It is not a term you would normally associate with conte… Read Full Bio ↴Work ethic.
It is not a term you would normally associate with contemporary music, where memorable performances, on stage and in the studio, are just supposed to happen with effortless spontaneity.
The reality, of course, is that the best music is the result of dedication, determination and the constant quest to go beyond the good to grasp the great. For Pat McGee Band, the best music is nurtured through a touring schedule that puts the band before its fans up to 250 times a year, an unwavering allegiance to the songwriting art and a fierce commitment to a collective creative evolution.
The eleven original tracks on the brilliant new Warner Bros. Records release, Save Me conclusively demonstrate the virtue of Pat McGee Band's hard work in making fresh, original music that actually sounds effortlessly spontaneous.
It's the kind of sheer devotion to their craft that has set this Virginia-based quintet apart since their inception in the late-90s. In the process, they've garnered a rabid fan base and a word-of-mouth reputation for an emotionally charged collection of songs and a great live show. Inspired improvisational skills have made Pat McGee Band a premier live experience, a reputation about to extend to recorded realms with Save Me.
We made a real return to our rock roots, asserts McGee on the creative impetus behind Save Me. Commenting on his deeply imbedded influences in classic rock, McGee states, this is a real guitar driven record with a major emphasis on songwriting. We went into the process with one goal: to make it believable. Its not about perfection. Its about authenticity. We reached deep.
As the long-awaited follow-up to Shine, their 2001 major label debut, Save Me marks a new trajectory in the bands well-beaten, hard-worn path. Its a musical course that includes three well-received independent releases that together sold over 100,000 copies before the band ever arrived at a major label. The five members of Pat McGee Band, Pat McGee (vocals and guitar), Brian Fechino (guitar), Chardy McEwan (percussion), Chris Williams (drums), and John Small (bass), have slugged it out together for years. Add to that a near constant tour schedule that, to date, has encompassed over a half million miles in forty-four states, and its clear that McGee and company have made their musical mark the old fashioned way one song and one show at a time. We feed off of each other live, says McGee. We never know where our live shows will lead us.
Along the way, they've perfected the art of consistent creative progression. Save Me was a stretch for us, McGee continues. With our last album we concentrated on making everything sound just right. This time the emphasis was on feeling. We worked a lot of these songs out in a live setting and felt comfortable with where we were going. That allowed us to have more fun in the studio. We weren't so focused on getting every last note in a three-part harmony down, which meant we really had to make the performances count in the moment. It was challenging, but we got it done because of all the experience we have backing us up.
From the evidence of Save Me, that contention has the ring of positive understatement. Produced by Gregg Wattenberg and Marti Frederiksen, Save Me does indeed accomplish that rare synthesis of inspired immediacy and hard won expertise on a selection of songs and performances that are easily the best in this bands career.
The heart of the Save Me tracks reveals a lot about the creative direction, all of which unfolded during a recording process that stretched from Summer 2002 to Spring 2003.
Dont Give Up, for example, came to McGee while he was on stage singing the chorus to the bands anthem and fan-favorite, Rebecca. The whole thing just popped into my head at once, he explains. As soon as I got off stage, I called my message machine and sang the melody into it so I wouldn't forget.
Annabel, was just fun to play, he says. Its got a real summer vibe and the fans immediately latched onto it. We had them singing along.
It was, in fact, audience response to the new material that proved invaluable in shaping the recording process. Must Have Been Love is one of our heavier live songs, continues McGee. It was a blast to play live and we knew from the reaction we were getting that it was a keeper. Also, squarely in that category, is the atmospheric Shady. It started out an alt-rock epic, with a huge guitar riff, McGee recounts, but it wasn't working for us. So we really slowed it down and it immediately worked.
Pats lyrical skills also figured prominently on this record. Most of the songs are about relationships and all the ways they can go right or wrong, McGee explains. Beautiful Ways is about a love affair built on false premises, while You And I takes the point of view of a guy whos just blown the best thing in his life. I tried to write about situations people could relate to. Its a way for them to connect their own thoughts and feelings with a song.
The connection between Pat McGee Band and their growing legion of fans is certain to be solidified by the accomplishment of Save Me. It is a triumph built on a formidable talent and nurtured by a desire to put their fans first.
Don't Give Up
Pat McGee Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were you right
You strung me out so long
I won't fight
Our innocence is gone
It's time for moving on
And still I wonder
Oh. I'll know
I'm not afraid to say
Let go
I'm starting to believe
What if I could be
What if I could...
