Since 2006, Matsson has released four full-length albums and two EPs. He records and produces these in his home, and usually records his voice and guitar together on one track. He is known both by his fans and his enemies for his charismatic stage presence.
Critics have compared The Tallest Man on Earth to Bob Dylan both in terms of songwriting ability and vocal style. When asked about his lyrical style, Matsson explains that he began listening to Bob Dylan at fifteen, and upon hearing Dylan's cover material, he "tried to figure out where those songs came from" and became slowly exposed to early American folk, such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. But he is careful to qualify this, saying "I don't consider my work to be a part of any tradition. This is how I play. This is how I write songs."
With regard to his guitar technique, Matsson uses a variety of open tunings, and standard tuning to a lesser degree. He had classical guitar training in his youth, but says he "never really focused on it" and that by the end of high school he "got bored playing guitar because it was like math", until he then discovered open tunings while listening to Nick Drake in his early twenties. He was drawn to this style of playing because it allowed him to focus on singing while still performing intricate music.
He was previously married to Amanda Bergman, also known by the stage name Idiot Wind. Together, they wrote the music for the Swedish drama film Once a Year.
Like the Wheel
The Tallest Man on Earth Lyrics
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That could fly above this summer all day long
On an island in the heart he has to carry
Past the many you have let into your song
And I said, "Oh my Lord, why am I not strong?"
Like the wheel that keeps travelers traveling on
Like the wheel that will take you home
And in the forest someone is whispering to a tree now
This is all I am so please don't follow me
And it's your brother in the shaft that I'm swinging
Please let the kindness of forgetting set me free
And he said, "Oh my Lord, why am I not strong?"
Like the wheel that keeps travelers traveling on
Like the wheel that will take you home
And on this Sunday someone's sittin' down to wonder
Where the hell among these mountains will I be?
There's a cloud behind the cloud to which I'm yelling
Oh, I could hear you sneak around so easily
And I said, "Oh my Lord, why am I not strong?"
Like the branch that keeps hangman hanging on
Like the branch that will take me home
The first verse of The Tallest Man on Earth's song, Like the Wheel, portrays a sense of longing to be a part of someone's life as something both small and unobtrusive, like a sparrow in your child's eye. The singer wants to be a witness to the joy of summer, flying all day long and seeing the beauty of the world. This imagery is juxtaposed with the sense of heaviness in the second line - carrying an island in the heart, past the many you have let into your song - introducing a theme of emotional weight and the strain it can have on individuals.
The second verse switches gears from the previous scene to a forest, where someone is whispering to a tree, asking not to be followed. It's unclear who this person is or what their situation is, but they are looking for kindness from forgetting, a release from something that weighs them down. The last line of this verse shifts the focus again, this time to the singer asking why they are not strong like a wheel that keeps travelers moving forward, that takes them home. This contrast between the weight of individual struggles and the strength of a wheel to keep going highlights both the uniqueness of individual experiences as well as the shared experience of moving forward despite hardship.
The final verse switches gears again, this time to someone sitting and wondering where they will be among mountains on a Sunday. The image of a hidden cloud and sneaking around only amplifies the sense of struggle and uncertainty presented earlier. The final line returns to the singer's questioning of why they are not strong like a branch that keeps hangmen hanging, that will eventually take them home. This line furthers the theme of emotional weight through the metaphor of a hanging branch, but also brings a sense of finality and progress in the form of returning home.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I wish I was the sparrow in your kid's eye
I long to be the little bird that brings joy to your child's gaze
That could fly above this summer all day long
I want to roam freely in the warm weather, untouched by earthly troubles
On an island in the heart he has to carry
A safe haven resides within your child's soul, a precious and priceless asset
Past the many you have let into your song
You have included countless souls in your journey, sharing your experiences with them
And I said, "Oh my Lord, why am I not strong?"
I look to a higher power, wondering why I am not strong enough to face life's challenges
Like the wheel that keeps travelers traveling on
I yearn for the resilience and endurance of a wheel that keeps moving forward
Like the wheel that will take you home
I seek the comfort of something reliable that will lead me to my ultimate destination
And in the forest someone is whispering to a tree now
An unknown person speaks softly to a tree in the solitude of a forest
This is all I am so please don't follow me
This is my humble existence, please don't imitate me or try to walk in my footsteps
And it's your brother in the shaft that I'm swinging
I am tormented by the image of your loved one struggling in a dark place
Please let the kindness of forgetting set me free
I plead for mercy and forgiveness, wishing to leave my burdensome past behind
And he said, "Oh my Lord, why am I not strong?"
Another voice cries out, searching for the willpower to overcome their obstacles
Like the wheel that keeps travelers traveling on
They clamor for the perseverance and determination of a wheel that won't quit
Like the wheel that will take you home
They aspire for the reliability and comfort of a wheel that will bring them back to a place of safety and comfort
And on this Sunday someone's sittin' down to wonder
A person reflects on their life, questioning their current path on this particular day of the week
Where the hell among these mountains will I be?
They are lost and confused, wondering where their journey through life will ultimately take them
There's a cloud behind the cloud to which I'm yelling
There are hidden factors and variables blocking their path, which they cannot see clearly
Oh, I could hear you sneak around so easily
They are aware of the presence of others around them, sensing their movement and influence
And I said, "Oh my Lord, why am I not strong?"
Once again, they turn to a higher power, questioning their own limitations in the face of uncertainty
Like the branch that keeps hangman hanging on
They wish for the strength and resilience of the very thing that causes others pain and suffering
Like the branch that will take me home
They hope that their own version of the hangman's branch will ultimately lead them to a place of peace and comfort
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kristian Matsson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind