In early 2003, Costa's homemade demo reached No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont, who offered to record more demos for Costa in his home studio. Those first recordings led to two EPs that Costa and Dumont distributed themselves. These were later combined and mixed by Phil Ek in order to form Costa's first full-length CD entitled Songs We Sing.
Costa spent the summer of 2005 opening on Jack Johnson's summer tour. He has since toured with Modest Mouse, Oasis, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Death Cab for Cutie. Costa joined Jack Johnson for his 2006 European tour. He has also contributed to the Jack Johnson and Friends Curious George soundtrack; his track is entitled "Lullaby". This song was taken from his The Elasmosaurus EP. Costa has also toured extensively in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and South America.
The video for Costa's first single "Cold December" was released February 2, 2006. On July 31, 2007, he released a song titled "If You Took To Me" as part of the environmentally minded polar bear documentary Arctic Tale and its soundtrack.
On October 7, 2007, Costa released the first single, "Mr. Pitiful," from his record Unfamiliar Faces. The song "Mr. Pitiful" was used during a scene with Paul Rudd in the movie I Love You, Man, the redband trailer for the film Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera, and the movie Marmaduke. The song is featured during the opening credits of The Answer Man (film). Apple also used an instrumental cut of this song for the worldwide iPhone 3GS ads.
Mobile Chateau, Costa's next album, was released on September 21, 2010, via Brushfire Records. His 2013 self-titled album was recorded at Pheasant Studios in Santa Ana, CA, as Costa's first solo production.
Acting Like a Fool
Matt Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll pay off all my dues, I don't care what the cost is.
For actin like, for actin like a fool.
From another city I was lookin at the changes
Everything still looks the same but its me that feels the strangest
What am I suppose to do when I'm head to toe in lies
In a broken city with the night so long and high
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
I know I might, have said some things to you
You Know I try, but still I play the fool
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
I'm heading for a plane. I guess this is the end well. When flying high so, high you know I will come down still, will come down, you know I will come down.
I turn my head and I look behind but the moments put to rest
Everything that you said to me has sunk in to my chest
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
I know I might, have said some things to you
You Know I try, but still I play the fool
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
I turn my head and I look behind but the moments put to rest
Everything that you said to me has sunk in to my chest
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
I know I might, have said some things to you
You Know I try, but still I play the fool
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
In “Acting Like a Fool,” Matt Costa seems to reflect on the mistakes and regrets he has made in a past relationship. He has collected all his things and put them in boxes, indicating that he is leaving or ending the relationship. He’s willing to pay any dues to walk away from it all. Costa acknowledges his behavior that led to the end of the relationship by repeating the line, “For actin like, for actin like a fool.”
Costa seems to be experiencing a sense of displacement and detachment from himself. He is in a different city, and everything around him is familiar, but it doesn’t feel that way to him. He feels strange and unsure about how to move on when he is “head to toe in lies.” He describes the city as “broken” with the “night so long and high,” painting a picture of a dark and isolated environment.
The chorus of the song reiterates the title, “When I’m actin like, actin like a fool, I know I might have said some things to you. You Know I try, but still, I play the fool.” Costa is owning up to his mistakes and trying to explain himself to his ex-partner. However, he knows that he sometimes acted foolish, and despite his best efforts, he still wasn’t able to make the relationship work.
Line by Line Meaning
I've collected all my things and put them all in boxes.
Packing up belongings to leave a situation behind
I'll pay off all my dues, I don't care what the cost is.
Being willing to sacrifice anything to start fresh
From another city I was lookin at the changes
Viewing the world from a different perspective
Everything still looks the same but its me that feels the strangest
Feeling disconnected from the familiar surroundings
What am I suppose to do when I'm head to toe in lies
Feeling lost and unsure of how to move forward while living untruthfully
In a broken city with the night so long and high
Being stuck in a difficult and confusing environment
You Know I try, but still I play the fool
Acknowledging the foolish behavior despite efforts to do better
I'm heading for a plane. I guess this is the end well.
Leaving the current situation behind for good
When I'm actin like, actin like a fool
Behavior that is not well-thought-out or logical
I know I might, have said some things to you
Regretful behavior that may have hurt others
You Know I try, but still I play the fool
Acknowledging that the behavior is not intentional, but still foolish
I turn my head and I look behind but the moments put to rest
Reflecting on past events, but accepting that they can’t be changed
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: MATTHEW ALBERT COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pawlo beats
Its been a dream of mine to see you live. Always seems like your live recordings are so clean you can see the emotion and inflections in your voice and strumming hand love you man. I wouldnt be the man I am today with out your music to sooth my soul.
brocolizz
this brings me back into so many good memories, thank you for going through your older songs, its a caress to my heart and ears
first1shot
This was the soundtrack to my sophomore year in college! I'm loving this rendition!
Elias Martinez
Matt Costa you are fantastic. This has been a favorite of mine ever since I was a teenager, and it is a song I have sought after for years. Thank you for performing it as I’ve entered my adulthood.
☮️♥️ from the Inland Empire.
Plawyer One
My fav! Please upload it on Spotify 🎧
Anthony
fantastic performance
patiently waiting for this song to end up on spotify
Jasmin Esche
This is my favorite song at all from the beginning. And its so hard to find on the internet... But I have it of course on an old CD I made myself :D Thanks for playing it!!! Greetting from Germany!
Cvillain
Love it!! Gave me those same feel-good vibes as when I heard Sunshine for the first time all those years ago
Татарский Сергей
Great job, Matt!!! I love this song. I would like to see a video in the same style of recording "Brandy lake" and "ballad of miss Kate"
Michael Cross
Always excellent! :-)