The Faster Songfacts says that his seventh studio album, Modern Love debuted on #17 on the Billboard 200 for the week of July 9, 2011, making it Nathanson's most successful album to date.
The members of his band have changed over the past years. Among others, he has been accompanied by Aben Eubanks on guitar, keys and vocals, but later replaced by Aaron Tap. John Thomasson has been his bassist since 2004. Jason McKenzie was on drums until Fall 2006; Nick Amoroso on two tours from Fall 2007 through Winter 2008. His current drummer is Konrad Meissner. Before 2005, Nathanson was often accompanied by cellist Matt Fish.
Giants
Matt Nathanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna dream and make believe people can fly
I don't need to be reminded what it takes to kill the fun
I got a head full of sharp knives
Yeah, it's easy to get colder and it's easy to forget
So meet me when the lights dim
We can wake up every morning, we can set ourselves on fire
The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants, giants
The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants, giants
I want to roll around the darkness, 'til the darkness goes away
'Til the television finally tells the truth
You know, everybody's scared of things that they don't understand
And all the living they don't do
Yeah, it's easy to get colder and it's easy to forget
So meet me when the lights dim
We can wake up every morning, we can set ourselves on fire
We can do it all again
The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants, giants
The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants, giants
I'm done trying to fit in
And be half forgiven
For things that I never did
We're more than what scares us
We're final and fearless
We'll dance where the ice gets thin, gets thin
The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants, giants
The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants, giants
In “Giants,” Matt Nathanson introduces a theme of yearning for a life that is free from rules, conventions, and petty concerns. He desires a world full of imaginative possibilities, rather than a world limited by mundane expectations. He begins the song with the desire to escape from the spectacle of the circus, where things are not as they seem, and come to a place where his imagination is rewarded. He uses the metaphor of people flying to represent the freedom that he seeks: he believes that people can fly if they dream enough. Matt's reference to the television “finally telling the truth" suggests that untainted vision can only be found in solitude, where the rituals of daily life can be broken in favor of individual creativity.
The chorus says, “the world doesn't speak for us, they lack the confidence”- which acknowledges the constraints society puts on us. The verses talk about shirking off those and creating life on our own terms: “we can wake up every morning, we can set ourselves on fire, we can do it all again”. He characterizes humans as “only hearts and bones and blood,” yet still, they have the potential to be giants - to break free and realize their power to change the world.
Overall, the song is an acknowledgment of the challenges we face as humans, and a call to embrace our inner strength and creativity. It inspires the listener to break free from societal constructs and individual fears to live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to see the wires in the circus anymore
I am tired of seeing all the fakery and performances that are not real or authentic.
I wanna dream and make believe people can fly
I want to believe in the impossible and the magical side of life.
I don't need to be reminded what it takes to kill the fun
I do not want anyone to remind me of what could go wrong and spoil the fun I am having.
I got a head full of sharp knives
My mind is constantly racing and full of sharp or conflicting thoughts and ideas.
Yeah, it's easy to get colder and it's easy to forget
So meet me when the lights dim
We can wake up every morning, we can set ourselves on fire
We can do it all again
It is easy to become jaded, but we should meet in the darkness when the spark is still alive, so we can reignite our passion and do everything again.
The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants, giants
The rest of the world may lack courage, but we are bigger than our physical bodies, and we can accomplish anything.
The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants, giants
We may feel trapped and confined, but we can overcome obstacles and reach great heights.
I want to roll around the darkness, 'til the darkness goes away
'Til the television finally tells the truth
You know, everybody's scared of things that they don't understand
And all the living they don't do
I want to embrace the unknown and uncharted territories until the world opens its eyes to the reality of life. People often hold back due to fear, but we should not be afraid to live fully.
I'm done trying to fit in
And be half forgiven
For things that I never did
I am tired of trying to fit in and seek forgiveness for things that I am not responsible for.
We're more than what scares us
We're final and fearless
We'll dance where the ice gets thin, gets thin
We are not defined by our fears, but by our boldness and perseverance. We should not be afraid of taking risks and living on the edge.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dennis Craig Herring, Matt Adam Nathanson, Andrew Brown, Jonathan Coffer, Jerome Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pattykisagun8644
Possibly Matt's best ever song, just amazing! Had a shot at lyrics:
VERSE 1
I don't wanna see the wires in the circus anymore
I wanna dream and make believe people can fly
I don't need to be reminded what it takes to kill the fun
I got a head full of sharp knives
PRE-CHORUS
Yeah it's easy to get colder
And it's easy to forget
So meet me where the light's dim
We can wake up every morning
We can set ourselves on fire
We can do it all again
CHORUS
The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh but we are giants, giants
The walls are closing in
We climb invade us in
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh we are giants, giants
VERSE 2
I wanna roll around the darkness til the darkness goes away
Til the television finally tells the truth
You know everybody's scared of things they don't understand
And all of the living that they don't do
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
BRIDGE
I'm done trying to fit in
And be half forgiven
For things that I never did
We're more than what scares us
We're final and fearless
We'll dance when the ice gets thin
CHORUS
@ms.ukulele1032
This is a perfect example of when a song understands you. Thank you for sharing your lovely creations with the world. Please never stop. After listening to two songs I have found my new favorite artist.
@jenmaple
well, this is going to be on repeat all day. well done sir.
@DanaFacchine
MATT THIS IS INFECTIOUS. God your music just slays. and you just keep slaying with every new album.
@amberani-heron8753
RIGHTTT?????!!!!!
@amybhutchison
I adore this song. I have not been able to stop listening to it. This album is going to be amazing! See you in Georgia, Matt!!!
@AnteLovecs
Very nice song , thx WSOP 2016
@thepianonovice
Matt Nathanson is incredible. That being said, Aaron Tap deserves serious props for this song. His high harmonies are gorgeous!
@brandimr
And just when I thought I couldn't be more excited. SO STOKED. Thank you, Matt.
@TheMusicman1945
Matt... Thank you for posting this song today... You are one of my absolute favorite artist and I love every song... I had a really long and shitty day and seeing that you posted a new video/new music after so long really helped.... the song is beautifully amazing... thank you
@hoshitheminimon2273
this gives off happy vibes, i play this whenever i feel sad bc it ALWAYS boosts my mood 🤍