Royal Wood is a Canadian pop music singer-songwriter/ producer, based in To… Read Full Bio ↴Royal Wood is a Canadian pop music singer-songwriter/ producer, based in Toronto, Ontario. His classic pop style has drawn comparisons to Hawksley Workman, Ron Sexsmith, Randy Newman and Rufus Wainwright.

Biography

Early Life

Born and raised outside of Peterborough, Ontario, Royal Wood grew up in a household filled with music. He began playing piano by ear at the age of four and started lessons at age eight. With the support of his school music program, he had access to a variety of different instruments, and by his teens, he became well-versed in many different instruments, including the guitar, bass guitar, drums, clarinet, and trumpet.

After high school, he studied business at McGill University. During this time, he had limited access to a piano, and focused on his guitar playing while trying to find his voice as a songwriter.

Career

Wood released his first EP, entitled The Milkweed EP, in 2002. This collection of songs were written, arranged, performed and produced by Wood himself. The release garnered much critical acclaim, and critics drew comparisons with Randy Newman, Jeff Buckley, and Tom Waits.

Following the release of his debut EP, Wood set out to create an over-the-top pop record for his full-length debut. Drawing inspiration from The Beatles and The Beach Boys, Wood once again undertook production duties during the recording sessions. In 2004, he released his full-length debut record, Tall Tales on Maple Music. The record’s ornate sound and layered arrangements garnered much critical attention, and Wood was praised for his vocal style and infectious lyricism.

With the goal of creating a more mature and pristine sound, Wood entered Toronto's Reaction Studios in 2005 to begin recording the follow-up to his full-length debut. During the recording session, he used a Steinway grand piano, scored a full string quartet, and also enlisted the help of many well-known musicians, including Hawksley Workman and Kurt Swinghammer. The result was A Good Enough Day, which was released in 2007 on Dead Daisy Records in Canada, and in 2008 on Rounder Europe. The record received much radio attention domestically and abroad, and Wood was praised by critics for his fluent piano playing, melodic lyrical style and production ability.
The record spawned three singles and three music videos, “A Mirror Without”, “Juliet” and “I’m So Glad”. Music from the record has also been featured on several TV and movie soundtracks, including TMN/Movie Central's Regenesis, the CBC series This is Wonderland, the CTV movie Playing House, the film The End of Silence, and the Food Network’s The Surreal Gourmet. Internationally, A Mirror Without was featured on an episode of Grey's Anatomy.

With the success of A Good Enough Day, Wood was invited to share the stage with numerous Canadian songstresses, including Emm Gryner, Sarah Harmer[16], Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Slean, Jill Barber and Serena Ryder.
In support of the Rounder Europe release of the record, he also embarked on a European tour in 2008.

Constantly evolving, Wood wanted to focus his next effort on the lyrics and string arrangements. The result was the 2009 release The Lost and Found EP. With a consistently growing fan base, Wood embarked on his first headlining tour in Western Canada in November, 2009 in support of the new EP. Joined by Atlantic Canadian singer-songwriter Rose Cousins, Wood played to capacity crowds during three-week tour.

In 2010 he released "The Waiting" after which he was named iTunes Songwriter of the Year. With the release of The Waiting he has an upcoming national theatre tour with David Gray and more in the works.

Discography

The Milkweed EP (2002)
Tall Tales (2004)
A Good Enough Day (2007)
The Lost and Found EP (2009)
The Waiting (2010)

About You
Royal Wood Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The holiest of words that you'll ever hear
Are the words that I love you
Upon a welcome ear
Oh oh oh

But I'm seeking asylum from what I have done
I've broken the heart of
My dear and closest one

Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh

Our routine was nearly perfect but so well rehearsed
Seemingly so flawless
But truthfully coerced

Oh, oh Anne
I'm thinkin' about you
Oh, oh Anne
I'm thinkin' about you

But the amber is dead now
No bellows could it save
No forced air or maneuvering
By the most zealest of faiths

Oh, oh Anne
I'm thinkin' about you
Oh, oh Anne
I'm thinkin' about you
Oh, oh Anne
I'm thinkin' about you
Oh, oh Anne
I'm thinkin' about you

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Royal Wood's song About You speak to the agony of realizing the consequences of one's actions after it's too late. The opening lines highlight the power and depth of the words "I love you," and how they are often reserved for the most important people in our lives. However, as the song progresses, we learn that the singer has broken the heart of someone close to him, likely the person he loves. He seeks asylum from the guilt and pain that comes with that knowledge.

The second verse delves deeper into the relationship of the singer and his love interest, revealing that although their routines seemed perfect and effortless, they were actually coerced and not based on genuine emotions. The third verse mentions the inability to revive what was lost, despite the strongest of efforts from the most faithful individuals.

The repeated lines of "Oh, oh Anne, I'm thinking about you" express the singer's desperate longing for his love interest, despite the rift he has caused in their relationship. The haunting "oh oh oh" at the end of the song serves to emphasize the unshakable weight of his regret and sadness.

Overall, the lyrics of About You showcase the powerful emotions of love, regret, and desperation that can arise from broken relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

The holiest of words that you'll ever hear
The most sacred and meaningful words that one can express

Are the words that I love you
The expression of care and affection for another person

Upon a welcome ear
When the recipient is open and receptive to hearing them

But I'm seeking asylum from what I have done
Looking for refuge or sanctuary after causing harm or distress

I've broken the heart of
Caused emotional pain or grief to

My dear and closest one
Someone who is deeply loved and trusted

Our routine was nearly perfect but so well rehearsed
Our interactions were well-established and familiar

Seemingly so flawless
Appearing to be without fault or error

But truthfully coerced
In reality, forced or pressured

The amber is dead now
The fire or passion that once burned brightly is now extinguished