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.
These Arms
Matt Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was unsure of where to go
The salt burns my skin
And your eyes were cold as the ocean
This is our day today
Won't you find the way back to these arms
And we're bound for where we started
At sunset I was sorry
That this was our day today
This is our day today
Why can't you find the way
Won't you find the way back to these arms
Are we bound for where we started
'Cause the start is where we're bound to end up
The start is where we're bound
And we're bound to end up where the start's at
And when twilight turned darkness
I was unsure of where to go
The salt burns my skin
And your eyes were cold as the ocean
This is our day today
Can you find the way back to these arms
This is our day today
Won't you find the way back to these arms
The lyrics to Matt Costa's song "These Arms" narrate a sea voyage that goes awry in a metaphor for a relationship that has lost its way. The singer is steering a ship, uncertain of where to go, while his companion's eyes are "cold as the ocean." The salt on his skin underscores the harsh conditions he's facing, and the use of the first-person singular suggests that he's trying to take control of the situation. The refrain repeats the request to "find the way back to these arms," which refers to his desire to be reunited with his lover.
Costa seems to be suggesting that relationships are like voyages, and that it's important to know where you're headed and who your companions are. They can be treacherous, but the reward of reaching your destination and being reunited with the person you love makes it all worthwhile. There's a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as if the singer knows that time is running out and he needs to make things right before it's too late. The final lines of the song suggest a resolution, as the singer realizes that this day is all they have and they need to make the most of it.
Line by Line Meaning
With an upwind facing starboard
Starting off on my journey with a direction in mind
I was unsure of where to go
Despite having a plan, I was uncertain about how to reach my destination
The salt burns my skin
The harsh conditions of the sea were taking a toll on my body
And your eyes were cold as the ocean
The person I was with had a distant and uncaring demeanor
This is our day today
Emphasizing the importance of this moment and this day
Won't you find the way back to these arms
Asking the other person to come back to me and embrace me with love and affection
And we're bound for where we started
Realizing that our journey has taken us in a circle, back to where we began
With a down wind course through the harbor
Taking an easier route, going with the flow of the wind
At sunset I was sorry
Feeling regret and remorse as the day drew to a close
That this was our day today
Reflecting on the significance of the day and how it didn't turn out as planned
Why can't you find the way
Expressing frustration and confusion about why the other person is not coming back to me
Are we bound for where we started
Questioning whether our relationship is stuck in a never-ending cycle of starting and ending
'Cause the start is where we're bound to end up
Recognizing the pattern of repeating mistakes and ending up back at the beginning
The start is where we're bound
Affirming that our relationship seems to be fated to always begin again
And we're bound to end up where the start's at
Accepting that our journey will inevitably lead us back to square one
And when twilight turned darkness
As the day turned to night, my uncertainty and confusion grew
I was unsure of where to go
Feeling lost and without guidance or direction
Can you find the way back to these arms
Pleading with the other person to come back and share their love with me
This is our day today
Reiterating the importance of the present moment and the need to make the most of it
Won't you find the way back to these arms
Enduring the same feeling of longing and desire, wanting the other person to come back to me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW ALBERT COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind