Matt and Keith together played all the instruments appearing on that album, with its name taken from 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien, though they both mostly played acoustic guitar. Both also contributed to writing all the songs and both sang for 'There and Back Again'. The duo toured for several years after this, mostly appearing with similar bands such as Jackopierce. By 1995, they were ready to record again. The resulting album, titled 'Running on Ice', again had Matt and Keith playing acoustic guitar and singing, but it also featured the addition of other guest musicians to play other instruments. Guests included members of Jackopierce band as well as Carter Beauford (of the Dave Matthews Band) on drums.
More touring followed, and soon Matt and Keith were joined by Ed Toth on drums. In 1997, a live album, Live Stages, was released. This featured Matt, Keith, and Ed, as well as Ryan Fisher on bass. Live Stages signaled a departure from the original acoustic guitar-based music, and featured heavy emphasis on electric guitar. Also, by this time, the band was explicit in their intent to find a major record label; band members have said that it was no accident that the first track of Live Stages opens with the sounds of a large cheering audience. Their wishes came true, and the band was signed to RCA Records.
Ryan had never intended to join the band permanently, so the three other members held auditions for a permanent bass player. Their first audition was Sean Hurley, and everyone liked him immediately. There were many more auditions, but they eventually came back to Sean, and he officially joined Vertical Horizon.
The band's major label debut, "Everything You Want", was released in 1999. The title track, released as the second single from the album, skyrocketed up the charts and ended up as one of the most played tracks on radio in 2000. One of the stand out tracks "You're A God" got on several compilation CD's and featured in the Box Office smash Bruce Almighty
The follow up to "Everything You Want", titled "Go", was delayed several times until finally being released in 2003. "I'm Still Here", the first single from Go, was released with little fanfare and faded quickly. VH ended their relationship with RCA in 2004 and re-signed with Hybrid Recordings. "Go" was re-released with an additional track in 2005. A second single, "Forever", was released prior to the re-release and received moderate airplay but did not match the earlier success of Everything You Want.
In 2005, drummer Ed Toth got what he considered the dream gig of a lifetime when he was invited to join the Doobie Brothers following the death of drummer Keith Knudsen. While Toth had hoped to juggle both bands, he quickly realized it would not be possible and announced his departure from Vertical Horizon in July 2005.
In 2007, realizing as Matt says, “there was more to do” and “thinking the timing was just right to start working on a new album,” the band began writing and recording, Burning The Days. The album is slated for release on September 22, 2009 with the first single, “Save Me From Myself” recently sent to radio. The single has been extremely well-received and is currently climbing the Hot AC charts with strong airplay in McAllen, Modesto, Monterey-Salinas, El Paso, and New Orleans.
Independent of label constraints, Burning The Days was produced by Scannell and recorded at his studio over the course of the past 2 years. For the band, it was a complete return to their beginnings of working at their own pace and “nurturing those moments of inspiration.” According to Matt, the album is “sonically as good as anything we have ever done. I take great pride in this album and feel that our renewed sense of creativity will resonate with our fans.” The album also features virtuoso drummer Neil Peart of Rush on “Save Me From Myself,” “Even Now” and “Welcome To The Bottom” as well as Richard Marx playing piano on “Here” and producing two of Matt’s lead vocal tracks.
“I’m actually in a pretty positive place right now,” says Scannell. “Of course I still have that underlying fear of everything falling apart and crumbling to the floor, but it is not the first thing on my mind, like it’s been at times in the past.” And so one of the main themes of Burning The Days is about finding balance in a journey from hardship to peacefulness – knowing that the up must follow the down, and vice versa. “It’s about being okay with things going well, and also finding strength to get through the tough times.”
The first single, “Save Me From Myself,” is about “the danger of getting so lost in your own struggles and personal demons that you can’t help the people you love, and you won’t let the people you love help you. You’re too far away in your own head to do anything but spin off in self-criticism and doubt. There’s a lot of anger and frustration in that song.” Conversely, “The Lucky One” is one of the album’s most upbeat tracks, a fact that took the song’s author a bit of time to get used to. “I’m usually wary of songs that have really upbeat messages, but this song resonated for me because I tend to be the last one to believe when things are really going well. Songs where everything is perfect and everyone’s in love make me suspicious, but this song has enough of a gray area to feel real for me.”
Other highlights on the album are “Afterglow,” “All Is Said And Done” and “The Middle Ground.”
To support the album’s September 22nd release, the band plans on doing targeted performance dates throughout the summer with a nationwide tour in the fall.
Offical web site: http://www.verticalhorizon.com
Echo
Vertical Horizon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Echo,
Echo-ooo
We come and we go
No, I don't want to be just another
Echo
Echo-ooo
Something that I really need
Everyone I know
Someone that i want to be.
Even though,
I don't really know
I better pick it up
Before I let it slip away
I better stick it out
Before I take another day.
Into now
Every word I say, fades out.
[Chorus]
Can only open up your eyes
When the clouds break
Can only feel alive
Even though the world shakes.
Every night
You're in my quiet, sateen, light.
Can I hold you close
To a rather full moon kiss.
Everything I know
I don't even know who it is
It all falls through
I'm here and I hear you.
[Chorus]
Do you hear me?
Do you hear me?
'Cause I need to, just to reach you
Can you hear me?
Coming clearly?
Am I hollow?
Just an echo?
[Chorus]
(Hello?)Echo
Echo-ooo
(Do you hear me?) We come and we go
(Hello?) No, I don't want to be just another
(Do you hear me?)Echo
Echo-ooo
It's just another day
And every single word I say, fades out.
The song "Echo" by Vertical Horizon is about the fear of being forgotten, of being just another echo in the world. The singer longs for something meaningful that will make him stand out from the rest, something that will make him unforgettable. The first verse talks about how the singer needs something, a feeling or a person, to make him complete. He knows he has to hold onto it before he loses it forever. The second verse is about how the singer wants to be with someone he cares about, but he doesn't even know who it is. He's lost and confused, and he fears that he'll fade away into obscurity. The chorus, "Echo, Echo-ooo, We come and we go, No, I don't want to be just another Echo, Echo-ooo," represents the singer's fear of being just another person in this world who comes and goes without leaving a lasting impression. The bridge of the song almost seems like a plea for someone to reach out to the singer, to give him a sign that he's not alone, that he's not just another echo.
Overall, the song is about the fear of being forgotten, of being just another person in this world who disappears and is quickly forgotten. The singer longs for something meaningful that will make him stand out and be remembered, but he fears that he'll never find it. The chorus's repetition of the word "echo" emphasizes the shallowness of life if we don't strive to make an impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Echo,
Repeating the past, just to hear something back.
Echo-ooo
Further emphasizing the repeating cycle of thoughts and actions.
We come and we go
Life is transient and constantly moving forward.
No, I don't want to be just another
The fear of being forgotten or blending in with the rest of society.
Everywhere I go
Going to new places, seeking something new or different.
Something that I really need
Searching for something necessary or important.
Everyone I know
Interacting with other people in life.
Someone that I want to be.
Longing to become someone else, improve oneself or be an inspiration for others.
Even though,
Despite the situation or obstacles.
I don't really know
Uncertainty and doubt about the future.
I better pick it up
Acting quickly before it's too late or missed out.
Before I let it slip away
Preventing something important or valuable from disappearing.
I better stick it out
Persevering and continuing despite hardships.
Before I take another day.
Taking advantage of each day and making progress.
Into now
Focusing on the present moment.
Every word I say, fades out.
Losing impact and significance over time, despite initial intent.
Can only open up your eyes
Needing an external force, such as a change in environment, for a new perspective.
When the clouds break
Only when the obstacles clear up, whether emotional or physical.
Can only feel alive
Intense emotions, both positive and negative, make one feel truly alive.
Even though the world shakes.
Despite uncertain times, such as political unrest or natural disasters.
Every night
Reflecting on past experiences, mistakes or relationships.
You're in my quiet, sateen, light.
Thinking about someone missed or loved deeply.
Can I hold you close
Desiring intimacy and closeness with the said person.
To a rather full moon kiss.
Romantic desires or comparing the moment to a full moon, representing wholeness or perfection.
Everything I know
Even with knowledge, there is still so much unknown and uncertain.
I don't even know who it is
Uncertainty about identity or self-discovery.
It all falls through
Plans or expectations not going according to plan.
I'm here and I hear you.
Being present and listening to someone else.
Do you hear me?
Hoping that someone else is listening or understanding.
Cause I need to, just to reach you
A strong desire to connect or find understanding with someone else.
Coming clearly?
Asking if the message or purpose is being conveyed correctly.
Am I hollow?
Questioning one's own identity or impact on others.
Just an echo?
Feeling like a meaningless, repetitive response.
(Hello?)Echo
Calling out to the echo.
(Do you hear me?) We come and we go
Repeating the same cycle of life and letting its presence be known.
(Hello?) No, I don't want to be just another
Still fighting against being forgotten or dismissed.
(Do you hear me?)Echo
Repeating the original message again, hoping for a response.
It's just another day
Life continues to move forward, despite the ups and downs.
And every single word I say, fades out.
Despite constant efforts, words and actions may lose meaning over time.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATT SCANNELL, MATTHEW B. SCANNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind