Dearās first single was 1999ās "Hands Up For Detroit" (co-produced by ghettotech pioneer Disco D, who performed under the name Daisha). Successive singles, such as "Stealing Moves" and the chart-topping "Mouth to Mouth" (as Audion) were issued on Spectral Sound, Ghostlyās offshoot that focuses on dancefloor music.
Matthew Dearās 2003 full-length Ghostly debut, "Leave Luck to Heaven", is a suite of sparse, wickedly funky house laced with Dearās deep, distinctive vocals, and includes the much-loved single āDog Daysā (voted one of Pitchforkās Top 100 Songs of the decade). The record was met with rapturous acclaim from both the dance-music establishment and the critical press, including a four-star review in Rolling Stone. Dearās 2007 follow-up, "Asa Breed", is a considerable departure from Heavenās dancefloor excursions, incorporating the polyrhythms of afrobeat, the irreverent pop sensibilities of Brian Eno, and the austere beauty of krautrock. More four-stars reviews followed (Q and Mojo magazines), and Dear subsequently began touring with a live three-piece band, Matthew Dearās Big Hands, in which he acted as frontman, commanding the stage with a Bryan Ferry-like swagger and a gentlemanās grace.
Today, Matthew Dear finds himself in a unique position. His highly anticipated fourth album, 2010ās Black City, is the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation, a darkly playful sound-world that envelops the listener like the arms of a malevolent lover. After over a decade of exploring popās outer limits, Matthew Dear now inhabits a rarefied corner of the musical universe: no longer tethered to any one genre, respected by his peers, and blessed with a bottomless well of creative energy. Now is Matthew Dearās moment, and it sounds like nothing else.
Modafinil Blues
Matthew Dear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I'll be last
To play with a heart from the start
I'll be straight
The second best boy
Unlike the rest, boy
I'll stick around in the house of your mind
And I never thought they'd get to you
So tell me have they gotten to you, too?
Did you tell them what they wanted to know?
Did you show them what I wanted to show, too
And it's coming undone so I run and I run
But there's
Nowhere left worth
Running to
And it's hopeless at best
But what do we get?
A sense of regret which feels like
Nothing new
I'm the white ash
From a smoke stack
Helplessly floating from embers
That create
Troubled at best boy
Another decoy
Tipping my hat to the man
Fanning the flame
I never thought they could get you to crack
So tell me how they got me to crack you
Did you really think you could trust
Such a man with a head full of rust, too
As it was coming undone
I could have told you to run
But I searched and I yearned
For that pill
To get me through
And I'm helpless at best
Equal to the rest
I'll always forget
Not to review (?)
In Matthew Dear's song "Modafinil Blues," the lyrics depict a sense of struggle and vulnerability while alluding to themes of self-doubt and the pressures of conformity. The opening lines "I'm a touch fast, though I'll be last, to play with a heart from the start, I'll be straight" suggest that the singer may be impulsive or quick to act, but ultimately remains honest and sincere. They recognize their shortcomings, describing themselves as "the second-best boy" compared to others. Despite this, they choose to remain in the mind of their loved one, symbolized by "the house," standing steadfastly at the gates.
The chorus delves into feelings of being overwhelmed and lost. The lines "And it's coming undone so I run and I run, but there's nowhere left worth running to" express a sense of futility and desperation. The singer recognizes the hopelessness of their situation, highlighting that it often leads to a sense of regret, which feels all too familiar.
The second verse further explores the singer's inner struggles. They describe themselves as "the white ash from a smoke stack, helplessly floating from embers that create," illustrating a state of being consumed by the consequences of their choices. The line "troubled at best, another decoy" suggests that they may often mask their true emotions or intentions. They acknowledge the influence of external forces, represented by "the man" fanning the flame, causing them to crack under pressure.
The song seems to touch on the singer's reliance on substances to cope with their inner turmoil, mentioning "that pill to get me through." This alludes to the use of Modafinil, a medication often used to treat sleep disorders, mental fatigue, and to increase wakefulness. The lyrics convey a sense of helplessness, as the singer recognizes their tendency to forget not to rely on such crutches or to review their choices and actions.
Overall, "Modafinil Blues" portrays a complex and introspective journey through emotional struggles, the weight of societal expectations, and the desire to find solace amidst chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a touch fast
I am always in a hurry and act quickly
Though I'll be last
But when it comes to relationships, I am cautious and take my time
To play with a heart from the start
I don't want to manipulate or deceive someone's emotions from the beginning
I'll be straight
I will be honest and sincere
The second best boy
I am not the best or most desired person
Unlike the rest, boy
But I am different from others
I'll stick around in the house of your mind
I will stay present in your thoughts and linger in your thoughts
At the gates
Ready to enter and explore deeper emotions
And I never thought they'd get to you
I didn't expect others to influence and manipulate you
So tell me have they gotten to you, too?
Did others also manage to manipulate and control you?
Did you tell them what they wanted to know?
Did you reveal the information they wanted from you?
Did you show them what I wanted to show, too
Did you also expose the side of you that I wanted to see?
