Matt Costa (born Matthew Albert Costa June 16, 1982) is an American singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Matt Costa (born Matthew Albert Costa June 16, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter from Huntington Beach, California. He has a growing number of independent releases: a self-titled five-song EP in 2003, a six song EP titled The Elasmosaurus EP in 2005, a full-length CD entitled Songs We Sing in 2006, a digipak full length album Unfamilar Faces in 2007, and the albums Mobile Chateau (in 2010) and Matt Costa (in 2013).

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.

Emergency Call
Matt Costa Lyrics

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Skin's turning green, eyes are turning yellow
The Doctor stays rich because I'm a sickly fellow
Got the hypochondriac blues
I need your medicine to soothe
Creams and pills they've got nothing on you

[Chorus]
Well call me the Doctor and give me the cure

Easily obsess on an open sore
Doctor, Doctor, can't get no relief
This losing sleep is misery
Won't you come and rescue me?

Doctor!
Doctor!
Doctor!
Doctor!

Spent the last week in my bed started feeling symptoms
My psychiatrist fills me up with a new prescription
Tell me where I went wrong
It felt too good for too long
Honey you got the remedy for me

Well Doctor Doctor can't get no relief
And this loosing sleep is misery

[Chorus]
Well call me the Doctor and give me the cure
Easily obsess on an open sore
I don't want to be sick no more

Doctor!
Doctor!
Doctor!
Doctor!

My heart's made of glass mama don't you break it
I knew that I made a mistake when I let you take it
Now this is pain only for you
I need your medicine to soothe
Creams and pills they've don't nothing on you

[Chorus]
Well call me the doctor and give me the cure
But come back mama I'm feeling withdrawal
Please take my emergency call

How long must I wait held up in depression?
I tried to erase my past, to make a good impression
But my broken horn's lost the tune
And only shattered mirrors fill my room
Fell for you and only got me down

[Chorus]
Well doctor doctor come give me the cure
Easily obsess on an open sore
Doctor doctor can't get no relief

This losing sleep is misery
Won't you come and rescue me?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Matt Costa's song "Emergency Call" are a unique representation of hypochondria, the obsession with having a serious illness or medical condition despite the absence of any physical symptoms. The singer, who describes himself as a "sickly fellow," reveals that he has spent a week in bed feeling symptoms and has sought help from both doctors and psychiatrists. Despite being prescribed numerous creams and pills, he finds no relief until he meets someone he refers to as "Doctor," who he believes has the cure for him.

The singer's use of the term "Doctor" is a double entendre, as it represents both his actual medical doctors as well as the person he has become dependent on for his emotional and physical well-being. The lyrics suggest that the singer's illness is not physical but rather a manifestation of his emotional state, and that he requires someone to soothe him in order to feel better. The chorus repeats the phrase "call me the Doctor and give me the cure," suggesting that the singer wishes he was in control of his own health and could cure himself.

Overall, "Emergency Call" is a powerful expression of the emotions experienced by individuals who struggle with hypochondria or other forms of anxiety disorders. The singer's plea for relief and his reliance on someone else for his well-being reveal the vulnerability that often accompanies these disorders.

Line by Line Meaning

Skin's turning green, eyes are turning yellow
I am physically ill, as indicated by my green skin and yellowing eyes.

The Doctor stays rich because I'm a sickly fellow
Doctors profit from my frequent illnesses and visits.

Got the hypochondriac blues
I am preoccupied with a fear of having a serious illness even without proper evidence or medical diagnosis.

I need your medicine to soothe
I am dependent on a particular person for my emotional and physical wellbeing.

Creams and pills they've got nothing on you
The superficial remedies I've tried are nothing in comparison to the emotional healing that I need.

[Chorus] Well call me the Doctor and give me the cure
I am begging for help from the person I rely on, with the title of 'Doctor'.

Easily obsess on an open sore
I tend to focus on minor physical or emotional issues and exaggerate their importance in my life.

Doctor, Doctor, can't get no relief
I am in a great deal of discomfort and am having trouble finding a solution to my problems.

This losing sleep is misery
My sleep is being affected due to my physical and emotional issues, leading to a state of distress.

Won't you come and rescue me?
I need the help of the person I rely on to overcome my current issues.

Spent the last week in my bed started feeling symptoms
I have been feeling unwell and have been bedridden for the past week.

My psychiatrist fills me up with a new prescription
I am prescribed new medication to deal with my anxiety and depression symptoms.

Tell me where I went wrong
I am unsure about the cause of my current mental and physical state.

It felt too good for too long
I have been feeling happy and satisfied for a prolonged period of time and am now experiencing a drastic shift in mood.

I don't want to be sick no more
I am determined to overcome my current physical and mental issues.

My heart's made of glass mama don't you break it
I am vulnerable and emotionally sensitive, and do not want anyone to hurt me.

I knew that I made a mistake when I let you take it
I regret giving my heart to someone who cannot handle it, leading to my current emotional state.

Now this is pain only for you
I am experiencing pain solely because of my attachment to the person I rely on for help.

But come back mama I'm feeling withdrawal
I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms due to not receiving the emotional care and attention that I need.

Please take my emergency call
I am in desperate need of help from the person I rely on for emotional support.

How long must I wait held up in depression?
I am feeling trapped in my current emotional state, and am unsure about how long it will last.

I tried to erase my past, to make a good impression
I tried to forget about my past mistakes, and present myself as a better person, but to no avail.

But my broken horn's lost the tune
I've lost my confidence and my ability to function optimally due to my current emotional state.

And only shattered mirrors fill my room
My surroundings reflect my broken emotional state.

Fell for you and only got me down
I fell in love or developed an emotional attachment to someone, but only ended up getting hurt or destabilized emotionally.

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