1. Trying to Find Purpose - Matt wrote this song back in high school. It's very sweet, and you can hear the youth in it, it's much simpler than most of their songs, and very endearing.
2. Children's Lullaby - a Keith song, about a break-up. Very pretty, it's one of my favorite Keith songs.
3. Footprints in the Snow - a Matt song, he wrote this song one night his freshman year at Georgetown. Apparently he woke up in the middle of the night, pulled out his guitar, started playing and singing, and has only changed one word since then.
4. Love's Light - another great Keith song. This one is also about a break-up that didn't go so well. I particularly love the second lyric "Do you feel my strength when you call my name?"
5. The Mountain Song - the friendship song that Matt wrote. Like a "Lean on Me," or "You've Got a Friend," but distinctly Scannell :)
6. Prayer for an Innocent Man - Keith based this song on one of the Psalms in the Bible, and is one of the only religious songs that I have found by VH. Still a great song :)
7. Lines Upon Your Face - arguably one of the most meaningful songs that Matt has ever written. The lyrics are absolutely beautiful, and the guitar-work is (as always) amazing.
8. Willingly - one of Keith's songs that I don't understand quite as well. I do like the change in tempo after the first verse tho.
9. On the Sea - one of Matt's break-up songs. I read on someone's web page (I am pretty sure it was Patrick Garrity's) that there is a distinct difference between Matt's and Keith's break-up songs. Matt's are often about getting over it, while Keith still seems bothered (even tormented) by it. This is the only song from TABA that made the conversion to electric and onto LS.
10. Liberty - the last song on the cd, a Keith song (they split it evenly). Another break-up song, but that's not to say that they sound alike at all. If you don't know these songs, buy the cd or borrow it from someone and listen to them. Liberty is a favorite of most people.

Running on Ice

1. Heart in Hand - AWESOME song by Matt. If you don't know the band too well, this is the song that I pulled the name for my site from.
2. Wash Away - rather dark song by Keith, although this version isn't nearly as dark as the one they play now, or the one on LS. I have a few live versions of this song (including the one from the Grog and Tankard, their first taped show), and the acoustic guitar is just haunting. I listen to the intro, and it gives me the goosebumps. The acoustic sound of this song capture the hopelessness of this song very well.
3. Fragments - Matt's songs often seem to start out with things not going so well, but by the end things are going "better now." It's a pretty song, in fact, the only song whose lyrics I have up on my wall.
4. Famous - Keith and Matt colloborated on this song. You just can't help smiling when you listen to it :) Even just thinking about it makes me smile.
5. The Man Who Would Be Santa - Matt wrote this song for his dad after they got into an argument, and has since been recognized as his "signature song." It describes many people's relationships with their parents (and other people too, I suppose). It is usually played as the encore in the shows that they headline, but not always.
6. Angel Without Wings - one of my other favorite Keith songs.
7. Answer Me - Matt song that's just fun to sing along with.
8. Life in the City - a song that Matt wrote about living in NYC (I think, I read this somewhere, and I can't remember where). It's another song that you can't help but smile along with.
9. Japan - Keith wrote this song about his stay in Japan while he was an undergrad (Japanese was his major). Things didn't go very well for him there, but a great song came out of it.
10. Call It Even - another Matt song in the genre of can't help but smile along to :) This one makes me laugh even: "If I told you that I was dying of thirst, and the sky was falling just to make it worse, would you just smile and continue on, as if your mouth had a race to run . . ." Matt says he wrote this song about the cute girls who he would approach at parties where he knew no one, that he had a habit of going to. Wonder if any of those girls know who he is and where he is today . . .
11. Sunrays and Saturdays - often described as the "ultimate break-up song." This is the last song that I listen to when I go to sleep at night, simply because I like it so much. It's what I would like to hear if I broke up with someone, I think :)
12. Candyman - great Keith song :) It's really fun to sing along with (my friends always get a kick out of when I do it, I guess I make funny faces, or something)
13. Falling Down - the lyrics to this song were written by Kelly, Matt's now-wife. Matt wrote the tune to go with the poem, and it's become another favorite of the fans.
14. Goodnight my Friend - Matt wrote this song for a friend of his who passed early. It's a beautiful song, and has never been played live (for good reason).
15. Reprise - Cary and Jack from Jackopierce joined to sing this reprise (along with Kelly, and Ryan, Matt's brother). I think that Keith, Cary, and Ryan are singing the end of Fragments, Jack is singing something a-la-Mexican Tune (ie, he is making it up as he goes along), and Matt is singing the chorus of Santa. This is a fun one to sing too, since I sing mostly Matt's part, but when he isn't singing, I sing Jack's words, so there are some random words inserted into my lyrics :)

