Matthew Good is a rock musician from Coquitlam, BC, Canada, formerly of the… Read Full Bio ↴Matthew Good is a rock musician from Coquitlam, BC, Canada, formerly of the Matthew Good Band, which was disbanded in 2002. His solo career has met with continued success, with the release of Avalanche on March 4, 2003. He followed that up on June 15, 2004 with White Light Rock and Roll Review, and on September 20, 2005 with In a Coma, a best-of documenting his musical career from 1995-2005. On July 31, 2007, he released his third album, entitled Hospital Music. The album consisted of 15 tracks, and is a deviation from the other albums in that this album is completely personal. Matthew Good's fourth album came out on October 6, 2009 and was entitled "Vancouver". The album, is a concept album and deals with Good's reflections of his hometown of Vancouver, and won him Best Rock Album at the Junos. Good also released a live album in the autumn of 2008. It contained live recordings from his concert at Massey Hall in Toronto on May 29, 2008. Lights of Endangered Species, released May 31, 2011, was Good's fifth studio album and was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2012 Juno Awards.

Good is a strong advocate for human rights, and is affiliated with Amnesty International.

He has also released a book entitled "At Last There Is Nothing Left to Say," consisting of a series of blog entries and manifestos he posted on Matthew Good Band's website before the band disbanded. As well as being a testament to why he continues to have a solid and devoted fan-base, the work showcases Matt's unique perspective, and the creative mind that is the source of his success.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 2002

A Long Way Down
Matthew Good Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Today I'm leaving
This bullshit one horse town
Full of cowboys and indians
Who only have balls when there's a camera around
Where the girls they move to you
When money gets thrown around
Even happiness is using you
Maybe you'll figure that out

It's a long way down
You know it's a damn shame the sun don't shine underground
Maybe that's where it's been
Maybe that's where I've been
Maybe that's where it's been
A long way down

So today I'm leaving
This bullshit circus town
Do you ever get the feeling
There ain't no hole when you're not around?
Where the world it moves to you
When the money gets spread around
Even happiness is using you
Maybe you'll figure that out

It's a long way down
You know it's a damn shame the sun don't shine underground
Maybe that's where it's been
Maybe that's where I've been

Maybe that's where it's been
A long way down

Overall Meaning

The song A Long Way Down by Matthew Good is a depiction of the singer’s dissatisfaction with their present surroundings. The lyrics portray the singer as being jaded by the people and the environment around them, leading them to seek a new beginning in a place where things might be better. The lyrics mention the idea of a “one-horse town” full of cowboys and Indians who only exhibit boldness when they know they are being watched. The singer also mentions the lopsided nature of the relationships in the town, where people, including happiness itself, are only utilizing or exploiting them. The chorus of the song reiterates the idea that it's a long way down and that there is no sunshine underground, which could be indicative of the negative feelings associated with the town.

The lyrics also mention the idea of a circus town where the singer feels like there is no place to fit in. This could be interpreted as the nature of the small-town mentality where everyone already knows each other, and the singer is the outsider who does not belong. The singer mentions that the world only moves when money is spread around, indicating that the town values wealth more than anything else, even relationships. The lyrics are melancholic, and the message conveyed is that the singer is unhappy and needs a change.

Line by Line Meaning

Today I'm leaving
I am departing from this place, taking a significant step towards something better.

This bullshit one horse town
This place is limiting and insignificant, with nothing of value to offer.

Full of cowboys and indians
This place is full of stereotypical, outdated characters who exhibit toxic masculinity and racial insensitivity.

Who only have balls when there's a camera around
These characters are only brave or bold when there is an audience to impress, showing that their bravado is false and shallow.

Where the girls they move to you
Women in this town only pay attention to men who have money or status.

When money gets thrown around
Women in this town only pay attention to men who have wealth to spare.

Even happiness is using you
Even when you think you're happy in this town, it is actually draining you of your energy and resources.

Maybe you'll figure that out
Perhaps someday you will realize the truth about this place and make the decision to leave.

It's a long way down
The journey away from this place will be difficult, with many obstacles and challenges to overcome.

You know it's a damn shame the sun don't shine underground
It is a sad reality that there can be no light or warmth in dark, underground places.

Maybe that's where it's been
Perhaps the happiness and light that has been missing has been hidden in dark places, waiting to be found.

Maybe that's where I've been
Perhaps the person singing the song has been in those dark, underground places and is now ready to see the light again.

A long way down
The journey away from this negative, toxic place will be difficult and challenging, but ultimately worth it for a brighter future.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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