Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Releases Nostalgic Single

Written by Faith Logue

Graphic by Rebekah Witt

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness released a new indie rock song called “Lying On The Hood Of Your Car.” The song latches on to your soul and holds you there as it tells a story of being younger and feeling like the world can never stop you. It makes me feel nostalgic and a bit melancholy as I listen, and the more I listen the more, I want to listen again.

The song starts slow, with melodic piano notes and drums, with McMahon setting a scene of being a younger adult, feeling like you can take on the world. He sings “We were climbing through the branches/Of a tree when time went missing,” making the listener think of young lovers or friends doing rebellious things. The chorus comes quickly and makes the listener feel like they are transporting through time or floating as he sings, “Lying on the hood of your car/We thought we could fly/To the planets and stars/It was stunning.” This part of the song features harmonious backing vocals and electric guitars. It makes me feel like I could do anything and reminds me of teen movies like “License To Drive,” with a night filled with wonder and being on top of the world. 

The second verse mentions more of this night of mystery, singing “You said this town's too small to dream in/But if we never leave/We'll never know.” I can understand what he is saying here because I also grew up in a small town and don’t want to stay there, and I wonder what else there is out there. The song continues, with a change of pace at the bridge as he says, “With our backs against the windshield/And our hearts beating like thunder/We lay separate but connected/By the spell that we were under.” It seems to bring this crazy night to a close, they both lay there, looking at the stars, safe and sound.

Overall, I enjoyed listening to this song, and it is one I can see myself playing over and over again. I like the sounds of the guitars, keyboard, and drums as they come together harmoniously. McMahon’s vocals shine through and pleasantly hit the ear, making the song even more enjoyable.