It's On
Matthew Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I been contemplating, thinking, debate if I'm taking the right steps
I can feel the bass shaking, the trunk rattles to the music of my death
I am ready, but my palms sweaty
I'll stand steady when they come get me
My brains hit the wall in the alley like confetti
My body just smacked the pavement hard a deadman's heavy
I'm blacking out hear the ringing in my ears
The Devil is taxing now pay the toll with your tears
My fear living long enough to be like daddy
He hurt my mama badly and she gladly
Paid the cost to have me, sadly
Didn't measure up to much but
Opinions suck and honestly never really gave a fuck
Past tense thoughts hidden in the flash of a muzzle
And twitching muscles reflexing from tensing up in the struggle
And now It's over
Every night that passes by
I been dead as a doornail can't feel nothing inside
Now It's over
All the ways I made you cry
This the worst I promise that it will be the last time
Now It's Over
The Devil brought a contract
Pointed at the dotted line saw a signature like mine
Now It's Over
I'll wait for you by Hell's gates
Now It's Over
I can't wait to see your face
Kind of finicky feeling negative energy, my enemies into me
And I'm thinking about them ending me
Like women pretend to be intimately trying to get with me
Don't mean to be so fidgety paranoia defensively
Gets involved, it's my fault let y'all get to me
Blow it off, when she calls subsequently
I'm off the rails, no it's off the walls
Cocaine in the stalls, grabbing my balls she wanna chill with me
I'm calculating she scheming to set me up
I'm having weird dreams it seems they wanna wet me up
Pistol tucked the law don't want me to carry at all
Emotions raw cut me deep like firewood and a saw
Broken jaw bloody nose clothes scattered on the floor
No direction to go my head is spinning like a globe
I've been told death going door to door collecting souls
This the way it goes, born by yourself then die alone
And now It's over
Every night that passes by
I been dead as a doornail can't feel nothing inside
Now It's over
All the ways I made you cry
This the worst I promise that it will be the last time
Now It's Over
The Devil brought a contract
Pointed at the dotted line saw a signature like mine
Now It's Over
I'll wait for you by Hell's gates




Now It's Over
I can't wait to see your face

Overall Meaning

In "It's On," Matthew reflects on his thoughts and fears surrounding mortality and the choices he has made in life. He contemplates whether or not he is taking the right steps in his life and how his actions will impact him and those around him. As the bass thumps and rattles in the background, he realizes that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions.


Matthew seems to be dealing with a lot of guilt and regrets of the past. He fears becoming like his father who hurt his mother badly in the past, and feels he has not measured up to much in life. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and caused pain to others, and laments that every night passes by and he feels dead inside.


As the song progresses, Matthew describes feeling paranoid and on edge due to negative energy around him. He feels like enemies are closing in on him and plotting to take advantage of him. He turns to drugs and unhealthy relationships, but finds no solace in them. Eventually, he feels like death is coming for him, and he accepts this fact as he waits for his fate at Hell's gates.


Overall, "It's On" is a dark and introspective song that deals with heavy themes like mortality, guilt, regret, and addiction.


Line by Line Meaning

I been contemplating, thinking, debate if I'm taking the right steps
I have been deep in thought, considering and deliberating if the actions I am taking are the correct ones.


I can feel the bass shaking, the trunk rattles to the music of my death
The intense vibrations of the music make me aware of my own mortality and the potential danger of my situation.


I am ready, but my palms sweaty
Although I am prepared to face what's ahead, I am still nervous and anxious.


I'll stand steady when they come get me
I will remain composed and resolute when they come to apprehend me.


My brains hit the wall in the alley like confetti
The impact of my head against the wall in the alley resulted in a scattering of my thoughts and consciousness, much like the way confetti falls to the ground.


My body just smacked the pavement hard a deadman's heavy
The force of my body hitting the pavement was so intense that I felt as if I were already dead.


I'm blacking out hear the ringing in my ears
I am losing consciousness and can only hear a ringing in my ears.


The Devil is taxing now pay the toll with your tears
It feels like the Devil is taking his due, and I must pay with my own tears and pain.


My fear living long enough to be like daddy
My biggest fear is becoming like my father, who caused my mother great pain.


He hurt my mama badly and she gladly
My father caused significant harm to my mother, and yet she still chose to have me.


Paid the cost to have me, sadly
My mother endured great difficulty and pain in order to have me.


Didn't measure up to much but
Although I may not have accomplished much in life, or met certain expectations, I still matter.


Opinions suck and honestly never really gave a fuck
I have come to realize that other people's opinions do not matter, and I have never truly cared about them.


Past tense thoughts hidden in the flash of a muzzle
Memories of past actions and regrets come rushing back in a split second.


And twitching muscles reflexing from tensing up in the struggle
My muscles tense and twitch involuntarily, reflecting the intensity of the struggle and fear I have experienced.


Every night that passes by I been dead as a doornail can't feel nothing inside Now It's over
I have felt dead inside for a long time and now it's all over.


All the ways I made you cry This the worst I promise that it will be the last time
I am aware of the pain I have caused you and I promise that this will be the last time.


The Devil brought a contract Pointed at the dotted line saw a signature like mine Now It's Over
It feels as if the Devil himself has made a deal with me, and now it's all over.


I'll wait for you by Hell's gates I can't wait to see your face
I will be waiting for you in the afterlife, and I am excited to see you again.


Kind of finicky feeling negative energy, my enemies into me And I'm thinking about them ending me
I am becoming increasingly nervous and paranoid about my enemies, and I can't help but think that they want to kill me.


Like women pretend to be intimately trying to get with me Don't mean to be so fidgety paranoia defensively
I am suspicious of women who pretend to be interested in me, and my paranoia has caused me to act defensively and nervously.


Gets involved, it's my fault let y'all get to me Blow it off, when she calls subsequently
I have allowed others to get too involved in my life, and now I regret it. However, I try to ignore the negative feelings when people call me.


I'm off the rails, no it's off the walls Cocaine in the stalls, grabbing my balls she wanna chill with me
I am doing things that are crazy and reckless, including using cocaine and engaging in reckless sexual behavior.


I'm calculating she scheming to set me up I'm having weird dreams it seems they wanna wet me up
I suspect that someone is plotting against me and I am having terrifying nightmares about being killed.


Pistol tucked the law don't want me to carry at all Emotions raw cut me deep like firewood and a saw
I am carrying a gun, despite it being against the law, and my emotions are raw and painful, much like the way a saw cuts through firewood.


Broken jaw bloody nose clothes scattered on the floor No direction to go my head is spinning like a globe
I have been brutally beaten up and left with nowhere to go. My head is spinning and I feel lost and disoriented.


I've been told death going door to door collecting souls This the way it goes, born by yourself then die alone
I have been warned that death is always present and collecting souls. This is just the way life is - we are born alone and die alone.




Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DERRICK MATTHEWS, HUY TRAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@TheOrygunGirl

My Mom bought the cassette of this song for my son Matthew when he was 1 yr. old. We have played it for him every year since. Now we play this video for him on Facebook on his Birthday!!! It's a tradition!

@christineharms2250

Ordered the record for my son years ago! He’s 45 now so probably about 35-40 yrs ago. His sister reminded me of it today and was thrilled to find it on uTube

@APCTOOL16

My grandpa had this for his record player!! I still play it even though he passed away. Rest well grandpops!! Love you!!

@mattbmerry84

I come visit my childhood every year at this time. Great to see you Captain Zoom.

@mattchandl3r

I had this song on 7" flexidisc when I was a kid. I'm 37 years old today and it still makes me smile.

@HandofDave

I designed and animated this while working at Penpoint Animation in Boston, on Newbury Street, back in the late eighties... this is mostly traditional cel work shot to 16mm color film, except where the child's name was inserted in post production using old video effects hardware. Was paid ten bucks an hour... at one point the studio was shut down for non-payment of taxes. The owner finished the project for his client then skipped town, owing everyone money, tho I managed to get paid.
It wasn't long before the business model of distributing who-knows-how-many VHS copies of this thing was a ridiculously obsolete one. I expect it did not make money.

@IsThisNotRidiculous

+David Longey That is fantastic! My friend Matthew brought this over to my house - his mom had seen a VHS tape at a yard sale that read simply "Happy Birthday Matthew" on the label, and she bought it for 25¢. She gave it to him on his birthday and he thought it was so hilarious we had to share it ... so I put it up on YouTube. :)

@e-rokekenedi7834

+David Longey Hmm, I remember hearing this over my friend Donna's house in the late 70s on vinyl.

@montehibbert3606

Wow i turned 32 this July 31 and I remember my parents playing this for me every year as a kid on a cassette tape. I tried to track the song down on YouTube but I had no idea they had a video too!!

@melymejia6983

David Longey c

More Comments

More Versions