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
Girl Like That
Matchbox Twenty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm running scared is all
Well I hang on everything about you
You think I'd settle down 'cause I'm older
But I roll with the changes is all
Well I'm same old trailer trash in new shoes
She gets sad when there's nothing going on
Well you got to think with a girl like that
Any love at all, is better than nothing
It's better than nothing
I put my hands around your shoulder
You're saying you're scared is all
I think I know too much about you
You think this life would make me colder
I'd give in to the alcohol
I put my loving arms around you, child
You knew damn well there was nothing going on
Is that what makes you feel damn worthless
Well you got to think with a girl like that
Any love at all is better than nothing
It's better than nothing
You got to think, with a girl like that
Any love at all, is better than nothing
It's better than nothing
Yeah well she drags you down and she pulls you up
She pulls you up
Says that she's sorry now but it's not enough
To pull you up
She's sorry
I wake up quick just like I want to
Yeah but I stay out much too late
You think this life can get a bit unkind but she stays
Down till the worth is gone
And pulls you up, she pulls you up,
She pulls you up and over, over
You got to think with a girl like that
Any love at all is better than nothing
It's better than nothing
You got to think, with a girl like that
Any love at all, is better than nothing
It's better than nothing
Well you got to think with a girl like that
Well you got to think with a girl like that
You got to think with a girl like that
Well, thank her.
The lyrics to Matchbox Twenty's song "Girl Like That" describe a tumultuous relationship between two people. The singer is running scared and hanging onto everything about the girl, despite the fact that she gets sad when there's nothing going on and feels damn worthless. The chorus asserts that any love at all is better than nothing, suggesting that the singer is willing to settle for less than he deserves because of his intense feelings for this girl.
The second verse reveals that the singer knows too much about the girl and worries that this knowledge will make him colder towards her. He contemplates giving in to alcohol but instead puts his loving arms around her. The bridge describes the girl as someone who drags the singer down but also pulls him up, apologizing for her actions but sometimes falling short. The final verse suggests that the singer enjoys partying but the girl stays down until the worth is gone before pulling him up and over. The song ends by repeating the chorus and thanking the girl.
Overall, the lyrics of "Girl Like That" depict a toxic and co-dependent relationship. Despite the girl's negative impact on the singer's life, he is unable to let go and values any amount of love, no matter how small or unhealthy, over nothing.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you would think this life would make me bolder
Despite the life experiences that I've gone through, I still find myself too scared to take risks.
But I'm running scared is all
My fear is causing me to avoid taking the necessary steps forward in life.
Well I hang on everything about you
I am emotionally dependent on you in every way imaginable.
You think I'd settle down 'cause I'm older
You may assume that because of my age, I would be ready to settle down, but that is not the case.
But I roll with the changes is all
Regardless of the changes happening around me, I find myself adapting to them.
Well I'm same old trailer trash in new shoes
Despite trying to mask it, I am still the same person I've always been, regardless of any superficial changes.
She gets sad when there's nothing going on
Her own thoughts and feelings make her feel dejected when there isn't enough stimulation.
She says it makes her feel damn worthless
Her self-worth is heavily tied to external factors, rather than her own inherent value as a person.
Well you got to think with a girl like that
When dealing with a person who struggles with emotional turbulence, any form of affection is far better than nothing at all.
Any love at all, is better than nothing
Even expressions of love that are flawed in some way are still valuable, because they demonstrate a desire to connect with the other person.
I put my hands around your shoulder
I try to comfort you the best I can.
You're saying you're scared is all
Your own fears are making it hard for you to find peace.
I think I know too much about you
My familiarity with you makes it hard for me to look past your flaws.
You think this life would make me colder
You might expect me to become more jaded and callous over time, but I still try to maintain my warmth.
I'd give in to the alcohol
If I let myself succumb to addiction, life would become even more difficult for me.
I put my loving arms around you, child
I try to embrace you with a genuine love and caring.
You knew damn well there was nothing going on
You were well aware that there was nothing happening to justify your sadness.
Is that what makes you feel damn worthless
The realization that your negative emotions are unfounded can be a heavy burden to bear.
Yeah well she drags you down and she pulls you up
Though she can be a negative influence, she is also capable of lifting you back up.
Says that she's sorry now but it's not enough
She may express remorse for her actions, but ultimately it cannot erase the consequences of her behavior.
To pull you up
Despite the times where she lets you down, she is still a source of support in your life.
I wake up quick just like I want to
I try to be proactive in my approach to life.
Yeah but I stay out much too late
Though I strive to be responsible, I still struggle with excess and impulsiveness.
You think this life can get a bit unkind but she stays
Though life can be tough, she remains steadfast and persistent.
Down till the worth is gone
She perseveres even when it becomes difficult and draining to do so.
She's sorry
She may not always act in the best way, but she does regret causing harm.
You got to think with a girl like that
When dealing with an individual prone to emotional volatility, it's important to approach situations with a great deal of empathy and patience.
Well, thank her.
Despite her flaws and negative tendencies, she still deserves recognition and appreciation for what she contributes to your life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROB THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind