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
Trying to Find Purpose
Vertical Horizon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it makes me want to touch you there
And the light in your eyes makes me feel
Like there's something much better out there
Something kind
And I know someday I might be looking around
Trying to find some purpose
As long as I've got the wind
The wind and your love to carry me
Well tomorrow holds only mystery
And who's to say what might be
But I know in you I've found a love so strong
The sun and the moon look on in jealousy
In jealousy
[Chorus]
Well the sun sets gently on your shoulders
And it makes me want to touch you there
And the light in your eyes makes me feel
Like there's something much better out there
Something kind
[Chorus]
To carry me
Please carry me
The lyrics to Vertical Horizon's "Trying to Find Purpose" describe the feeling of being inspired by someone's love and finding a sense of purpose through that. The imagery of the sun setting on the other person's shoulders and the light in their eyes creates a serene and peaceful atmosphere, and the singer feels content with the idea that as long as they have their love to carry them, they will always find purpose in life. The lyrics also acknowledge the uncertainty of the future, but the comfort and strength of their partner's love allows them to face it with a positive outlook.
As the song progresses, the chorus repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the importance of this person's love in the singer's life. They feel like they've found a love that is so strong it makes the sun and the moon jealous, highlighting the power and significance of their connection. The song ends with the plea for their love to carry them, closing out the message that having someone to love and support you can provide a sense of purpose and direction in life.
Overall, "Trying to Find Purpose" is a love song that celebrates the strength and influence of a partner's love in one's life. It encourages the listener to find solace in their relationship and the support that their partner can offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the sun sets gently on your shoulders
The peaceful sunset illuminates your figure, capturing my attention.
And it makes me want to touch you there
The sight of the sunset creates a desire to touch your shoulders.
And the light in your eyes makes me feel
The gentle light emanating from your eyes arouses a sense of emotion within me.
Like there's something much better out there
Your eyes make me believe that there is a better world waiting to be discovered.
Something kind
This new world is filled with kindness.
And I know someday I might be looking around
At some point, I might search for purpose in life.
Trying to find some purpose
I'll be seeking a reason for my existence.
Well purpose it can't be that hard to find
I believe that it won't be impossible to uncover a purpose.
As long as I've got the wind
As long as the wind blows, signifying the continuation of life.
The wind and your love to carry me
The wind and your love will support and guide me in my search.
Well tomorrow holds only mystery
The future is uncertain and unpredictable.
And who's to say what might be
There's no way to know what will happen in the future.
But I know in you I've found a love so strong
Despite the uncertainty of the future, I am certain that I have found a powerful love in you.
The sun and the moon look on in jealousy
The celestial bodies of the sun and moon are envious of the strength of our love.
In jealousy
They desire to have a love as great as ours.
To carry me
In my journey to find purpose, I need your love and support to guide me.
Please carry me
I'm requesting that you continue to be my guide and support.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind