Band members:
Andrew VanWyngarden (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums)
Ben Goldwasser (keyboards, vocals, guitar)
Matthew Asti (bass, keyboards)
James Richardson (guitar, vocals)
Hank Sullivant (guitar, keyboards)
Will Berman (drums)
You can learn more about MGMT, browse photos, and see the tour schedule at the Official Website.
A Good Sadness
MGMT Lyrics
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Feeding time
Either hemisphere if it's summer there
Seeking you, taking a dive,
Streets realigned
Ooh ooh ooh
Stored in my mind
All the fun in the world
From your little heart
And now I owe it back to you
But it's hard to catch it and let it go,
Find excuses to burn right through the grief
And to melt, to melt, to melt
Oh my poor memories
Down to a trace
'Til you forget that I'm alive
And you feel it's all right
Ooh I'm sure you'll be fine
Tune it out and I'm sure you'll be fine
Doing well
Finding an excuse
Shutting down soon (Over my eyes)
Lost the recall
No line
Disprove
Mean time
Desperate
Confide
Inrush
Disprove
Mean time
Inrush
No line
Desperate
Confide
Inrush
Disprove
No line
Inrush
No line
The lyrics to MGMT’s song A Good Sadness are open to interpretation, with vague references to experiences and feelings. The song appears to be about a relationship that has ended or is on the verge of ending. The first few lines suggest that the singer is trying to hold on to the memories of the person they loved. They can still hear their voice in the reflection of the air, and they’re seeking them out, feeling lost and disoriented without them. The line “streets realigned” could also mean that the singer’s world has been turned upside down without the other person in their life.
The following lines suggest that the singer may have done something to damage the relationship, perhaps by being overly possessive or controlling. They say, “All I could do not to steal / All the fun in the world / From your little heart.” Now they feel like they owe something back to this person, but they’re having a hard time letting go of the pain and moving on. They find excuses to keep themselves stuck, to burn right through the grief, but despite their efforts, the memories are still there, haunting them.
The final lines of the song are cryptic, with several repetitions of phrases that don’t appear to make much sense on their own. “No line / Inrush / Desperate / Confide” could be interpreted as a list of the singer’s emotions or perhaps a description of the feeling of being in love. Overall, the song suggests a sense of deep sadness and regret over a relationship that has ended, with the singer struggling to move on and cope with their feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I can still hear the reflections in the air
The atmosphere around me reminds me of the memories I shared with someone special.
Feeding time
The moment where someone took advantage of me was also when they truly understood me.
Either hemisphere if it's summer there
Whether I am in the Northern or Southern hemisphere in summer, memories of that person always linger despite distance.
Seeking you, taking a dive, Streets realigned
Even if it's a difficult and detoured path, my heart seeks out that person and dives into the messy streets of love once more.
Ooh ooh ooh Stored in my mind
The feelings and experiences that I had no choice but to suppress in order to maintain some sense of peace are still alive and held within my mind.
All I could do not to steal
I had to resist the temptation to take away all the happiness and love from that person’s life, even if it would have temporarily made me feel better.
All the fun in the world From your little heart
I had to fight the urge to drain all the happiness from the heart of the one I loved, just to ease my own loneliness.
And now I owe it back to you
It is my duty now to make that person as happy as they tried to make me.
But it's hard to catch it and let it go, Find excuses to burn right through the grief, And to melt, to melt, to melt Oh, my poor memories
It is a challenge to release myself from the grip of these memories, to find ways to process the pain without allowing it to completely overwhelm me.
Down to a trace 'Til you forget that I'm alive, And you feel it's all right, Ooh, I'm sure you'll be fine, Tune it out and I'm sure you'll be fine
I hope that in time, that person can forget about my existence and find comfort within themselves, despite any feelings of pain or sadness.
Doing well, Finding an excuse, Shutting down soon (Over my eyes), Lost the recall
I try to convince myself that I am doing okay, although it is difficult for me to recall the exact feelings and situations that caused me so much pain.
No line Disprove, Mean time Desperate, Confide Inrush Disprove, Mean time Inrush, No line Desperate, Confide Inrush, Disprove No line Inrush No line
These are just nonsensical phrases that don't carry any literal meaning. They might speak to the confusion or depth of emotion the songwriter is feeling, but they aren't meant to be interpreted word-for-word.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW WELLS VANWYNGARDEN, BENJAMIN NICHOLAS HUNER GOLDWASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind