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
Hang
Matchbox Twenty Lyrics
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She packs her things and she goes
She leaves the pictures hanging on the wall, she burns all
Her notes and she knows, she's been here too few years
To feel this old
He smokes his cigarette, he stays outside 'til it's gone
If anybody ever had a heart, he wouldn't be alone
And we always say, it would be good to go away someday
But if there's nothing there to make things change
If it's the same for you I'll just hang
The trouble understand, is she got reasons he don't
Funny how he couldn't see it at all 'til she grabbed up her coat
And she goes, she's been here too few years to take it all in stride
But still it's much too long, to let hurt go (you let her go)
And we always say, it would be good to go away, someday
But if there's nothing there to make things change
If it's the same for you I'll just hang
The same for you
I'll always hang
Well I always say, it would be good to go away
But if things don't work out like we think
And there's nothing there to ease this ache
But if there's nothing there to make things change
If it's the same for you I'll just hang
The song "Hang" by Matchbox Twenty is about the struggles of a relationship, where one partner is ready to move on and the other is not. The first verse describes the woman packing up her things and leaving, while the man stays outside smoking cigarettes. The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and feeling lost without the other person, but also a sense of resignation that it may be better to move on.
In the second verse, the man seems to have a realization that he could have done something to save the relationship, but it's too late now that she's gone. The line "He knows, she's been here too few years to be gone" implies that she is still young and hasn't experienced enough of life to just walk away from a relationship. The chorus repeats the theme of wanting to leave and start fresh, but ultimately staying put because there is nothing waiting for them elsewhere.
The bridge of the song acknowledges the pain of staying in a stagnant relationship, but also the fear of the unknown and the possibility that leaving won't bring the relief they hope for. The repetition of "if it's the same for you, I'll just hang" reinforces the idea that neither person wants to be alone, but they also can't stay in a situation that isn't working.
Overall, "Hang" is a poignant reflection on the complexities of relationships and the struggle to find a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
She grabs her magazines
She takes what little she has and is leaving.
She packs her things and she goes
She's moving on, leaving everything behind.
She leaves the pictures hanging on the wall, she burns all Her notes and she knows, she's been here too few years To feel this old
She's letting go of the past, knowing it's time to move on and start anew because she's still young.
He smokes his cigarette, he stays outside 'til it's gone If anybody ever had a heart, he wouldn't be alone He knows, she's been here too few years to be gone
He's trying to cope with her leaving, knowing she shouldn't have to leave so soon.
And we always say, it would be good to go away someday But if there's nothing there to make things change If it's the same for you I'll just hang
We talk about leaving for a better life, but if we don't have a good reason to leave, I'll just stay where I am.
The trouble understand, is she got reasons he don't Funny how he couldn't see it at all 'til she grabbed up her coat And she goes, she's been here too few years to take it all in stride But still it's much too long, to let hurt go (you let her go)
He's struggling to understand why she's leaving, only realizing how much he'll miss her once she's already leaving. He knows it's too soon for her to be going through this and it will take too long for him to get over her leaving.
I'll always hang
I'll stay where I am because there is nothing yet worth moving on to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rob Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind