Soon after, XM Satellite Radio’s “The Loft” (Channel 50) added Duke’s songs from XYX into its rotation. Duke’s songs were among the most requested at The Loft, joining Bruce Springsteen and Ben Harper for six weeks at the top spot. These placements helped MAD Dragon Records secure national distribution through Rykodisc. In late 2005, Duke entered the studio to record his debut LP, Winter Child for MAD Dragon Records. He released this LP in September 2006. Winter Child was co-produced by Stewart Lerman (Loudon Wainwright, Dar Williams) and Steuart Smith (The Eagles, Shawn Colvin) at The Shinebox Studios in New York City. The record features contributions by musicians such as Marshall Crenshaw, Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies), Suzzy Roche (The Roches), Steve Holley (Wings, Ian Hunter), David Mansfield (Bob Dylan, Bruce Hornsby), and more.
Duke’s lyrics in Winter Child tackle a number of topics ranging from self-destructive behavior ("To Whom It May Concern", "Listen to Your Window"), to casualties of inner city violence ("One Small Bird"), to the mourning of a loved one ("Don’t Ask for Too Much") and the Apocalypse ("Tidal Waves").
Matt Duke released his second album Kingdom Underground in September 2008 under Mad Dragon/Rykodisc. Additionally, he came out with an Acoustic Kingdom Underground EP in June 2009. The Acoustic EP features six tracks that were largely inspired by Matt’s literary experiences. Although he dropped out of college after “15 minutes,” he has used many classic novels as a jumping-off point for many of his tunes.
Nausea
Matt Duke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She is now reduced to this,
Having been hit by the fist of modern man
I drive for hours until I get to where I need,
But Point A is still Point B
We run in circles until we're too dizzy to see
It takes you back to where you started
Shivering
Through cold night air
Screaming loud
To no avail
Feeling less alive each time I lose my grip,
I am unfazed when I slip
Sinking always felt so comfortable somehow
The pain that springs from lack of some contingency
A realization, but no surprise
I'm so tired still I half-open my eyes
You're clenching your stomach
It takes you back to where you started
Shivering
Through cold night air
Screaming loud
To no avail
Shivering
Through cold night air
Screaming loud
To no avail
The opening line of the song, "O' Mother Nature surrounds me outside of heavy steel," highlights the contrast between nature and modern technology. The singer is driving in a car surrounded by steel, but outside the car is the natural world. The next line, "She is now reduced to this, Having been hit by the fist of modern man," suggests that despite the beauty of the natural world, it has been damaged and altered by the actions of humans. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which explores the disconnect between humans and nature, as well as the feeling of being lost and disconnected in general.
The lyrics "I drive for hours until I get to where I need, But Point A is still Point B," suggest the futility of constantly pursuing a destination without enjoying the journey. The next line, "We run in circles until we're too dizzy to see," reinforces this idea, as it suggests that we can become so focused on our goals that we lose sight of what is important. The chorus of the song repeats the image of someone clenching their stomach and feeling sick, which serves as a metaphor for the unease and discomfort that comes with feeling lost and disconnected.
The second verse further explores this feeling of discomfort, with lines like "Feeling less alive each time I lose my grip" and "Sinking always felt so comfortable somehow." These lines suggest that the singer is struggling to stay afloat and hold on to a sense of purpose or direction. The final lines of the song, "A realization, but no surprise, I'm so tired still I half-open my eyes," suggest that the singer has come to some sort of understanding about their situation, but they are still exhausted and overwhelmed.
Overall, the song Nausea is a poignant exploration of the feeling of being lost and disconnected in a world that feels increasingly artificial and distant from nature. The use of vivid imagery and metaphor helps to convey this feeling of unease, while the repetition in the chorus reinforces the idea that this feeling is something that is hard to shake off.
Line by Line Meaning
O' Mother Nature surrounds me outside of heavy steel
I am surrounded by concrete jungles and man-made structures, but the natural beauty of Mother Nature still exists and is visible outside of these heavy steel constructions.
She is now reduced to this,
Having been hit by the fist of modern man
Mother Nature has been diminished and harmed by the actions of modern society and technology, and her beauty and power are now limited.
I drive for hours until I get to where I need,
But Point A is still Point B
We run in circles until we're too dizzy to see
I travel long distances to reach my destination, but in the end, I am still in the same place. We often get caught up in the cycle of life and it can make us feel disoriented or lost.
You are clenching your stomach
It takes you back to where you started
The physical sensation of nausea can bring back memories or emotions from past experiences, leading to a feeling of being stuck or stagnant.
Shivering
Through cold night air
Screaming loud
To no avail
This represents frustration and hopelessness in trying to break free from negative experiences or emotions. It feels like you're fighting a losing battle and not making any progress.
Feeling less alive each time I lose my grip,
I am unfazed when I slip
Sinking always felt so comfortable somehow
The feeling of losing control can be comforting in a way, and can lead to a sense of numbness or withdrawal from reality. However, this detachment can also make you feel like you're losing touch with life.
The pain that springs from lack of some contingency
A realization, but no surprise
I'm so tired still I half-open my eyes
Realizing that something important is missing from your life can be painful, but it's also a common and expected feeling. Despite being exhausted, there is still a sense of awareness and a willingness to keep going.
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.