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
Busted
Matchbox Twenty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She knows the party makes me nervous
In this stage we can't get hurt
Don't try to understand me
We're too cool to be alone
But, not too crazy to get busted
I need another soul to feed on
I'm the flame I can't get burnt
I'm wholly understated
I found solace in this space
An on and off again attraction
I need such amazing grace
Heaven sweep me away
Love don't change, don't come around here
Don't wear my heart on your sleeve
Like a high school letter
Don't strain, 'cause nothing ever comes from it
And the people we've become, well
They've never been the people who we are
I strapped on one horse and prayed for luck
I dug another hole to bleed
I know exactly how this works
I need a new feel dirty
I don't need you crowding up my space
I just want to get inside you, inside
You can't blame the heart you save
Giving something away
Love don't change, don't come around here
Don't wear my heart on your sleeve
Like a high school letter
Don't strain, 'cause nothing ever comes from it
And the people we've become, well
They've never been the people who we are
Don't strain, don't come around here
Don't mistake something more for something better
Don't strain, 'cause nothing ever comes from it
And the people we've become, well
They've never been the people who we are
Who we are, yeah
I dreamed that the world was crumbling down
We sat on my back porch and watched it
I dreamed that the buildings all fell down
We sat on my back porch and watched it
I dreamed that the world was crumbling down
We sat on my back porch and watched it
In my head I heard the sound
Like fifteen strangers dancing
But oh how I want you to know me
Oh how I want you to know me
Oh how I wish I was somebody else, baby
Oh how I wish you could own me
Love don't change, don't come around here
Don't wear my heart on your sleeve
Like a high school letter
Don't strain, 'cause nothing ever comes from it
And the people we've become, well
They've never been the people who we are
Don't change, don't come around here
Don't wear my heart on your sleeve
Like a high school letter
Don't strain, 'cause nothing ever comes from it
And the people we've become, well
They've never been the people who we are
Who we are, who we are, yeah
The lyrics in Matchbox Twenty's song "Busted" touch on familiar themes of anxiety and confusion about oneself, relationships, and the world at large. The line "I forget when words were only words" indicates a sense of loss or disillusionment with language and communication as they fail to adequately convey the emotions and experiences being felt.
The notion of being "too cool to be alone" but "not too crazy to get busted" highlights the tension between wanting to fit in and be accepted while also feeling a sense of individuality and rebellion. The singer desires another soul to feed on and professes to be the flame that can't be burnt, but also recognizes the need for solace and grace. There is a paradoxical need for both connection and separation.
The repeated refrain of "Love don't change, don't come around here" suggests a fear of vulnerability and the potential pain that comes with opening oneself up to love. The metaphor of wearing one's heart on their sleeve like a high school letter conveys a sense of naivete and exposure. The chorus also underscores the theme of identity and how the people we become may not be true to who we are at our core.
Overall, the song "Busted" is a poignant exploration of the contradictions and complexities of human relationships and the constant search for meaning and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I forget when words were only words
I can't remember when communication was simple and clear
She knows the party makes me nervous
She is aware that I'm anxious in social situations
In this stage we can't get hurt
We are in a situation where we won't get emotionally wounded
Don't try to understand me
Don't attempt to figure me out and comprehend my state of mind
We're too cool to be alone
We are too hip to be by ourselves
But, not too crazy to get busted
However, we won't get into trouble due to our reckless behavior
I found out one life just ain't enough
I have realized that living one life is insufficient for me
I need another soul to feed on
I require someone else's energy to survive
I'm the flame I can't get burnt
I'm the spark that is immune to any damage or hurt
I'm wholly understated
I'm entirely unpretentious and modest
I found solace in this space
I discovered comfort and relief in this moment or environment
An on and off again attraction
A fluctuating and inconsistent appeal
I need such amazing grace
I require an exceptional degree of mercy or favor
Heaven sweep me away
May I be carried away to a serene and divine place
Love don't change, don't come around here
Love never alters, don't come near me and pretend to love me
Don't wear my heart on your sleeve
Don't expose your emotions or mine to others
Like a high school letter
Like something juvenile and superficial
Don't strain, 'cause nothing ever comes from it
Don't struggle, there will never be any gain or benefit
And the people we've become, well
The individuals we've evolved into, are not truly who we are
They've never been the people who we are
They have never represented our true identities
I strapped on one horse and prayed for luck
I took a risk and hoped for good fortune
I dug another hole to bleed
I caused myself emotional pain and turmoil
I know exactly how this works
I'm familiar with how this situation unfolds
I need a new feel dirty
I require something new to feel impassioned or aroused
I don't need you crowding up my space
I don't require you to be near me constantly
I just want to get inside you, inside
I want to understand your true self on a deep and intimate level
You can't blame the heart you save
You can't fault yourself for holding back and protecting your emotions
Giving something away
Sacrificing something or giving up a part of yourself
Don't mistake something more for something better
Don't confuse having more with having something superior
Who we are, yeah
Our genuine self-identities
I dreamed that the world was crumbling down
I had a dream about the world falling apart
We sat on my back porch and watched it
We observed the destruction from a safe and sheltered spot
In my head I heard the sound
I visualized and heard something in my imagination
Like fifteen strangers dancing
Like a peculiar and unknown performance
But oh how I want you to know me
However, I desperately desire for you to understand my true self
Oh how I wish I was somebody else, baby
Oh how I desire to be someone else entirely, love
Oh how I wish you could own me
Oh how I wish you could possess me entirely
Who we are, who we are, yeah
Our true selves, our genuine identity
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROB THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind