Maltese has always nailed lonesome provocations with idiosyncratic dry wit but "madhouse" reckons with those emotions in a way the half Brittish, half Canadian hasn't yet fully explored until now. "I've found that sometimes the majority of the emotional journey of love and life is actually the search for an understanding of it. And these songs try and make peace with all of that, poke fun at it and, ultimately, embrace it."
Curl up & Die
Matt Maltese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I worshipped the ground you walked on
There was a time
When I'd cut off my ear for you
There was a time
When I worshipped the towel you dried on
There was a time
When I'd kill all my friends for you
You're the only one
Makes me wanna cry
You're the only one
Makes me wanna eat up inside
You're the only one
Makes me feel alive
You're the only one
Makes me wanna go home and curl up and die
Curl up and die
There was a time
When there was only you and no one
There was a time
When I'd take any pity shag
You're the only one
Makes me wanna cry
You're the only one
Makes me wanna move to Versailles
You're the only one
Makes me feel alive
You're the only one
Makes me wanna go home and curl up and die
Curl up and die
I was just the dirt on your shoes
And I liked being that
I was just the germs in your flu
And I liked being that
I was just the chip on your tooth
And I liked being that
I was just the me to your you
And I liked being that
Matt Maltese's song "Curl up & Die" is a brutally honest and raw depiction of the power dynamics in a toxic relationship. The lyrics showcase a time when the singer was completely infatuated with the subject of the song to the point where they would do anything for them, including cutting off their own ear or killing their friends. This kind of worship is not uncommon in relationships where one person holds all the power over the other, and in the song, the singer admits to being content with being the dirt on their partner's shoes, the germs in their flu, and the chip on their tooth.
However, as the song progresses, the singer seems to come to terms with the reality of their situation. They realize that the subject of the song is the only one who can make them feel any emotion, whether it be happiness, sadness, or the desire to curl up and die. The power that the subject has over the singer is so immense that even the thought of moving away to Versailles seems more plausible than living without them.
In essence, "Curl up & Die" is a poignant exploration of codependency and unhealthy relationships. The lyrics are haunting and reveal a deep-seated emotional pain that many people can relate to. Maltese's voice adds to the intensity of the song, creating a sense of desperation and sadness that makes it all the more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a time
In the past, at a certain period
When I worshipped the ground you walked on
When I idolized and adored you completely
When I'd cut off my ear for you
When I was ready to do anything for you, even harm myself
When I worshipped the towel you dried on
When I glorified the most mundane and insignificant things about you
When I'd kill all my friends for you
When I would sacrifice everything, even people closest to me, for you
You're the only one
You are the singular and exclusive reason
Makes me wanna cry
That causes me intense emotional pain
Makes me wanna eat up inside
That makes me feel consumed by negative emotions
Makes me feel alive
That gives me a sense of purpose and vitality
Makes me wanna go home and curl up and die
Causes me to feel hopeless and helpless to the point of wanting to give up on life entirely
Curl up and die
A metaphor for feelings of extreme despair and hopelessness
When there was only you and no one
When you were the only one that mattered and existed in my world
When I'd take any pity shag
When I would accept any shallow affection or sexual attention from you, even if it lacked genuine feeling or care
Makes me wanna move to Versailles
Causes me to want to escape and live in a world of luxury and fantasy
I was just the dirt on your shoes
I was insignificant and unimportant to you
And I liked being that
I found some sense of fulfillment in being used and taken for granted
I was just the germs in your flu
I was a nuisance and inconvenience to you
I was just the chip on your tooth
I was a flaw or imperfection in your otherwise perfect appearance
I was just the me to your you
I was never equal or valued in our relationship, just a means to your end
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Matt Maltese
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@prulinesale8829
This feels like coming home from a shitty prom. You stayed at your table while everyone around you was dancing with someone and you'd just sit and stare. You hope for someone to show up, hold out their hand and dance with you. But no one did and as the song slowly dies down a tear escapes from your eye. You go home, wipe all your makeup off and wish you could take the entire day back and go to sleep wishing this never happened. You wake up and stare as the light enters from your window but you have no will to get up at all. You spend the entire day in a state of melancholy that you wish you could just just sleep it off or shower it off but it just won't leave.
yes, this exactly happened to me on my senior year prom.
@notcheesebones3965
There was a time
When I worshipped the ground you walked on
There was a time
When I'd cut off my ear for you
There was a time
When I worshipped the towel you dried on
There was a time
When I'd kill all my friends for you
You're the only one
Makes me wanna cry
You're the only one
Makes me wanna eat up inside
You're the only one
Makes me feel alive
You're the only one
Makes me wanna go home and curl up and die
Curl up and die
There was a time
When there was only you and no one
There was a time
When I'd take any pity shag
You're the only one
Makes me wanna cry
You're the only one
Makes me wanna move to Versailles
You're the only one
Makes me feel alive
You're the only one
Makes me wanna go home and curl up and die
Curl up and die
I was just the dirt on your shoes
And I liked being that
I was just the germs in your flu
And I liked being that
I was just the chip on your tooth
And I liked being that
I was just the me to your you
And I liked being that
@karinnal1561
this is what it feels like when you're walking through a nearly-empty store late at night and there's quiet music in the background and your heart has that melancholy weight on it and you aren't sure why
@jamesonwalker7196
Karinna L I AGREE my favorite thing is listening to Matt’s songs early in the morning or late at night just walking around and looking at the sky. His songs are sad and intense and the epitome of art. They’re just so calm.
@remune1940
This is the E X A C T feeling I get from this song thank you for putting it in words
@eyawn6761
trueee
@lynn6524
mhm
@cavrenafranko
للاسف
@isabellejohnsson5730
He’s so underrated like damn
@lynn6524
Fr
@persona7506
For real ;-;
@tgauff6625
Agreed