And it's coming undone so I run and I run
Everything is falling apart, so I try to escape and run away
But there's
Nowhere left worth
Running to
But there is no destination or option that is worth running towards
And it's hopeless at best
The situation seems bleak and without hope
But what do we get?
But what do we receive or gain from it?
A sense of regret which feels like
Nothing new
A feeling of remorse that is familiar and not surprising
I'm the white ash
From a smoke stack
I am like the residue from a burning chimney
Helplessly floating from embers
That create
Drifting without control from the sparks that caused the fire
Troubled at best boy
I am troubled and problematic, at my very best
Another decoy
Just another distraction or false appearance
Tipping my hat to the man
Fanning the flame
Acknowledging and showing respect to the person fueling the conflict or problem
I never thought they could get you to crack
I never believed that others could make you break or succumb
So tell me how they got me to crack you
So please explain how they were able to manipulate and break me through you
Did you really think you could trust
Such a man with a head full of rust, too
Did you genuinely believe you could rely on someone who is mentally deteriorating and unreliable?
As it was coming undone
I could have told you to run
As everything was falling apart, I should have warned you to escape
But I searched and I yearned
For that pill
To get me through
But instead, I sought and longed for a quick-fix solution to help me cope
And I'm helpless at best
Equal to the rest
And I am powerless, just like everyone else
I'll always forget
Not to review (?
I will constantly overlook the need to reassess or reconsider
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Antoine Jerome Collins, Matthew Dear
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matthewdearstreaming
Modafinil Blues
Iām a touch fast. Though Iāll be last.
To play with a heart from the start. Iāll be straight.
The second best boy. Unlike the rest boy.
Iāll stick around in the house of your mind. At the gate.
And I never thought theyād get to you.
So tell me have they gotten to you too.
Did you tell them what they wanted to know?
Did you show em what I wanted to show you?
And its coming undone, so I run and I run.
But thereās nowhere left worth running to.
Its hopeless at best, but what do we get?
A sense of regret that feels like nothing new.
Iām the white ash, from a smokestack.
Helplessly floating from embers, that create.
Troubled at best boy, another decoy.
Tipping my hat to the man fanning the flame.
And I never thought theyād get you to crack.
So tell me how they got me to crack you.
Did you really think you could trust,
Such a man with a head full of rust too?
As it was coming undone, I could have told you to run.
But I searched and I yearned for that pill to get me through.
And Iām helpless at best, equal to the rest.
Iāll always forget, not to be blue
@MrJamesbotes
Well I'm a touch fast
Though I'll be last
To play with the heart from the start
I'll be straight
The second best boy
Unless like the rest boy
I'll stick around in the house of your mind
At the gate
And I never thought they'd get to you
So tell me have they gotten to you, too?
Did you tell them what they wanted to know?
Did you show them what I wanted to show, you?
And it's coming undone
So I run and I run
But there's nowhere left worth
Running to
It's hopeless at best
But what do we get?
A sense of regret which feels like
Nothing new
I'm the white ash
From the smoke stack
Helplessly floating from embers
That create
Troubled at best, boy
Another decoy
Dipping my hat to the man
Fanning the flame
I never thought they could get you to crack
So tell me how they got me to crack, you
Did you really think you could trust
Such a man with a head full of rust, too?
As it was coming undone
I could have told you to run
But I searched and I yearned for that pill
To get me through
And I'm helpless at best
Equal to the rest
I'll always forget
Not to be blue
@Tikaaful
I'm a touch fast
Though I'll be last
To play with a heart from the start
I'll be straight
The second best boy
Unlike the rest, boy
I'll stick around in the house of your mind
At the gates
And I never thought they'd get to you
So tell me have they gotten to you, too?
Did you tell them what they wanted to know?
Did you show them what I wanted to show, too
And it's coming undone so I run and I run
But there's
Nowhere left worth
Running to
And it's hopeless at best
But what do we get?
A sense of regret which feels like
Nothing new
I'm the white ash
From a smoke stack
Helplessly floating from embers
That create
Troubled at best boy
Another decoy
Tipping my hat to the man
Fanning the flame
I neverā¦
@Tikaaful
I'm a touch fast
Though I'll be last
To play with a heart from the start
I'll be straight
The second best boy
Unlike the rest, boy
I'll stick around in the house of your mind
At the gates
And I never thought they'd get to you
So tell me have they gotten to you, too?
Did you tell them what they wanted to know?
Did you show them what I wanted to show, too
And it's coming undone so I run and I run
But there's
Nowhere left worth
Running to
And it's hopeless at best
But what do we get?
A sense of regret which feels like
Nothing new
I'm the white ash
From a smoke stack
Helplessly floating from embers
That create
Troubled at best boy
Another decoy
Tipping my hat to the man
Fanning the flame
I neverā¦
@mollylolzzz6527
THE CLEARING bought me to this fantastic/haunting song!
@tmac1089
me too
@rodney68autrey
Me too
@cpmiller1965
Edward Wayne Edwards
@demographicrenaissance6613
Same.
@marigarcia-ns4pi
me too!!
@alicea6848
I am here because of the Clearing Podcast !
@carolcandace5909
Me too!
@rebeccagaus2671
Same here!! Love it š
@anthonyrobinson1687
@@carolcandace5909 pppPPPP