Live Stages

1. The Man Who Would Be Santa - same song as above, done with electric guitars and a bass. Still an awesome song :)
2. The Ride - a great Keith song about relationships. There are times when this is *exactly* right for describing them.
3. Falling Down - again, same song as above, done with electric guitars and a bass. Most of my friends prefer the electric sound to the acoustic, but I am torn.
4. On the Sea - this song has an amazing intro on this album. I think I do prefer this version of the song, even with my love of the acoustic guitar.
5. Japan - I think that Keith's songs didn't translate to the electric guitar quite as well as Matt's (perhaps because Matt had played electric for a while, so it was "in his blood"). Nonetheless, it's a great song.
6. It's Only Me - the first new Matt song on the album. I rather like it. It's a bit darker: "I am the needle drawing me from me, seperate vials for the vile I see . . ." but it's a great song.
7. Candyman - I do like this song by Keith in its' electric version. I think this is the version that gives my friends the kick, because no matter which version I hear (ROI or LS), I sing this version. Which means that I include the "oh, you are" that Keith sings here (after "but know you're mine tonight"), but not in the ROI version, so my friends don't know it.
8. Fragments - another great song, wonderful acoustically, and wonderful electrically
9. The Unchosen One - a masterpiece of Keith's, if you ask me. I *love* this song. It's a favorite one to send to my friends when they need something to listen to (I usually send songs to my friends as a form of "therapy"). As a result of this, most of my friends know this one, and love it. This song tends to stop me in my tracks, the contrast of Keith's voice and Matt's voice is at it's best in this song.
10. Heart in Hand - ok, if I had to choose ONE song as my favorite VH song, it would be this version of Heart in Hand. The song is by far one of their best, and Matt's guitar-work in the middle just blows me away. Just ask my friends . . . :)
11. Wash Away - this is the other song of Keith's that I prefer electric. It's such a dark song, it's really suited to the electric guitar. And Chopper does an amazing solo. I'd have to say that my favorite part is the lyrics that were cut out of the song for ROI. Hearing Keith and Matt sing different lines over eachother . . . well, I love it. Now if I could only get my friends to know these lines so that I don't have to switch between them. This version is as haunting as the acoustic, but for different reasons. This one shows the power and anger and hurt behind the lyrics, and the interlude . . . well, it can leave me somewhat speechless. I can't decide if I like this song better acoustic or electric. If the acoustic version captures the hopelessness of the song, this captures the anger and heat of the song.
12. Great Divide - the other new Matt song on this album. He wrote it for a friend who's parents were going through a divorce. It can be suited to many things (tho at the beginning I didn't really understand the song, and couldn't figure out any interpretation other than some form of incest . . . ewww). If you don't understand, listen, and let me know what your thoughts on the song are :)

Everything You Want

1. We Are - the first release from this album, but it didn't get very much recognition (at least out here, I don't think I ever heard it, except in the trailer for Titan AE). It's a Matt song, the same as the rest of the album except for Shackled. According to interviews with Matt, this song is about how relationships have changed due to technology (at least that is my take on what he said). The boundaries of relationships are harder to define (and maybe he meant this just in general too).
2. You're A God - the third single from the album. Matt said at the video shoot that the story was about a friendship (JUST a friendship) that was detrimental to his well-being (mental, I'm assuming). He had to leave it behind, which was hard, and this is a song about that. The friend was incredibly important, but overall it was worse to keep the friendship and say goodbye than to keep dealing with what was happening in the friendship.
3. Everything You Want - all right, everyone knows this song. Not everyone knows the band that does it tho (however, if you are looking at my site I should hope that you do! :) Every time I listen to it, I am amazed at what a good song it really is. I can see why they are getting the recognition for it (Matt is amazed tho, he says that he wrote it in an hour and a half one night in his apartment, which is very fast for him).
4. Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning) - the guys saved a place for one song while recording this record. The night before their last day in the studio, Matt wrote this song. He took it in the next day, they played through it, loved it, and recorded it :)
5. You Say - certainly a catchy tune. It's not one of my favorites, but it's still a good song (much better than just about ANYTHING that is getting air time out here now).
6. Finding Me - great song :) I quote it on my signature in all of my emails. It's about finding out about yourself, or discovering who you are, where ever you are.
7. Miracle - my friends love this song. I like it, but I do wonder exactly how many times Matt can say "miracle." Still a good song, nice tune, relatively catchy lyrics.
8. Send It Up - this is their designated crowd-sing-along song. A lot of fun, but I can't quite figure out what the lyrics mean.
9. Give You Back - the other "slower" song on this cd. It's really pretty, sounds a lot like their older stuff (more so than any other songs on EYW, in my opinion).
10. All of You - this was my favorite song by VH when I saw them at the Crest. Unfortunately they didn't play it . . . it's a fun song :)
11. Shackled - the only Keith song on the entire cd. It's an awesome song. The guys have said that Keith doesn't have as much on this cd because he was still getting used to writing for the electric guitar . . . I am looking forward to hearing the other songs that he composes for the upcoming albums. He certainly seems to have mastered it for this song.

• Are We Alive - the newest song by Keith. It was played in the sound check for a few shows in '99. It's rather complex, really great. I just need to get another version of it, mine is VERY tinny.
• Cancel the World - this is the original Send It Up. The lyrics are the same, but the chorus is very different. If the intent of this song is the same as the intent of Send It Up, then I think I understand what Matt was writing about, but if not, then I'm still lost.
• Can't Be All Wrong - Matt wrote this song, and it even made it into the studio, so there are some great copies of it floating around.
• Down to You - another Matt song that made it into the studio, but never made it out. Again, there are some great copies of it floating around.
• Fall Through Me - this was a song that Matt wrote, and was only performed live. I think this is the only original VH song that I don't have a version of. If you know where I can get one, let me know, please!
• Glass Waltz - AWESOME song by Keith. I love the comparison of a relationship to waltzing on glass. It seems pretty true to me. Also, I read that this song was done in waltz time, so you can actually waltz to it. How many bands do you know that would do something like this? And people wonder why I like them so much . . .
• Promise of Tomorrow - for a while, the guys thought they would put this Matt song on LS, but apparently it never panned out. It's a great song (one of my favorites :), and I use a quote for it very often for my away message on AOL IM. It's based on a movie about . . . shoot, I was told, now I don't remember. I'll get back to you about this one.
• Slow in Time - this is my other favorite unreleased Matt song (yes, I know I have A LOT of favorites). I would LOVE to see them play this one live, maybe even hear it on the next album. The lyrics can be a bit strange, involving pharoahs, but it's still a REALLY good song.
• Take Me to the Nearest McDonalds - hilarious Keith song! If you like Barenaked Ladies and VH, this is the song for you. The first time I heard it I wasn't too impressed, until I got to the story in the middle. I think I laughed so hard I cried, and then I shared it with my friends. Now I know all of it by heart (scary, yes :) and have even played it for my mom (who thought it was pretty funny too). Now my problem is that when I hear "and I said FINE" or "that's fine" I have to sing the rest of the story :)
• Wasted - the third in the set of Matt songs that made it into the studio, but not onto any records (I do have a soft spot for this song, it was the reason that Brett, now a good friend, and I started chatting. He responded to a post that I made to Unchosen Ones asking for the song, and that was it :)

Covers

• All Along the Watchtower - mostly played leading into another cover the guys like doing, Walking on the Moon. Matt sings one song, Keith the other, it's a nice mix.
• Eminence Front - I can't say that I know the original of this song, by the Who, but I like VH's cover of it. It's just fun :)
• Danny Boy - occasionally played with SHFWILF in the encore with Falling Down.
• Fast Car - this Tracy Chapman song was played a few times as an intro to Wash Away. Matt doesn't do the *best* job on this song (maybe it's because I'm used to TC singing it, and it's so well suited to her voice). Nonetheless, I still like the song, and it is fun listening to their version. I think it works as an intro to Wash Away (tho I wonder why they have Matt sing the intro to one of Keith's songs . . .)
• Is Chicago, Is not Chicago - an interesting Soul Coughing song sometimes played as an intro to Candyman (again, Matt singing an intro to one of Keith's songs . . .)
• Millworker - James Taylor cover from the musical of that name. What's interesting about this song, is that while Matt is often the singer said to have a voice like JT, Keith covers it. His voice fits the lyrics well.
• My Favorite Things - yes, this is the song from the Sound of Music. Matt occasionally plays it during Wash Away. The song's in 3/4 (waltz) time, which is a switch from the 4/4 time of Wash Away. The tune and tone of FT contrasts so greatly to Wash Away, I think that it really sets off one of Keith's best songs.
• Sesame Street Theme - Chopper (the bassist on LS) played this as the intro to Life in the City once (maybe a few times). I haven't heard it yet, but I can see that it would fit well.
• Still Haven't Found What I Am Looking For - this U2 song is often played as an intro to Falling Down, generally in the encore, I believe.
• Walking on the Moon - see above :)

If you are looking for the lyrics, I have the pages where you can find them linked on my links page. You can find the lyrics to the unreleased songs on "Wind in a Box" and the rest of the lyrics on the official Vertical Horizon page. Maybe when I have more information on the site I will put them up here, but they are easy to find otherwise, so it's not a major priority.