About the song
John Denver’s “Matthew”
“Matthew” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver. It was released in 1974 as the second single from his album Back Home Again. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and number two on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in several other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The song tells the story of a young man named Matthew who comes from a poor family. He loses his farm, his family, and his home, but he finds faith and joy in the simple things in life. The song is a beautiful and inspiring ballad that has become a classic of American folk music.
Denver’s personal connection to the song
Denver wrote “Matthew” after meeting a young man named Matthew while on tour in Australia. The young man was struggling with poverty and homelessness, but he had a positive attitude and a strong faith in God. Denver was inspired by the young man’s story, and he wrote the song as a way to share his message of hope and resilience.
The song’s impact
“Matthew” has had a lasting impact on popular culture. It has been covered by many artists, including Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The song has also been used in several films and television shows, including The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and Touched by an Angel.
“Matthew” is a timeless song that continues to inspire and uplift people all over the world. It is a message of hope for those who are struggling, and it is a reminder that there is always joy to be found in the simple things in life.
Here are some additional details about the song:
- The song is written in the key of G major.
- It has a moderate tempo of 120 beats per minute.
- The song is played in a 4/4 time signature.
- The song’s lyrics are written in the first person.
- The song’s theme is hope and resilience.
Here are some interesting facts about the song:
- The song was inspired by a real person named Matthew whom Denver met while on tour in Australia.
- The song was originally released as a single in 1974.
- The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
- The song has been covered by many artists, including Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
- The song has been used in several films and television shows, including The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and Touched by an Angel.
Video
Lyrics
“Matthew”
I had an uncle, name of Matthew, he was his father’s only boy.
Born just south of Colby, Kansas, he was his mother’s pride and joy.
Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on,
love was just a way to live and die.
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field,
blue was just the Kansas summer sky.And all the stories that he told me back when I was just a lad.
All the memories that he gave me, all the good times that he had.
Growing up a Kansas farm boy, life was mostly having fun.
Riding on his daddy’s shoulders behind the mule, beneath the sun.
Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on,
love was just a way to live and die.
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field,
blue was just the Kansas summer sky.Well, I guess there were some hard times, and I’m told some years were lean.
They had a storm in ’47, twister came and stripped ’em clean.
He lost the farm, he lost his family, he lost the wheat, he lost his home.
But he found the family bible, his faith as solid as a stone.
Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on,
love was just a way to live and die.
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field,
blue was just the Kansas summer sky.So he came to live at our house, and he came to work the land.
He came to ease my daddy’s burden, and he came to be my friend.
So I wrote this down for Matthew, and it’s for him this song is sung.
Riding on his daddy’s shoulders, behind the mule, beneath the sun
Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on,
love was just a way to live and die.
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field,
blue was just the Kansas summer sky.
Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on,
love was just a way to live and die.
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field,
blue was just the Kansas summer sky.