Barber was born and grew up in Port Credit, which is part of Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto, before moving to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen's University, where he volunteered at campus radio station CFRC-FM and performed at campus pubs. After graduating from Queen's, he went to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario for his master's degree in philosophy, and here he began to take his performing more seriously. Gaining support from the small but committed Hamilton music community, he released his debut album Means and Ends independently in 2002.
The album soon caught the attention of Paper Bag Records, who re-released it to a wider audience in 2003. After two years in Hamilton, Barber moved to Toronto.
Signed to Warner Music Canada, he released the E.P. title The Story Of Your Life in 2004 and the full-length album Sweet Nothing on September 27, 2005.
Sweet Nothing's debut single and music video, "Soft One," became a major hit in Canada, reaching number 1 among most-added tracks and the top 20 tracks overall at hot adult contemporary radio in Canada, and receiving regular play on music video channels including MuchMusic, MuchMoreMusic and MusiMax.
Barber has been a featured guest on >play, Go and Open Mike with Mike Bullard. He has toured extensively with artists including Buck 65, BOY, Joel Plaskett, Emm Gryner and Matt Mays and El Torpedo.
Barber's backing band is dubbed the Union Dues.
Barber's sister, Jill Barber, is also a noted Canadian musician.
Lose Your Love
Matthew Barber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a slow decline
You say you're doing fine
But I can tell you've got a worried mind
You've got a life to live
He's got a wife and kid
And when I look into your eyes
I see a prisoner in disguise
He didn't wear a ring
You heard the songbird sing
And you thought you had everything
But then the truth came out
You pushed away all your doubts
And now you're in so deep
You don't know how you'll ever get out
You say gonna lose your love
Well maybe you could find yourself
Cause when a push comes to shove
You don't wanna be someone else
Well attraction knows
No moral codes
Oh but action flows
Only from those who think there's something they're owed
For them it's you or her
So you better be sure
That if you're gonna go all in
She won't be leaving the table with him
You say gonna lose your love
Well maybe you could find yourself
Cause when a push comes to shove
You don't wanna be someone else
Well it's a big wide world
And you're a bright white pearl
But if you want to catch the light
You're gonna have to break away tonight
You say gonna lose your love
Well maybe you could find yourself
Cause when a push comes to shove
You don't wanna be someone else
You say gonna lose your love
Well maybe you could find yourself
Cause when a push comes to shove
You don't wanna be someone else
The song "Lose Your Love" by Matthew Barber is a poignant depiction of a woman who finds herself trapped in an affair that is now spiraling out of control. Barber uses the chorus, "You say gonna lose your love, well maybe you could find yourself, 'cause when a push comes to shove, you don't wanna be someone else," to suggest that this woman needs to re-evaluate her life and decisions. The verses describe an affair that started as a fling but grew more intense as time went on. The man involved is married with children, and the woman is portrayed as feeling like a prisoner in the relationship. As she becomes more involved, she is forced to confront the truth that it will not end well for her.
The lyrics convey a sense of sadness and resignation as Barber sings about the inevitability of the situation. The phrase "attraction knows no moral codes" suggests that the characters are not bad people, just caught up in a difficult and complicated situation. However, Barber also emphasizes that they need to take responsibility for their actions and not rely on the moral ambiguity of their situation. The final lines of the song suggest that the woman needs to go out and find herself in the world and not get stuck trying to be someone else.
Overall, "Lose Your Love" is a powerful examination of the human heart and the complex emotions and situations that can arise. Barber's lyrics are insightful and moving, and his delivery is perfectly suited to the melancholic mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's been a long time
It has been a significant amount of time.
In a slow decline
Things have been gradually worsening.
You say you're doing fine
You express that you are okay.
But I can tell you've got a worried mind
Your body language suggests that you are anxious.
You've got a life to live
You have responsibilities to fulfill.
He's got a wife and kid
The person you are involved with has a family.
And when I look into your eyes
When I make eye contact with you,
I see a prisoner in disguise
I perceive you as someone feeling trapped.
At first it was a fling
Initially, it was casual and fun.
He didn't wear a ring
He was not wearing a wedding band.
You heard the songbird sing
You were drawn to the happiness and potential of the situation.
And you thought you had everything
You believed that you had found the perfect scenario.
But then the truth came out
The reality of the situation was revealed.
You pushed away all your doubts
You ignored any reservations you had.
And now you're in so deep
You are in too far to quickly extract yourself.
You don't know how you'll ever get out
You are uncertain how to leave the situation.
Well attraction knows
The feeling of attraction disregards logic and reason.
No moral codes
There are no ethical guidelines followed by the feeling of attraction.
Oh but action flows
However, actions have consequences.
Only from those who think there's something they're owed
People who feel entitled may behave recklessly.
For them it's you or her
For such people, it is either you or the other person.
So you better be sure
You should be certain before making any decisions.
That if you're gonna go all in
If you decide to commit fully,
She won't be leaving the table with him
You must ensure that you are not left behind while they leave together.
Well it's a big wide world
The world is vast and full of opportunities.
And you're a bright white pearl
You are valuable and unique.
But if you want to catch the light
If you desire success or happiness,
You're gonna have to break away tonight
You must take bold action and leave the current situation immediately.
You say gonna lose your love
You mention losing the person you love.
Well maybe you could find yourself
Perhaps this situation will allow you to discover more about yourself.
Cause when a push comes to shove
When the situation becomes critical,
You don't wanna be someone else
You do not wish to compromise your own identity or values.
Contributed by Jayce I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.