Wiley started out as a guitarist in a handful of local independent projects, including The Plan, Space Opera and Evil Agents. He was also a member of The Tubetracks during a brief period when he lived in British Columbia. His unique guitar style always contributed to the sound of the groups he worked with, most notably his adept skill at surf music, being heavily influenced by Dick Dale, among others. During his involvement in these groups, he didn't do any vocal work, with the exception of a few songs from Space Opera, which mostly consisted of talking or yelling, but no actual singing.
In 2002, he released his first solo project, Bottom Dollar. Not only was it his first solo effort, but it was a fully professionally produced CD, as opposed to the low-tech cassettes produced by all of his previous projects. While the surf influence wasn't evident, his talents as a singer and songwriter were startling, after so many years of being known as primarily a lead guitarist rather than a frontman. Some media reviews drew a comparison to Tom Waits, but most fans seem to agree that, while some of the lyrics are similar to Waits' style, a closer comparison in lyric style would be Bob Dylan.
Bottom Dollar gained much critical acclaim, winning awards from the East Coast Music Association and SOCAN, and getting repeated airplay on CBC Radio. The video for the lead single "Bottom Dollar Baby" was played in rotation on the Canadian muic station MuchMoreMusic, and remained in their Top 40 for several weeks, even gaining spots higher than such hitmakers as Celine Dion and Cher. The album was released through the indie-friendly group Sonic, and was eventually picked up for distribution by Warner Bros. Records.
The follow-up High Low was released in 2004, also gaining similar awards and acclaim.
Comeback
Nathan Wiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Much too young to be in such heat
I am back, scream to the neighbors
Break me in and sing in the street
[Chorus]
My comeback is slow
And tears me to pieces
Turn me on, I will be watching you
With each turn of the season
Strip my room, and shave it up sideways
A silver girl, a golden machine
If I had you here, I'd love you forever
Make you see again and again
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
The lyrics of Nathan Wiley's "Comeback" describe a feeling of desperation and longing for someone or something that is lost. The first verse introduces the idea of being in a difficult situation, represented by "broken glass," and feeling like there needs to be a reason to understand why. The second line suggests that the singer is too young to handle the intensity of what they're feeling. However, the singer declares that they're back and ready to make some noise, to "scream to the neighbors" and "sing in the street." The chorus describes the slow process of the singer's comeback and how it's tearing them apart. They're longing to see the person they've lost again, and they'll be watching for them with each turn of the season.
The second verse mentions the idea of stripping everything away and starting anew, symbolized by shaving a room up sideways. The silver girl and golden machine imagery represents the desire for something shiny and new. The singer then hints that if they had their lost person here with them, they'd love them forever and make them see things differently each time. The chorus repeats twice more, emphasizing the pain and slow progress of the "comeback" process.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken glass, I need a reason
Feeling shattered and lost, I'm searching for an explanation
Much too young to be in such heat
Despite my youth, I'm experiencing intense emotional turmoil
I am back, scream to the neighbors
I've returned and want everyone to know, to hear my voice
Break me in and sing in the street
I'm open to new experiences, to being molded and embraced, to celebrating life
My comeback is slow
It's taking time for me to recover, to regain my footing
And tears me to pieces
This process is painful, ripping at me from the inside
When will I ever see you again
Will I ever have that connection, that comfort, that hope?
Turn me on, I will be watching you
Inspire me, awaken my senses, I'll be keeping an eye on you
With each turn of the season
As time passes and things change, I'll be paying attention
Strip my room, and shave it up sideways
Take everything away, even the angles I cling to, leave me bare
A silver girl, a golden machine
Someone precious and elegant, with shining qualities that dazzle
If I had you here, I'd love you forever
If I could have that one special person by my side, I'd cherish them eternally
Make you see again and again
I'd show them the beauty and wonder of life over and over, keeping them close
My comeback is slow
Once again, it's important to understand that this process isn't easy or quick
And tears me to pieces
But hopefully, with time and effort, I can start to put myself back together
When will I ever see you again
And maybe someday, I'll find what I'm looking for, and feel whole once more
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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