Toucan Cove music artist Mikey Wax began his journey in Oyster Bay, Long Island, where he started playing piano and writing songs at just 8 years of age. Inspired early on by the Beatles, Elton John and Billy Joel, Wax quickly developed piano chops and was a natural songwriter. Fast forward ten years, while attending college at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he honed his skills as both a singer and songwriter, and independently released his debut album "Change Again" in 2009. The album received a strong initial reaction on social media, which grabbed the attention of YouTube, who featured the music video for the single "In Case I Go Again" on it's homepage, resulting in over half a million views and propelling the album to the top 100 on the iTunes pop chart in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. The success of the album introduced thousands of new fans to his music, including Superbowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, who has publicly mentioned that Mikey is a top artist on his playlist. Most recently, "In Case I Go Again" was featured during the 2012 Summer Olympics on NBC, and on the ABC Family hit show Pretty Little Liars in late 2013.
Mikey has performed nation-wide sharing the stage with artists such as Parachute, Matt Wertz, Howie Day, Jon McLaughlin, Andy Grammer, Tony Lucca, Ryan Cabrera, Tyler Hilton, Graham Colton, Michelle Chamuel and Landon Pigg, among others. He has also deepened the bond with his fans by offering something very unique on tour: exclusive house concerts right in their own living rooms. The demand for these performances became so great that Wax has completed over 250 intimate house concerts for hundreds of fans. "There's something very special about playing for fans so up close and personal. They're able to connect to my music in a unique and memorable way," says Mikey.
Wax's second album, titled "Constant Motion" was produced by Warren Huart (The Fray, Kris Allen, James Blunt) and self-released in September, 2011. Thanks to a growing fan base, the album shot to #6 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart and #47 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The single "Counting On You" received airplay on Adult Top 40 stations across the country, and eventually helped Wax become the only unsigned artist on the US Mediabase HOT A/C top-40 chart. Soon after, "Counting On You" was featured on the FOX hit reality TV series So You Think You Can Dance as the show's weekly elimination song, and was also used in the movie trailer for the major motion picture Playing For Keeps. The placements earned Mikey an exclusive interview on the popular entertainment website YoungHollywood.com, as well as a feature in USA Today.
Mikey has recently been recognized by both New Music Seminar & iHeart Radio as an "Artist On The Verge" and an "Artist To Watch", respectively. His fan base continues to grow online and at shows thanks to an engaging audience who connect with Mikey's passion for music and life. Chicago’s Windy City Times calls Mikey’s live show “nothing short of heaven-bound," making his upcoming 2015 headlining tour one not to miss. In February, 2014, Wax hit the studio to record his label debut album with producer / brother duo Scott & Ed Cash. The record, titled “Mikey Wax”, released on June 10, 2014. The album quickly jumped into the iTunes top 100 pop chart, and the first single “You Lift Me Up” was featured by iTunes as ‘Ahead Of The Curve’. The song has since garnered over 5 million Spotify streams, and is currently featured in the Keeping Up With The Kardashians Season 10 promo commercial. Spend just a few minutes listening to this album and you’ll agree that it isn't your ordinary pop/rock record. The songs are very well written & crafted with an incredible attention to detail. Each track offers something new while still being cohesive as an album. The lyrical content is captivating, and the variety of influences & sounds that are embedded in this record keep the listener hooked. From hints of electronic to funk, along with small doses of country and folk, it all contributes to a sensational label debut album. It is this reason that Mikey was not only recently featured in the Huffington Post, but also on the popular mobile music app SMULE, and by American Airlines as their “Artist Of The Month”, reaching a combined estimate of 15 million listeners. His music has also recently been highlighted by app-of-the-year runner up “Band Of The Day”, and on the ABC Family Show Switched At Birth. Stay tuned for what's next…
Back And Forth
Mikey Wax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are dreams worth fighting for
Somehow those dreams got lost
They were left outside the door
So I don't listen anymore
They go back and forth
And the stories always change
Til I know for sure
That they're doing what they say
And in this age of love
What are we so frightened of?
They tell us to grow up
But give us nothing to rise above
So we don't listen anymore
They go back and forth
And the stories always change
No we won't listen anymore
Til we know for sure
That they're doing what they say
Hey, little darling darling
Speak what's on your mind
Don't cry little darling darling
Seek, and you shall find a way
So I can't listen anymore
They go back and forth
And the stories always change
No we won't listen anymore
Until we know for sure
That they're doing what we say
Mikey Wax's song "Back and Forth" is a powerful anthem that highlights the confusion and mistrust of truth in the modern age. The first verse addresses the ongoing cycles of war and the dreams we fight for that seem to have been lost or forgotten. The lyrics suggest that we can no longer trust the stories we hear from those in power because they always seem to change. The repeated use of "back and forth" implies the cyclical nature of the world's problems and the inability of those in power to offer real solutions. However, the chorus suggests that there is still hope for change, but only if people can be sure that those in power are actually doing what they say.
The second verse shifts to the theme of love and how it is often feared or held back by societal pressures. The lyrics suggest that young people are told to grow up and be responsible, but are not given anything worth rising above. This theme of mistrust continues as the chorus repeats the idea that we can no longer listen until we can be sure that those in power are following through on their promises. The bridge of the song offers a call to action - to speak our minds and seek the truth for ourselves. The song ends with a final statement of resolve that we will not listen anymore until we can be sure that our voices are being heard.
Line by Line Meaning
And in this age of war
In these times of conflict and hostility...
There are dreams worth fighting for
...there are still aspirations worth pursuing and standing up for.
Somehow those dreams got lost
However, over time these ambitions have been forgotten or ignored...
They were left outside the door
...and were never given the attention or effort they deserved.
So I don't listen anymore
As a result, I've stopped paying attention...
They go back and forth
...because the ideas and opinions I hear constantly contradict each other.
And the stories always change
The narratives and arguments behind these ideas are never consistent or reliable...
No I won't listen anymore
...which makes me hesitant to listen anymore.
Til I know for sure
Until I'm convinced beyond doubt...
That they're doing what they say
...that the people speaking these words are actually following through with their promises and beliefs.
And in this age of love
In these times where love and kindness are promoted...
What are we so frightened of?
...why are we still so scared and uncertain?
They tell us to grow up
We're told to mature and become responsible adults...
But give us nothing to rise above
...but are not provided with anything to truly inspire us and lift us up.
So we don't listen anymore
As a result, we've stopped paying attention...
They go back and forth
...because the ideas and opinions we hear constantly contradict each other.
No we won't listen anymore
...which makes us hesitant to listen anymore.
Til we know for sure
Until we're convinced beyond doubt...
That they're doing what they say
...that the people speaking these words are actually following through with their promises and beliefs.
Hey, little darling darling
Oh sweet and precious one...
Speak what's on your mind
...share what's on your heart and thoughts.
Don't cry little darling darling
...don't shed tears, my dear one...
Seek, and you shall find a way
...instead, keep searching and striving for a way forward.
So I can't listen anymore
As a result, I've stopped paying attention...
They go back and forth
...because the ideas and opinions I hear constantly contradict each other.
And the stories always change
The narratives and arguments behind these ideas are never consistent or reliable...
No we won't listen anymore
...which makes us hesitant to listen anymore.
Until we know for sure
Until we're convinced beyond doubt...
That they're doing what we say
...that the people speaking these words are actually following through with their promises and beliefs.
Contributed by Avery H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@doktorszoszi8
One of the best singers!!! People! Discover him!
@LinkXToboeXAmaterasu
Probably one of my favourites-the piano at the start is magical, and the lyrics are really meaningful! All your songs are great, but this one speaks the most to me.
@LindaVpromo
love the sound,love this song alot..
@realmclennyd
awesome music
@cocacolalover1817
LOVE YOU i just love your music soo much
@cocacolalover1817
I LOVE YOU i just love you music soo much cant wait to see you
@1BustedMyth
Brilliant !
@Overtheskii
this is really pretty!
@tknyou2prd
Amazing <3
@SamanthaPearson
Good tune! :)