Two years later in January 2002, Pryor released Para Toda Vida, this time sticking almost purely to acoustic guitar, with the exception of a few tracks utilizing harmonica and banjo as well. However, the next year the band went a step further in the release of Worse for the Wear, which utilized a full band for the first time, which at this time included Get Up Kids bandmates Ryan Pope and his brother Rob, as well as longtime friend and producer Ed Rose. The album was one of the earlier albums to be recorded at Black Lodge Studios, the recording studio renovated and co-owned by Ed Rose and the members of The Get Up Kids.
The band's next album, Killed or Cured was released in 2005. However, it was written during a turbulent time within The Get Up Kids leading up to the band's breakup. Because of this Vagrant Records, the label to which both the bands were signed, didn't want to release the album until The Get Up Kids finished their farewell tour in the summer of that year. For this reason, a portion of the album was released online for free via the New Amsterdams website. The album was released in its full version through retail channels on April 10, 2007.
In 2006, the band released the album Story Like a Scar with what is now the current lineup, including Bill Belzer on drums, Eric McCann on upright bass, and Dustin Kinsey on guitar.
In September 2007, the band released another album, At the Foot of My Rival on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download. However, after a long relationship with Vagrant Records, the band decided to release the album on Elmar, (named after Pryor's son Elliot Marshall) an offshoot of Curb Appeal Records, owned in part by former Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic.
In January 2008 the band released a collection of demos and b-sides, available exclusively through their website.
In May of the same year, they went on their first European tour, starting in Amsterdam. The band plans to go in a small hiatus after that, until the end of the year. After that, they will start working on the next album.
Musically, the songs are folksy and mellow. Lyrically, the songs often seem to deal with Christianity and religion though Matt hasn't made claims to any particular faith. Much of it could be considered "christian rock," though many fans of Pryor from his Get Up Kids days would probably deny or ignore such a comment.
I Won't Run Away
The New Amsterdams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like we've waltzed around the words so many times
We remind in time the motions will repeat
But the distance doesn't finalize defeat
So it goes
There's a weight that never seems to let it go
And I'm passing through the atmosphere like smoke
On the way today, you're free from town to town
Every anecdote I lift gets written down
Every letter ever sent her does remind
That our memories are always on my mind
So it stays
Wait for the world to stop and I won't run away
Wait for the world to stop and I won't run away
Wait for the world to stop and I won't run away
At least not today
The lyrics of "I Won't Run Away" by The New Amsterdams is about the pain of a failed relationship and the difficulty of moving on. The first verse describes the singer's decision to walk away from the person he is addressing. It's a decision that he's made before and one that they've gone back and forth on. He acknowledges that while the motions of the relationship may repeat, putting distance between them doesn't necessarily mean defeat.
The second verse introduces the idea that the singer is traveling, and every memory he has of the person he's leaving behind seems to be obsessively etched into his mind. He's struggling to let go and move on from the relationship. The chorus expresses the sentiment that the weight of the breakup never seems to go away, and the singer is drifting through life like smoke, unable to truly free himself from the burden. The final words of the chorus are repeated, perhaps to convince himself to stay put and confront the pain instead of trying to outrun it.
The song's lyrics are poignant and relatable to anyone who has experienced the pain of heartbreak. The New Amsterdams' simple, straightforward approach to the arrangement allows the lyrics to shine, highlighting the emotions behind each line. It's a beautiful and heartfelt song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of a relationship gone wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk away today, I must leave you behind
I have to leave you behind and move on with my life.
Like we've waltzed around the words so many times
We have avoided saying what needs to be said many times.
We remind in time the motions will repeat
As time goes by, we will repeat the same patterns.
But the distance doesn't finalize defeat
Even though we are apart, it doesn't mean we have been defeated.
So it goes
That's just the way things are.
There's a weight that never seems to let it go
There is a burden that I can't seem to shake off.
And I'm passing through the atmosphere like smoke
I feel like I am drifting aimlessly through life.
On the way today, you're free from town to town
You are free to travel from place to place today.
Every anecdote I lift gets written down
Every story I tell is being recorded.
Every letter ever sent her does remind
Every letter I have ever sent to her reminds me of our past.
That our memories are always on my mind
I can't stop thinking about our memories.
So it stays
It remains the same.
Wait for the world to stop and I won't run away
If I am patient and wait for things to settle down, I won't try to escape.
Wait for the world to stop and I won't run away
If I am patient and wait for things to settle down, I won't try to escape.
Wait for the world to stop and I won't run away
If I am patient and wait for things to settle down, I won't try to escape.
At least not today
But today, I can't promise anything.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: MATTHEW PRYOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind