Distilled in the music is the life experience of an artist willing to take risks to satisfy an irrepressibly curious soul and all that entails—indulgence, wanderlust, love, lost love, joy and a lot of pain, youthful run-ins with the law, full release, redemption and resultant wisdom. The stories contained are at once personal and universal--steeped in a depth of experience that belies his age.
Call him mercurial. The Canadian expat troubadour has established a solid fanbase from his new home in Echo Park, California with performances that keep them guessing as to how he’ll throw it down that night. Solo acoustic w/finger-plucking flair (he’s an extraordinary guitarist), rockin’ quartet, levitation-inducing quintet with a keyboardist providing shimmering ambience…it’s never less than wonderful. Captivated audiences at the Hotel Café are in on one of the best kept secrets in Los Angeles and the rest of the world for that matter.
(taken from his myspace page)
Set Your Sights
Steve Reynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You marked your words on the back of every matchbook that you ever burned
come back baby, come back baby... now
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
i'm restless
too quick to speed
I'm worn out
bent and battered
like a card stuck in a/the wheel
burn your bridges
bring them down
and you free your witness
turn the ground
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
headlights, motorcades
corners out of line
brakes and fallen wires
getting in the way
free your lover
kill the lights
brief your witness
burn tonight
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
set your sights on me
come back baby, come back baby, come back baby
The lyrics of this song seem to evoke a sense of restlessness and recklessness, as if the singer is calling out to someone who has left them behind. The first few lines describe the person coming at noon, but not really caring for the taste of food, which could imply a sense of disinterest in the mundane things of life. The line "you marked your words on the back of every matchbook that you ever burned" suggests a kind of transience or impermanence, as well as a desire to leave one's mark on the world in some way.
In the chorus, the singer urges the other person to "set your sights on me", as if daring them to take a risk and pursue something new or exciting. The lines "I'm restless, like a reckless engine too quick to speed" and "I'm worn out, bent and battered like a card stuck in a/the wheel" paint a picture of someone who is constantly in motion, but also dealing with the wear and tear of life's struggles. The idea of burning bridges and starting fresh is echoed in the line "burn your bridges, bring them down, and you free your witness, turn the ground".
The second verse describes obstacles getting in the way of progress, with references to headlights, motorcades, corners out of line, and fallen wires. The lines "free your lover, kill the lights, brief your witness, burn tonight" suggest a sense of urgency and spontaneity, as if the singer is encouraging the other person to let go of their inhibitions and take a leap of faith. Overall, the song seems to be about taking risks and pursuing new experiences, even if it means leaving behind the familiar.
Line by Line Meaning
You came at noon but never really cared for the taste of food
You arrived during lunchtime but didn't have any interest in eating.
You marked your words on the back of every matchbook that you ever burned
You wrote messages on the back of the matches before lighting them and burning them.
come back baby, come back baby... now
I want you to return to me as soon as possible.
set your sights on me
Focus your attention on me and what I have to offer.
i'm restless
I am unable to stay still or calm due to anticipation or excitement.
like a reckless engine
In the same way a car's engine lacks proper control, I am acting impulsively.
too quick to speed
I am moving too quickly and recklessly without considering the consequences.
I'm worn out
I am exhausted after enduring many hardships and difficulties.
bent and battered
My body and spirit have taken a beating and are now warped and damaged.
like a card stuck in a/the wheel
I feel trapped and unable to move forward like a jammed card in a bicycle wheel.
burn your bridges
Cut off or destroy all ties with your past or what's holding you back to move forward with me.
bring them down
Lower the barriers or obstacles that prevent progress and growth.
and you free your witness
By destroying the barriers, you will reveal the truth and allow for justice to prevail.
turn the ground
Create a new and promising future by harnessing the power of destruction and renewal.
headlights, motorcades
Images of fast-moving vehicles in the dark signify danger, excitement, and unexpectedness.
corners out of line
Things are not in their usual or expected places or states, so anything could happen.
brakes and fallen wires
Signs of danger and obstruction are present, and one must proceed with caution.
getting in the way
Obstacles are blocking progress to the desired destination.
free your lover
Release the person you love from any constraints or prejudices that hinder their happiness and growth.
kill the lights
Destroy anything that obscures the real, unadulterated truth or that provides a false sense of security.
brief your witness
Prepare your helper or supporter to testify on your behalf when the time comes.
burn tonight
Indulge in the passion and love that you feel and let it consume you.
set your sights on me
Focus your attention and love on me to move forward with me in our journey.
come back baby, come back baby, come back baby
My desire for your return is strong and I will keep repeating this until you are here with me again.
Writer(s): Stephen B. Reynolds
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.