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.
Then I'll Be Smiling
Matt Nathanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of masking tape construction paper
And the best of intentions
He tried to patch up every hole as he went
Back and forth and back again
And his friends half full of half concerns
Embarrassed looks and tired words
They burrowed deeper into the ignorant
And he envied their distance
Their lack of concern
He thought,
Once I shed the whole of me
Once I shed the whole of me
Then I'll be smiling
He cursed himself
And his instinct to nurse
Every idea to health
And all of the falls that he'd spent
Trying to coax his name from the mouths
Of success
He thought
Once I shed the whole of me
Once I shed the whole of me
Then I'll be smiling.
They litter me with small awareness!
Then they ask if I'm good enough
They litter me with small awareness
Just to wake me up
Why do the fools wake me up?
The song "Then I'll Be Smiling" by Matt Nathanson speaks to the struggles of personal growth and self-discovery. The singer is caught in a cycle of trying to fix everything in his life and constantly striving for success. He is surrounded by friends who are content with a more ignorant and simplified approach to life. This contrast leaves him feeling isolated, envious of their lack of concerns.
The first verse describes how the singer tackles his problems, using masking tape and construction paper to patch up every hole in his life. Despite his best intentions, he constantly falls short, which leads to his self-disappointment. His friends, who are only half concerned about his struggles, keep a distance from him, preferring their simpler lives. The singer becomes envious of their ignorance.
In the chorus, the singer believes that once he sheds his old ways, he will finally be able to find happiness by simply smiling. He curses his instinct to overthink and nurse his ideas to health, which has caused him to fail in trying to achieve success. The second verse is about how the people around him litter him with small awareness, just to wake him up. He becomes frustrated with their constant criticism and the fools who try to hold him back.
Overall, "Then I'll Be Smiling" is a commentary on the destructive nature of overthinking and the struggle to find happiness through personal growth. It encourages listeners to embrace their faults and shed their old habits to find true happiness in themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Trailed by a mess
Walking away from a mess he made
Of masking tape construction paper
Trying to fix his problems with makeshift solutions
And the best of intentions
Despite his failures, he genuinely tried his best
He tried to patch up every hole as he went
He was proactive in fixing his problems as they arose
Back and forth and back again
He kept trying no matter how many times he failed
And his friends half full of half concerns
His friends weren't fully invested in his problems and only offered half-hearted support and advice
Embarrassed looks and tired words
His friends were worn out and didn't know how to help him anymore
They burrowed deeper into the ignorant
His friends retreated into their own small lives, unable to understand him
Little lives they preferred
His friends were content with their limited existence, unlike him
And he envied their distance
He was envious of their ability to distance themselves from emotional struggles
Their lack of concern
His friends were apathetic and indifferent to his problems
He thought, Once I shed the whole of me
He believed that he needed to change who he was in order to be happy
Then I'll be smiling
He believed that he would be happy once he changed who he was
He cursed himself
He blamed himself for his failures
And his instinct to nurse
His natural desire to try and fix everything
Every idea to health
He tried to develop every idea he had to its full potential
And all of the falls that he'd spent
He had fallen many times while trying to succeed
Trying to coax his name from the mouths
He tried to make a name for himself and be recognized for his accomplishments
Of success
He wanted to achieve success in his endeavors
They litter me with small awareness!
Others criticize him for small mistakes
Then they ask if I'm good enough
Others doubt his ability to succeed
Just to wake me up
They criticize to push him to improve
Why do the fools wake me up?
He is frustrated that people who don't understand him try to give him advice
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MATT NATHANSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BSokolowski16
Its awesome hearing so many people singing along to one of his "lesser known" songs. It makes me feel good. I can imagine how Matt felt!
@therealface2
Geez I miss this Matt Nathanson.
@sawzaw203
just great music!!! keep playin' on Matt!!
@jazzchic
Then I'll Be Smiling!
@StereOasis93
Anyone here play that can play that bmadd5 chord? It's really throwing me off
@BSokolowski16
The lyrics are actually Litter Me... sorry.