After the breakup, Matthew Good continued to release music as a solo artist.
Fated
Matthew Good Band Lyrics
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There's an IV keeping time beside my bed
And a painting of Jesus wandering
For a dart board
You know he's seen you naked a million times
I long to be dead
And sleep with the fishes under the sea
And stop all the traffic jams
Stop all the traffic jams
And there'll be no light tonight
If I'm fated
There's a cartoon killer in my living room
Cut you open like candy and pull out your little wound
Like TV dinners for the third world
And amputee dancing girls
You try but you fail cause you're bad at life
And good in a vacuum
I long to be dead
And sleep with the fishes under the sea
They can swim through my head
And stop all the traffic jams
Stop all the traffic jams
And there'll be no light tonight
If I'm fated
The lyrics to Matthew Good's song Fated paint a picture of a disturbed mind dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. The first lines introduce the idea that there is a "space man" in the singer's basement, possibly referencing the feelings of being trapped or isolated. The mention of an IV in a hospital suggests that the singer is receiving medical treatment or is confined to a hospital bed. The painting of Jesus being used as a dart board suggests a loss of faith or questioning of religion. The line "you know he's seen you naked a million times" refers to Jesus' supposed omniscience, but also implies a feeling of vulnerability and exposure.
The second verse introduces a "cartoon killer" in the singer's living room, creating a sense of fear and danger. The killer's actions are brutal and gruesome, with mention of "TV dinners for the third world" and "amputee dancing girls." These violent images may point to a feeling of hopelessness and despair in the singer's mind. The line "you try but you fail cause you're bad at life and good in a vacuum" suggests that the singer holds negative self-beliefs about their abilities and worth.
The chorus of the song repeats the same lines, expressing a desire to be dead and escape from the pain of existence. The metaphor of sleeping with the fishes under the sea suggests a peaceful and final rest. The line "stop all the traffic jams" could mean wanting to escape from the chaos and stress of daily life. Finally, the line "there'll be no light tonight if I'm fated" suggests a belief that the future is predetermined and there is no hope for change or improvement.
Overall, Fated is a poignant and powerful reflection on mental health, depression, and the desire for escape from emotional pain.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a space man in my basement
There's a part of me that's out of this world and I feel disconnected from the people around me
There's an IV keeping time beside my bed
I'm trapped in a cycle of sickness and dependency
And a painting of Jesus wandering
I'm surrounded by religious symbols and don't know what to believe
For a dart board
I'm using these symbols as a way to release my anger and frustration
You know he's seen you naked a million times
I feel like I'm being constantly judged, even though nobody really knows me
I long to be dead
I'm overwhelmed by how hard life can be and just want it all to end
And sleep with the fishes under the sea
I want to escape to a peaceful and final resting place
They can swim through my head
I want my thoughts to be carried away by the current, so I don't have to think anymore
And stop all the traffic jams
I want all the chaos and action of the world to come to a halt
And there'll be no light tonight
I feel like everything is dark and hopeless, no matter how hard I try to find meaning
If I'm fated
I'm starting to believe that my destiny is predetermined and there's nothing I can do to change it
There's a cartoon killer in my living room
I'm haunted by the darkness that lurks in the world, even when the TV shows me something innocent
Cut you open like candy and pull out your little wound
I'm scared of the violence that is possible in the world and how it could come to hurt me or someone I care about
Like TV dinners for the third world
I feel guilty about how privileged I am in life, even when I'm struggling with my own challenges
And amputee dancing girls
I feel like I'm being forced to watch a show I don't want to be a part of, where people are being hurt and oppressed
You try but you fail cause you're bad at life
I'm struggling to find my place in the world and feel like I'll never measure up
And good in a vacuum
I feel like the only place where I can be successful is alone, away from the challenges of the outside world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW GOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matthewgarnier7701
There's a spaceman,
In my basement,
There's and IV,
Keeping time beside my bed,
And a painting,
Of Jesus wandering,
For a dartboard you know he's seen you naked a million times,
A million times.
I long to be dead,
And sleep with the fishes under the sea.
They can swim through my head,
Stop all the traffic jams,
Stop all the traffic jams,
And they'll be no light tonight,
If I'm fated.
There's a cartoon killer in my living room,
Cut you open like candy and pull out your little wound.
Like TV dinners for the third world,
Amputee dancing girls,
You try but you fail cause your bad at life,
And good in a vacuum.
I long to be dead,
And sleep with the fishes under the sea,
They can swim through my head,
Stop all the traffic jams,
Stop all the traffic jams,
And they'll be no light tonight,
If I'm fated,
If I'm fated,
If I'm fated.
@thecoug1544
I’m sorry but the amount of passion Matthew brings to every song including this one is heads snd tails above many so called Grammy award winners or Billboards top artists
This song is simply mesmerizing
I can listen to it over snd over snd it never gets old. He’s got one of the most original unique voices out there snd quite a range. Again I’d like to shake Matthews hands and say thank you 🙏
@Sprout3169
when he performed this song at Massey Hall in Toronto on Oct 26th, 2007..... incredible performance i still have goosebumps when he builds up, "stop all the traffic jams", over and over again
@1Aspin
And there needs to be more views on this video cause this song is amazing.
@1Aspin
This song is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@mikeanthony773
Kills me that this isn't on spotify. Glad it's here. Surprisingly moved to find out that Priske died this year and I had no idea. Time has marched on I guess.
@TMCollins15
It is on Spotify!
@dryedmeet
For such a meloncholic theme he sings it with such a defiance and rage that you can see in your mind his contorted and menacing eyes. its bliss.
@jillsmith874
My fave Matthew Good song.
@lukegraham5105
Goosebumps!
@colin_rose
the imagery of the lyrics in this song is ridiculous. i love it, matt good is one of my favorite lyricists