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.
Show Me Your Fangs
Matt Nathanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You get a little bit wasted
I get a little bit locked inside your
Dumpster-diving primitive heart
Like fire, swallowing oxygen
Good liar, you can be anything once
Then you're gone, gone, gone
You lose track of where the light goes
You used to see me with your eyes closed
But you can't tell one hotel room from another
His kiss from mine
You swear that you're unlovable
You swear that you were raised by wolves
But I'm holding on
No, I won't listen to ya
No, I won't listen to ya
No, I won't listen at all
Don't let me don't let me go
Show me your fangs
You know your words don't scare me
Go ahead and dare me
I want to drive all night
Climb your walls
Live in your bed
I'll never give up fighting
I'll never give up trying
I won't give up and I won't give in
The lyrics of Matt Nathanson's Show Me Your Fangs describe a complex relationship with a wild and unpredictable lover. The singer acknowledges the lover's flaws and insecurities - they get homesick and wasted, and they have a "dumpster-diving primitive heart" - but they are still drawn to them like a moth to a flame. The lover is compared to fire, which can be both mesmerizing and dangerous, and to a good liar, who can be anything they want to be before disappearing. The lover's unpredictability is also evident in their tendency to lose track of things, including the singer themselves, and confuse one hotel room or one kiss with another.
Despite all of this, the singer insists that they will not give up on the lover. They won't listen if the lover tries to convince them that they are unlovable or too difficult to handle, and they won't give up fighting to make things work. The repeated chorus - "Don't let me go / Show me your fangs" - suggests that the singer is drawn to the danger and excitement of the relationship, even if it isn't always healthy or sustainable.
Overall, the lyrics of Show Me Your Fangs paint a picture of a passionate, tumultuous relationship that is both thrilling and exhausting. The singer is willing to overlook the lover's flaws and fight to make things work, but there is always the risk that they will get burned.
Line by Line Meaning
You get a little bit homesick
You feel nostalgic and miss your home
You get a little bit wasted
You consume alcohol and get drunk
I get a little bit locked inside your Dumpster-diving primitive heart
I feel trapped in the naïve and unrefined nature of your heart
Like fire, swallowing oxygen
Your presence engulfs me and takes my breath away like a burning flame
Good liar, you can be anything once
You are skilled at deception and can convincingly portray any character temporarily
Then you're gone, gone, gone
You disappear without a trace
You lose track of where the light goes
You are confused about the direction of your life
You used to see me with your eyes closed
You were once so familiar with me that you didn't need to keep your eyes open to recognize me
But you can't tell one hotel room from another
You have been traveling so much that you can no longer distinguish one hotel room from another
His kiss from mine
You are uncertain whether a kiss you received came from me or someone else
You swear that you're unlovable
You believe that you are incapable of being loved
You swear that you were raised by wolves
You feel like you have been brought up by wild animals
But I'm holding on
But I refuse to let go of you
No, I won't listen to ya
I won't pay attention to your negative thoughts and beliefs
Don't let me don't let me go
Please don't abandon me
Show me your fangs
Reveal your true and raw self to me
You know your words don't scare me
I am not intimidated by your words
Go ahead and dare me
Challenge me to do something
I want to drive all night
I want to continue spending time with you throughout the night
Climb your walls
Break through the emotional barriers that you have put up
Live in your bed
Sleep in your bed and spend the night with you
I'll never give up fighting
I will always continue to try and make our relationship work
I'll never give up trying
I will always exert effort to improve our relationship
I won't give up and I won't give in
I refuse to quit or succumb to defeat
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: AMIR SALEM, MATT NATHANSON, MICHAEL VIOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linden Tyson
very impressed Matt, this album is perfect! and I actually dig the new hair
Madison Kearns
I can't stop listening to this album. Well done, Matt! :)
Angela Large
SO cool! Love it. Amazing lyrics!!
Shana Cohen
I can't wait for the new album! I have a feeling I'm going to be obsessed with it.
Leandra Getz
Amazing. Loving everything from the new album!!
Carma Smith
Love it! Thanks for sharing mattnathansonmusic! And looking forward to seeing you and Aaron very soon!
Sabby Jolly
Sounds like the 'Beginning of the movie song' from a David O. Russell movie!
Pretty damn good!
Katrina Glover
LOVE love love love - this is kind of raw and kind of wild and made of awesome!
Chantelle Sharrow
Seriously obsessed with this song!!! Thanks for another great song Matt!!! See you October 3rd! :D
colleen starkbell
I was a little nervous about this new album when I heard Gold in the Summertime, but Giants, headphones and SMYF are epic!