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.
Sunshine
Matt Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh my sunshine even though your skies are blue
You're drying up my bed
How can I get any rest now
Sha la la la la la la la
Someday you will get the best of me
Oh someday probably when I'm old and grey
Sha la la la la la la la
Sunshine, I'd really like to tell you
Oh my sunshine even though your skies are blue
You're drying up my bed
How can I get any rest now
Sha la la la la la la la
And someday you will get the best of me
Oh someday probably when I'm old and grey
I'm lying in my bed and I will soon be put to rest now
Sha la la la la la la la
The lyrics to Matt Costa's song "Sunshine" seem to convey a feeling of exhaustion and restlessness, as evidenced by the line "You're drying up my bed, how can I get any rest now." However, the singer still feels a sense of affection and fondness towards the "sunshine" figure, as seen in the repeated declaration of "Oh my sunshine" throughout the song. The use of the phrase "Sha la la la la la la la" at the end of each stanza gives the song a dream-like, almost whimsical quality, as if the singer is lost in thought or a daydream.
The lines "Someday you will get the best of me, Oh someday probably when I'm old and grey, I'm lying in my bed and I will soon be put to rest now" suggest a sense of mortality and the passage of time. The singer seems resigned to the fact that someday, the "sunshine" figure will have some kind of final, irrevocable impact on them, but is not yet sure when or how this will occur.
Overall, "Sunshine" seems to be a somewhat wistful and melancholic song, exploring themes of restlessness and mortality while still maintaining a sense of affection towards the subject of the singer's musings.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunshine, I'd really like to tell you
I need to speak to you, my love
Oh my sunshine even though your skies are blue
Even though you appear happy, I sense something is wrong
You're drying up my bed
Your absence is affecting me physically and emotionally
How can I get any rest now
I can't sleep without you
Sha la la la la la la la
A nonsensical refrain to express my emotions
Someday you will get the best of me
Eventually, I will give you everything I have
Oh someday probably when I'm old and grey
It may take time, but I will give you my all
I'm lying in my bed and I will soon be put to rest now
I am accepting that my time is limited and want to make the most of it with you
Sha la la la la la la la
A nonsensical refrain to express my emotions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JUSTIN STANLEY, NIKKA COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
_Coda _
Randomly had this song pop up in my head today. Haven't heard it in over 13 years. Man...better days....
guacamole
I saw him play this live. He played every song so well. He's amazing live.
DrunkPauloCosta
I love Matt even more seeing he hasnt copyright claimed this despite having a youtube presence. He has to have seen this exists and it just makes it even more wholesome.
Sam Togwell
I saw him and Jack Johnson do this live. AWESOME. You're in for an excellent show. They are amazing live.
Amber Steeves
I love this song.
smokeylongfellow87
such a good song!! listen to it at least once a day
Biking 678
Matt Costa is amazing i have been hooked on him since i watched the Jack Johnson Live at the Greek
Dan Preston
Enjoying this after 5 days of rain ... favorite sunshine song!
marie brz
cette chanson me rend joyeuse !! j'adore l'écouter en voiture ! this son makes me feel happy ! i love listenning this song in my car ! thanks matt...
sydney23584
I LOVE IT!