The current members of the band are Rob Thomas (vocals, piano), Paul Doucette (drums, now guitar), Kyle Cook (lead guitar, vocals) and Brian Yale (bass). Adam Gaynor (rhythm guitar), who has left the band, performed on their first three albums, as well. Rob Thomas is the principal songwriter and lead singer.
Thomas, Yale and Doucette performed in the band Tabitha's Secret out of Orlando, Florida before splitting apart to form Matchbox Twenty with Cook and Gaynor.
Matchbox Twenty released their first album, Yourself or Someone Like You in 1996. While their first single, "Long Day", was a rock radio-only smash, the album soon spun off several Top 40 hit singles throughout 1997 and 1998, including "Push", "3 A.M.", "Real World" and "Back 2 Good". The album eventually went on to sell over 12 million copies in the U.S. alone, earning diamond status. The band toured relentlessly for several years, performing the songs from their one and only album, along with some beloved cover songs such as Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down". Their fan base grew from concert to concert because of their electrifying live performances and the longevity of their hit singles on radio. The same year, Matchbox Twenty recorded a live version of their Top-40 hit "3 A.M." for release on the charity album Live in the X Lounge, benefiting cerebral palsy research.
Before recording their second album, Rob Thomas collaborated with Itaal Shur on a song entitled "Smooth" for Carlos Santana's comeback album, Supernatural. The song had a pop-tinged Latin beat and showcased Thomas' lyrical talents. Thomas was supposed to act solely as songwriter on "Smooth", but Carlos Santana had him sing on it as well after hearing the song's demo recording. "Smooth", was the album's lead single and became a gigantic hit in 1999; Thomas earned three Grammys for writing and performing on "Smooth", including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
In 2000, Matchbox 20 renamed themselves Matchbox Twenty and released their second album, Mad Season. The album featured lush instrumental arrangements and spun off several hit singles, including "Bent" (Number One on Hot 100) and "If You're Gone". The video for "Bent", poked fun of singer Thomas' heightened profile from "Smooth" by showing the other band members assaulting him mercilessly. The evocatively arranged ballad "If You're Gone" became a big hit, especially on adult contemporary formats. The band's next two singles, "Mad Season" and "Last Beautiful Girl" were not particularly successful. Fans also note hearing "Black & White People" receive radio play, despite not being released as a single.
For their third album, More Than You Think You Are, the band returned to a harder rock sound. Thomas shared the songwriting efforts with the other band members on several songs. The album spun off hit singles "Disease", "Unwell", and "Bright Lights".
In May 2004, the band released a live concert DVD, Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, filmed in Atlanta and featuring 20 songs, including all of their hit singles.
In February 2005, rhythm guitarist Gaynor officially left the group, which had been on hiatus to allow other members to pursue side projects. Rob Thomas went on to release a solo album entitled ...Something To Be which became the U.S. Billboard 200 #1 album the first week of its release. The album featured four hit singles: "Lonely No More", "This is How a Heart Breaks", "Ever the Same" and "Streetcorner Symphony".
In January 2007, Rob Thomas released a single entitled "Little Wonders" which he wrote for the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons.
Their "Exile On Mainstream" album was released on October 2, 2007 as a two disc set. The first disc featured 6 new songs, including the hit "How Far We've Come", which could be heard on the accompanying website, along with the music video. The second disc contained 11 of their greatest hits, such as "Push", "Bent" and "Unwell".
The She’s So Mean Songfacts reports that Matchbox Twenty's fourth studio album North is the first record of new material that the band has released for ten years, although they did record seven new songs for their 2007 compilation album Exile On Mainstream. The album was released on September 4, 2012.
www.matchboxtwenty.com
Push
Matchbox Twenty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in
And I don't know if I've ever been really loved
By a hand that's touched me, and I feel like something's gonna give
And I'm a little bit angry
Well, this ain't over
No, not here, not while I still need you around
You don't owe me, we might change, yeah
Yeah, we just might feel good
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted
Well, I wanna take you for granted, yeah
Yeah, well I will
I will
She said, I don't know why you ever would lie to me
Like I'm a little untrusting when I think that the truth is gonna hurt ya
And I don't know why you couldn't just stay with me
You couldn't stand to be near me when my face don't seem to wanna shine
'Cause it's a little bit dirty
Oh well, don't just stand there
Say nice things to me
'Cause I've been cheated, I've been wronged
And you, you don't know me, yeah
Well, I can't change, no
Well, I won't do anything at all
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted, yeah
I wanna take you for granted, yeah
Yeah, well I will
Oh, but don't bowl me over
Just wait a minute, well it kinda fell apart
Things get so crazy, crazy
Don't rush this, baby
Don't rush this baby, baby
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted, yeah, yeah, yeah
I wanna take you, take you
Yeah, well I will, I will, I will, I will, yeah
Well I will, I will, I will, yeah
Push you around and drag you down
I wanna push you around
Yeah, I will
The lyrics to Matchbox Twenty's song Push explore the complicated emotions that arise from a rocky and unpredictable relationship. The singer expresses feelings of insecurity and doubt, suggesting that they don't feel good enough and that they haven't experienced true love. They are angry and frustrated, but also hopeful that things can change for the better. The chorus of the song is forceful and aggressive, with the singer declaring that they want to push their partner around and take them for granted. However, the bridge of the song shows a more vulnerable side, with the singer admitting that things have fallen apart and asking for the relationship to slow down a bit. Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex emotional landscape in which the desire for love and connection is mixed with feelings of anger, uncertainty, and even violence.
Line by Line Meaning
She said, I don't know if I've ever been good enough
The singer is unsure if they have ever met the standards of those around them.
I'm a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in
The singer feels unprepared and overwhelmed by their situation.
And I don't know if I've ever been really loved
The singer is unsure if they have ever truly been cared for on a deep level.
By a hand that's touched me, and I feel like something's gonna give
The artist longs for affection and feels that they may break without it.
And I'm a little bit angry
The artist is frustrated and upset about their current circumstances.
Well, this ain't over
The situation is not resolved or settled.
No not here, not while I still need you around
The singer requires the support and presence of those around them to move forward.
You don't owe me, we might change, yeah
The artist does not feel entitled to anything and acknowledges the possibility for positive change.
Yeah, we just might feel good
There is potential for happiness and contentment in the future, despite current difficulties.
I wanna push you around, Well I will, well I will
The artist desires some measure of control and wishes to exert it over others.
I wanna push you down, Well I will, well I will
The singer desires to dominate those around them and push them to their limits.
I wanna take you for granted, Yeah
The artist wishes to use and disregard others without regard for their feelings or opinions.
Yeah, well I will
The singer is insistent and unwavering in their desires.
She said, I don't know why you ever would lie to me
The singer is confused and hurt by the betrayal of someone they trusted.
Like I'm a little untrusting when I think that the truth is gonna hurt ya
The singer has trust issues and is wary of being honest with others for fear of getting hurt.
And I don't know why you couldn't just stay with me
The artist is hurt that someone they cared for chose to leave them.
You couldn't stand to be near me when my face don't seem to wanna shine
The artist feels they are not always their best self and that this causes others to avoid them.
'Cause it's a little bit dirty
The singer feels that their situation or emotions are unclean and unappealing.
Oh well, don't just stand there
The singer wants others to be more actively involved and supportive of them.
Say nice things to me
The artist desires encouragement and positive reinforcement from those around them.
'Cause I've been cheated, I've been wronged
The artist feels they have been unfairly treated or taken advantage of in the past.
And you, you don't know me, yeah
The artist feels unseen and misunderstood by those around them.
Well, I can't change, no
The singer does not believe they have the power to alter their circumstances or behavior.
Well, I won't do anything at all
The artist is discouraged and unmotivated to take action or make changes.
Oh, but don't bowl me over
The singer wants others to be mindful of their feelings and not overwhelm or take advantage of them.
Just wait a minute, well it kinda fell apart
The singer feels that things have broken down and require time to be repaired.
Things get so crazy, crazy
The situation has become overwhelming and unmanageable for the singer.
Don't rush this, baby
The artist asks others to be patient as they work through their problems.
I wanna take you for granted, yeah, yeah, yeah
The artist reiterates their desire to use and disregard others without consideration for their well-being.
I wanna take you, take you
The singer desires to possess and control those around them completely.
Yeah, well I will, I will, I will, I will, yeah
The singer is insistent and unwavering in their plans and desires.
Well I will, I will, I will, yeah
The artist repeats their desire to assert their dominance over others.
Push you around and drag you down
The artist wants to both physically and emotionally control and harm those around them.
I wanna push you around
The artist desires to dominate and control those around them for their own satisfaction.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Matthew Michael II Serletic, Robert Kelly Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind