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

So Long Mrs. Smith
Matthew Good Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This spring I think that I should go
I have had enough of this
And this place ain't what it was before
When I was young nine thirty was late enough
And the sky was angel dust
A dead top trio of criminal saints
To worship at Wong's
Would you say that we were wrong?

So long Mrs. Smith
This spring I think that I should go

I have had enough of this
I'm going down to Edison

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Matthew Good's song "So Long Mrs. Smith" express a deep sense of dissatisfaction with the place the singer has found themselves in. The opening lines, "This spring I think that I should go, I have had enough of this," suggest a restlessness and a need for change. The lines that follow suggest a longing for a simpler, more innocent time: "And this place ain't what it was before, when I was young nine thirty was late enough, and the sky was angel dust." The singer is nostalgic for a time when things were easier, before they were burdened with the cares and concerns of adulthood.

The next couplet, "A dead top trio of criminal saints, to worship at Wong's, would you say that we were wrong?" is particularly enigmatic. It's not clear who the "dead top trio of criminal saints" are, or what "Wong's" refers to. It could be a reference to a place the singer and their friends used to hang out, but whatever the specifics, the line seems to suggest that the singer and their friends were involved in dubious or unconventional activities. The final lines of the chorus, "So long Mrs. Smith, this spring I think that I should go, I have had enough of this, I'm going down to Edison," perhaps provide a bit of clarity. The singer has had enough of wherever they are and is heading to Edison, presumably in search of something new and better.

Overall, "So Long Mrs. Smith" is a song about the need for change and the feeling that one's current circumstances are not fulfilling. It's a nostalgic song, but not in the sense that it romanticizes the past. Rather, it looks back with a sense of regret, wishing things could be as they once were.

Line by Line Meaning

This spring I think that I should go
I feel the need to leave this place soon

I have had enough of this
I am tired of staying here

And this place ain't what it was before
This place has changed and is not the same as it used to be

When I was young nine thirty was late enough
In my youth, staying up until 9:30pm was considered late enough

And the sky was angel dust
The sky had a magical beauty

A dead top trio of criminal saints
A group of people, who were seen as saints but were involved in criminal activities, are now dead

To worship at Wong's
To pay tribute to those deceased at Wong's, a location of significance to them

Would you say that we were wrong?
Do you think our actions or choices were unjustified?

So long Mrs. Smith
A farewell to Mrs. Smith

This spring I think that I should go
I have a strong urge to leave soon

I have had enough of this
I've reached my limit