Somebody wait, somebody stay
You won't open up your eyes
Somebody wait, give me a chance
And I'll open up your eyes
Don't give up
Don't give up
And if I saw the world
Through your eyes
I wonder would it end this time
You're never really sure
We've fallen down before
But you'll never be alone
Somebody wait, somebody stay
You won't open up your eyes
Somebody wait, give me a chance
And I'll open up your eyes
Somebody wait, somebody stay
You don't have to tell me why
Just don't give up
Time has been racing away from me
Where do I stand
I'm scared of us falling
I'll never let go of your hand
My head starts to spin
I'm surrounded by reasons
I don't understand
Once again
Somebody wait, somebody stay
You won't open up your eyes
Somebody wait, give me a chance
And I'll Open up your eyes
Somebody wait, somebody stay
You don't have to be alone
Somebody wait, somebody stay
You won't open up your eyes
Don't give up
The world flies by
I'm standing still
Scared to be alone
I've lost control
I know I'm falling
But I won't give up
The lyrics to "Don't Give Up" by Pat McGee Band depict a struggle in a relationship where one person is hesitant to let go while the other appears to have already moved on. The singer of the song admits that they may have been wrong and their partner was right, but they won't fight anymore. The innocence in the relationship is gone, and it's time to move on. The singer expresses a willingness to find something more and to let go. They start to believe that they can be somebody different, but they need their partner to wait and stay. The lyrics repeat the plea of "Don't give up" to emphasize the desire to salvage the relationship.
The second verse of the song continues to express uncertainty and doubt in the relationship but suggests that the singer is willing to see the world through their partner's eyes to save it. The singer admits that they have fallen down before but the partner will never be alone. They ask their partner to wait and give them a chance to open their eyes because time is running out. The chorus of "Don't give up" is repeated, and the bridge emphasizes the fear of being alone and lost control. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer admitting they know they are falling but won't give up.
The message of the song is a relatable reminder of the difficulties in relationships and the fear of letting go. The plea of "Don't give up" shows the singer's hope that the relationship can be saved and their belief that they can be better together.
Line by Line Meaning
What if I was wrong,
Questioning oneself about being wrong in a situation
Were you right
Asking the other person if they were right in the situation
You strung me out so long
Feeling manipulated and led on for an extended period of time
I won't fight
Accepting the outcome and choosing not to argue or resist
Our innocence is gone
Acknowledging that the relationship is no longer pure or innocent
It's time for moving on
Realizing that it's time to let go and move forward
And still I wonder
Despite accepting, still curious about the situation
And when there's something more
Referring to potentially a new relationship
Oh. I'll know
Confidence in recognizing when it's the right situation
I'm not afraid to say
Not scared to vocalize feelings or intentions
Let go
Surrendering to the situation and releasing control
I'm starting to believe
Gaining confidence in oneself and the situation
What if I could be
Wondering if one could be the solution to the other's problems
What if I could...
Thinking of all the possibilities and options
Somebody wait, somebody stay
Asking someone to not give up on the relationship
You won't open up your eyes
Feeling like the other person is not seeing the situation clearly
Give me a chance
Asking for an opportunity to prove oneself
And I'll open up your eyes
Confident that oneself can help the other person see the situation clearly
Don't give up
Encouraging the other person to not give up on the relationship
And if I saw the world
Imagining seeing things from the other person's perspective
Through your eyes
Seeing things from the other person's point of view
I wonder would it end this time
Curious if seeing things from the other person's perspective would solve the problems
You're never really sure
Not being confident in the situation
We've fallen down before
Having experienced difficulties in the relationship previously
But you'll never be alone
Assuring that the other person will never be alone through the difficulties
You don't have to tell me why
Not requiring an explanation from the other person
Time has been racing away from me
Feeling like time has been flying by
Where do I stand
Unsure of one's position in the relationship
I'm scared of us falling
Afraid of the relationship failing
I'll never let go of your hand
Promise to always be there
My head starts to spin
Feeling overwhelmed and confused
I'm surrounded by reasons
Having multiple factors influencing the situation
I don't understand
Feeling uncertain about the situation
Once again
Experiencing the same confusion and uncertainty as before
You don't have to be alone
Assuring the other person that they don't need to face things alone
The world flies by
Feeling like time is moving too quickly
I'm standing still
Stuck in the same place
Scared to be alone
Afraid of being alone
I've lost control
Feeling like one has lost control of the situation
I know I'm falling
Aware that things are not going well
But I won't give up
Determined to keep trying and not give up
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREGG WATTENBERG, PAT MC GEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind