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.
Downfall
Matt Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I tried I could meet somebody else,
So I'll fol false prophets walking down my street
To keep keep me busy so soundly I'll sleep,
But it's all in the downfall of me
All in the downfall
Don't bury my feet so I can run
I'll be your mother and else,
Until your words reached the end
Then I lie with a poets face first in the street
When the world casts each shadow I became a she
But it's all in the downfall of me
All in the downfall
So I'll follow false prophets walking down my street
To keep keep me busy so soundly I'll sleep
So I'll lie with a poets face-first in these streets
When the world casts it's shadow I became a she
But it's all in the downfall
It's all in the downfall,
It's all in the downfall of me
All in the downfall
The lyrics of "Downfall" by Matt Costa is a reflection of the singer's self-doubt and fear of being alone. The first verse shows the singer's reluctance to wait and instead chooses to seek a new relationship to fill the void left by the previous one. The singer's lack of confidence is evident when he states that he will "follow false prophets," indicating he's willing to accept unsatisfactory relationships to fill the loneliness. Even though he knows it's not a solution, he will accept it because it keeps him occupied and helps him sleep.
The second verse appears to be about the singer's struggle with his identity. The line "when the world casts each shadow, I became a she" implies a change in identity or a shift away from his true self. Still, the singer seems to recognize that his downfall is that he's trying to please others and neglecting his own needs, as he repeats the refrain "it's all in the downfall of me." The singer wants to be free to be himself and to run without any restrictions. However, the lyric "Don't bury my feet so I can run" suggests that some force is holding him back. He has walked in someone else's footsteps and held his breath, eliminating his voice and individuality until the other person's words reached the end.
Overall, "Downfall" is a lyrically captivating song that focuses on the singer's internal battles with identity, loneliness, and self-confidence. It highlights the themes of the need for companionship, the struggle for individuality, and the costs of sacrificing oneself for the sake of pleasing others.
Line by Line Meaning
If I wait long enough, someone might come out
I am hoping that if I am patient enough, someone will come into my life.
If I tried I could meet somebody else
I could try to meet someone new, but I am not sure if I am ready for that.
So I'll follow false prophets walking down my street
I will distract myself by following people who do not provide actual guidance, but it will keep me busy.
To keep keep me busy so soundly I'll sleep
Being busy makes me feel productive and helps me avoid facing my problems.
But it's all in the downfall of me
However, this behavior will ultimately lead to my own failure.
Don't bury my feet so I can run
I don't want to be held back from taking action when I am ready to move on.
I'll be your mother and else
I can be nurturing and supportive but I am also unsure about how to proceed.
Well I walked your steps and held my breath
I have followed someone else's path and am uncertain about my own choices.
Until your words reached the end
I have only acted based on someone else's direction and now I am left to figure things out on my own.
Then I lie with a poets face first in the street
I am confused and unsure of how to move forward, lying helpless and exposed like a fallen poet.
When the world casts each shadow I became a she
I feel like I have lost my identity in the shadow of the world around me.
But it's all in the downfall of me
My self-destructive behavior continues to lead me towards my own failure.
It's all in the downfall
Everything I have been doing has been leading to my own downfall.
It's all in the downfall of me
I am the root cause of my own problems and must take responsibility for my actions.
All in the downfall
My entire situation has spiraled out of control, leading me towards a complete downfall.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW ALBERT COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind