired by him...
Doug Armstrong
I really love the music of Michael Penn. Not having ever seen him perform LIVE is one of my lifelong regrets as a music fan. I really like this new song, such a sense for melancholy.
Steven Taylor
Doug Armstrong I saw Him 3 times. Once in 1997 with a backing band and big stage show opening for Sheryl Crowe. Twice at The Ark in Ann Arbor. He was great all 3 times but the first time at The Ark was amazing. It was just Him and an accompanist. He does a very stripped down tour when he goes.
Olivia Alkhatib-Hinkle
I sing this to my daughter, it has become her lullaby.
Twangs
I wish Michael would release a new album ever 6 months.
Jeremy Facknitz
Fucking stellar genius producer. Most of his songs on their own are "just" really good. It's his ability to give each instrument such a sensual voice that makes his music more pleasurable to listen to than just about anything else out there, I dare say.
BAZ
Regarding some of the comments below: 1. I'm glad this is not on Spotify, as Spotify isn't paying artists anything decent to speak of. 2. I'd rather support an artist I like the work of with a direct purchase. 3. Albums or singles: they're both awesome in different ways. Not everyone has to have "strategy", sometimes just putting stuff out on sound tracks or in single servings is ok. I'm glad Michael is still around, sharing his truths, speaking for others or just plain being creative in song. <3
Kate Lynne Bundy
I've loved him forever and have been missing him lately. This was such a wonderful surprise.
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Ariel Thompkins
I can't stop listening to the Girls soundtrack; I'm in a painful, abusive relationship with Girls. Please help.