Suci… Read Full Bio ↴Matt Sucich is an American singer-songwriter based in New York.
Sucich spent 2014 writing, performing, and recording the follow up to his self-produced 2012 full-length 'Layers.' His band was also there. So was producer & engineer Paul Loren. Together they released a single, 'The Lonely Dreamer,' and as 2015 unfolds, new live video sessions and studio-recorded, live-to-tape, honest-to-goodness American tracks will be yours to see and hear via magic internet services.
Sucich (pron: Sue-Sitch), from Queens, NY has appeared at Willie Nelson's Heartbreaker Banquet in Austin, TX (2014), Firefly Music Festival in Dover, DE. (2013), Newport Folk in Newport, RI (a private event for NPR Music with The Lone Bellow, 2013), Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN(2012), and Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, NY(2009) as well as many other extraordinary stages.
Sucich has supported & shared the stage with headline acts including, but not limited to, Levon Helm, Adam Duritz & Counting Crows, Lucius, Rachael Yamagata, The Lone Bellow, Hunter Hayes, Daughtry, and Lewis Watson.
In 2013, Sucich co-created the ongoing "Downtown Comes Uptown" series with Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium & Rockwood Music Hall. Hosted by WFUV 90.7, it's inaugural performance included Sucich, Rachael Yamagata, Lake Street Dive, and Akie Bermiss with Lynette Williams, and has since seen performances by Aoife O'Donovan, Elle King, The Spring Standars, & Emily King.
House Of Cards
Matt Sucich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when the smoke clears, and everybody hears, ive got a mind to clear, i've got you on my mind/ i'm a house of cards,
just waiting for a gale.
and i'm standing tall, in the belly of a whale/ oh, and as i do, i will start with the new,
and work my way backwards to you/ when the water calms, i will swim to you, and i'll work my way through/
i'm a house of bricks, up on quicksand, and i'm an old oak tree at the mercy of a greedy hand.
when the dust settles, and the smoke clears, i won't feel no better than a dead man feels/ and when the
water calms, i will swim to you, and maybe i'll die trying to/ ‘cause i'd rather be a singing stiff, in some angel's band.
than be the subject of your story book,
without a tale.
The lyrics to Matt Sucich's "House of Cards" paint a picture of someone who feels vulnerable and fragile, like a "house of cards." The first verse describes a scene where everything seems calm, but the persona is aware of their own fragility - "the leaves don't seem to crumble where you lie" suggests that the persona is lying amongst autumn leaves that should be crumbling, but they aren't. The second verse describes the persona's determination to start anew, but acknowledges that they are still vulnerable, like a "house of bricks up on quicksand" or an "old oak tree at the mercy of a greedy hand."
The chorus is the most powerful part of the song, with the persona singing, "I'm a house of cards, just waiting for a gale. And I'm standing tall, in the belly of a whale." The gale represents some kind of adversity that could easily topple the persona's fragile existence, like a gust of wind that could knock down a house of cards. The metaphor of standing tall in the belly of a whale suggests that the persona is in a difficult situation that is beyond their control. They may be struggling to stay afloat, but they are determined to persevere. The bridge provides a glimmer of hope, with the persona singing, "when the water calms, I will swim to you." They may be struggling now, but they hope to make it through and find a way to "swim" to someone or something that brings them comfort and stability.
Overall, "House of Cards" is a deeply introspective song that explores themes of vulnerability and perseverance. It's a reminder that even when things seem calm on the surface, we never know when adversity may strike, and we must learn to be resilient in the face of it.
Line by Line Meaning
when the dust settles, and you can see the sky, but the leaves don't seem to crumble, where you lie/
When the chaos and confusion subsides, and you finally see things clearly, but the things around you still seem unstable and unreliable.
when the smoke clears, and everybody hears, ive got a mind to clear, i've got you on my mind/ i'm a house of cards, just waiting for a gale.
After everything has been resolved and everyone knows the truth, I will try to clear my head and think clearly, but I can't stop thinking about you. Despite seeming stable, I am actually very fragile and one small thing could make everything crumble.
and i'm standing tall, in the belly of a whale/ oh, and as i do, i will start with the new, and work my way backwards to you/
I may seem to be in a difficult situation but I have a positive outlook and I will start fresh, moving towards you from this point onwards.
when the water calms, i will swim to you, and i'll work my way through/
When everything is settled and peaceful, I will come to you and make my way towards you despite all obstacles.
i'm a house of bricks, up on quicksand, and i'm an old oak tree at the mercy of a greedy hand.
I may seem strong, but I am built on an unstable foundation and I am vulnerable to those who are selfish and greedy.
when the dust settles, and the smoke clears, i won't feel no better than a dead man feels/ and when the water calms, i will swim to you, and maybe i'll die trying to/
Even after everything is resolved, I won't feel any better than someone who has passed away. But I will still come to you, even if it means risking my safety and well-being.
‘cause i'd rather be a singing stiff, in some angel's band. just singing about my sinking ship, that was fighting for a sail.
I would rather be a ghost singing in a band in heaven, talking about how I fought for my sinking ship than to be someone who is only a small insignificant part of someone else's story.
than be the subject of your story book, without a tale.
I would rather be a ghost than be a character in someone else's story that doesn't have any substance or meaning.
Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TimothyNH
Ain't nothing wrong with that...and ain't nobody mad at you.
Thanks.
@heatherh3397
Awe, I love this. The three of you played it beautifully together. I wanna take a piece of your house of bricks and throw it at whomever gave it a thumbs down. 🙊