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
Arrows of Desire
Matthew Good Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silver barbs to crash the heart
Those gates so irremovable
Oh we can beg, we will bend again
Oh we can beg that we will bend again
Up in thin air, we lie in wait
Wait for the word to come and then to hell with you
Over the fire a time to bear what those below await
Here's my golden spear
Here's my cold despair
Up in this air, we lie in wait
Up in this air, we lie in wait
We lie in wait
Up in this air, we lie in wait
Up in this air, we lie in wait
We lie in wait
We lie in wait
The lyrics of "Arrows of Desire" by Matthew Good are layered with meaning and could be interpreted in different ways. On a surface level, they possibly speak about the fragility of human relationships and the desperation of trying to mend them. The idea of a "ruined wind" could signify the tumultuous state of the relationship, which is further reinforced by the "silver barbs" that crash the heart, suggesting pain and hurt. The gates that are "irremovable" might represent the emotional barriers or wounds that are challenging to overcome. The lines "oh, we can beg, we will bend again" show the singer's willingness to compromise and repair the situation.
However, the mood changes slightly in the second verse, with the words "up in thin air, we lie in wait." This line may imply that the relationship is already over or at the brink of falling apart. The mentioned "golden spear" could be the tool or method one party tries to use to salvage the relationship, but it is ultimately futile, as reflected in the "cold despair" line.
Overall, "Arrows of Desire" appears to be a song about the difficult and painful moments in a romantic relationship, where both parties are desperate and trying to find a way to mend their bond. However, despite the efforts, the relationship may already be too far gone to repair.
Line by Line Meaning
On a ruined wind to see our promise right in front of you
Amidst chaos and destruction, you can see the promise that we made right in front of you.
Silver barbs to crash the heart
There are sharp words that can hurt and break one's heart.
Those gates so irremovable
The gates in front of us are immovable, and we cannot pass through them easily.
Oh we can beg, we will bend again
We can plead and beg for mercy, but we will yield to the inevitable outcome.
Up in thin air, we lie in wait
We are suspended in the air, waiting for something to happen.
Held to loose
We are held together, but we are easily broken apart.
Wait for the word to come and then to hell with you
We are waiting for a signal to act, and then we will act with full force regardless of the consequences.
Over the fire a time to bear what those below await
There is a difficult task to be done over the flames, and we must do what is necessary, even if others are waiting for us to fail.
Here's my golden spear
I am wielding a weapon that is precious and valuable.
Here's my cold despair
I am feeling hopeless and desperate in this situation.
Up in this air, we lie in wait
We are still suspended in the air, waiting for something to happen.
We lie in wait
We continue to wait for the right moment to act.
Writer(s): Matthew Fredrick Robert Good
Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
KingGeorge24
After the dissolution of his band, when Matt Good went solo I was a little nervous wondering if it would be a flop. I am so happy to see that I was terribly wrong. I have no idea how he does it but Matthew Good continues to produce solid songs and albums. Timeless.
Matanumi
I'd say that after Vancouver.. the albums became less folk and alt rock and just never did as well. Avalanche, White light rock and rock review, Hospital music (depressing and dark) and Vancouver were all amazing.
this song was from the album... Arrows of Desire, not on streaming services this was one of the better songs post 2009
Chuck Graham
great song
Chibis Menkaure
love