Verbs Before Nouns
Matt & Kim Lyrics


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And I swear in a while I will get this down.
I tend to believe my eyes before this sound.

Pitch fork, switch blade, salt water and this hose.
I tend to believe my eyes before my nose.

Now stand up on the couch over my bed while I'm in sinking sand
and those arms sway left and right the masts of the ship to a water's beat
the waves and this beat.

And I swear in a while I will get this down.
We'll patch the holes and set sail on this town.

And now stand up on the couch over my bed while I'm in sinking sand
and those arms sway left and right the masts of a ship to a water's beat.

Now stand up on the couch over my bed while i'm in sinking sand
and those arms sway left and right the masts of a ship to a water's beat.





This ship it feels like home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Verbs Before Nouns" by Matt & Kim seem to convey a sense of determination and belief in one's own abilities. The opening lines, "And I swear in a while I will get this down, I tend to believe my eyes before this sound," suggest a commitment to mastering a certain skill or overcoming a challenge. The singer acknowledges the importance of relying on their own perception and instincts rather than relying solely on what they hear.


The mention of various objects, such as a pitchfork, switchblade, saltwater, and a hose, may symbolize different elements or aspects of life. These objects could represent obstacles, tools, or experiences that the singer encounters while trying to achieve their goal. The repeated line, "I tend to believe my eyes before my nose," further emphasizes the importance of personal observation and trusting one's own judgment.


The second half of the song introduces the image of standing on a couch over a bed, and arms swaying like the masts of a ship to the beat of the water. This imagery creates a sense of being in an unstable or challenging situation, perhaps feeling trapped or sinking. However, despite these hardships, the singer remains resolute and determined.


In the closing line, "This ship it feels like home," there is a sense of finding solace or comfort within the struggle. It suggests that despite the difficulties faced, the journey itself becomes a familiar and reassuring place for the singer.


Overall, "Verbs Before Nouns" portrays a message of perseverance, trusting one's own instincts, and finding a sense of home within the challenges and struggles of life.


Line by Line Meaning

And I swear in a while I will get this down.
I promise that eventually I will master this skill.


I tend to believe my eyes before this sound.
I usually trust what I see rather than what I hear.


Pitch fork, switch blade, salt water and this hose.
Various objects and elements that are associated with certain actions or situations.


I tend to believe my eyes before my nose.
I generally trust my vision more than my sense of smell.


Now stand up on the couch over my bed while I'm in sinking sand
Take a risk and elevate yourself above a precarious situation.


And those arms sway left and right the masts of the ship to a water's beat
The rhythmic movement of the arms resembling the swaying of a ship's masts to the rhythm of the water.


The waves and this beat.
Referring to the sound and rhythm created by the waves and the accompanying music.


We'll patch the holes and set sail on this town.
We will fix the problems and embark on a new adventure or opportunity in this city.


This ship it feels like home.
This ship represents a place or situation where one feels comfortable, secure, and at ease.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

MrAnimalMind

This is one of the best Matt and Kim song. I never get tired of listening to it.

k Maz

MrAnimalMind I don't care about this weird game mike mapes this thing kade does not care about this this game you play you no.like mike because I die but don't want to send me back to the film industry I never want to be apart of your time save my own ads..

M. Elizabeth

Over a decade later and this is still a banger. I miss this era.

Louis Joyston

Lol, this is the first song I heard them play. It was right after Katrina in NOLA in this house with a stripped out first floor due to water damage, plastic tarps for walls, electricity was still out, so the jenny powered christmas lights and sound equipment, it was pouring, and freezing, and I remember Kim, soaked from head to toe, dancin and a twirlin, and I remember thinkin, damn that looks like fun

Norman Oh

The venue was called the Coach's Haus on Solomon St. May 2007, I remember it well. King Tuff had opened for Matt and Kim. MK showed up in their beat-up van and everyone was smoking weed on the tiny front lawn. Me and my friend asked them for a picture and fumbled with my shitty digital camera. It was low on batteries and Kim told me to roll the batteries in my palm for a minute and that would give it enough juice to take one picture, it worked!!

The water damaged floorboards creaked and a misstep could've easily ended up in a sprained ankle yet everyone was dancing like there was no tomorrow. There were people crowd-surfing in a crowd of maybe 20 people packed around Matt and Kim in this gutted skeleton of a house. I was wet from the rain and from the giant-ass bottle of champagne Kim popped and sprayed everywhere. Good fucking times, still have the original To/From Album I bought there too.

To date one of the most energetic and wild concerts I've been too, and that's amazing considering how small the audience was.

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Quinn Connelly

I have this entire playlist on repeat. Matt and Kim, keep doing what you're doing.

Terry1590

Why isn't this on Spotify, its such a good song

ImEddieful

I could have this song on replay all day long!

Anna_Stesia

Did they record this around the time of their first album? They should've included it. Love it!

EonarOWNS

I remember playing this song from my iTouch in high school... 2010... with the skullcandy earbuds that didn't even last 2 weeks lol. Fasr forward now, I'm living in a mansion. What a long, strange trip it's been. Grand era Matt & Kim will forever remind me of my youthful days.

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