After the breakup, Matthew Good continued to release music as a solo artist.
The Rat Who Would Be King
Matthew Good Band Lyrics
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Finds a nut
Once in a while
Once you're in you're pretty much fucked
When I was the rat
The rat who would be king
I imagined typhoid
Always us alone
And I've waited on the sidelines
All this time
All this time
And I've a grenade
With our names scratched on the side
But that's just love
And you know that love's not enough
No, no, love's not enough
Crawl from the sea
Wait for some thumbs
A greatness to breed
Build the mall of America
When I was the rat
The rat who would be king
I imagined ashes
And us alone
Always us alone
And I've waited on the sidelines
All this time
All this time
And I've a grenade
With our names scratched on the side
But that's just love
And you know that love's not enough
No, no, love's not enough
Love's not enough
Love's not enough
The lyrics of Matthew Good Band's song The Rat Who Would Be King can be interpreted in various ways. One way of interpreting the lyrics is to see the song as a metaphor for the struggles of a person in a relationship. The opening lines "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while," suggests that even someone who is not adept at finding love can stumble upon it. However, the following line, "Once you're in you're pretty much fucked," implies that once you're committed to something, it's difficult to get out. The singer of the song imagines himself as a rat who would be king, suggesting that he has grand ambitions in the relationship. However, these ambitions are not realized, as he remains on the sidelines, waiting and observing.
The second verse of the song mentions waiting for greatness to breed, suggesting that the singer believes that success will come if he just waits for it. Building the mall of America could be interpreted as a metaphor for achieving the pinnacle of success. However, the chorus of the song repeats the idea that love is not enough, and that the singer has a grenade with their names scratched on the side. This line could be interpreted as a reference to the potential for the relationship to explode and cause harm.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a reflection on the complexities of relationships, and how even with grand ambitions, success is never guaranteed. The singer of the song is a passive observer, waiting for something to happen, but ultimately realizing that love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Even a blind squirrel
Even someone who is not capable or prepared can stumble upon success
Finds a nut
Finds something of value or reward
Once in a while
Occasionally, not very often
Once you're in you're pretty much fucked
Once you're trapped in a situation, there's no way out
When I was the rat
Referring to a time when the artist was in a subordinate or vulnerable position
The rat who would be king
Describing the singer's desire to gain power and control in a situation
I imagined typhoid
The singer imagined a disaster or epidemic that would wipe out others and leave them in control
And us alone
The artist desires exclusivity and isolation in their position of power
Always us alone
This isolation is a recurring theme in the artist's vision of their position of power
And I've waited on the sidelines
The artist has been biding their time and observing from a distance
All this time
For an extended period of time
And I've a grenade
The artist has an explosive tool at their disposal
With our names scratched on the side
The singer has personalized and targeted their explosive tool
But that's just love
The singer's destructive tendencies are fueled by passion or emotion
And you know that love's not enough
The singer acknowledges that their passion alone will not lead to success or fulfillment
Crawl from the sea
Rising up from humble beginnings or a difficult situation
Wait for some thumbs
Depending on luck or the approval of others before moving forward
A greatness to breed
The singer desires to create something of great value or significance
Build the mall of America
A representation of the singer's desire to create something large and influential
I imagined ashes
Similar to the earlier reference to typhoid, the artist envisions destruction as a means to gain power
And us alone
The artist's desire for exclusivity and power remains unchanged
And I've waited on the sidelines
Repeating an earlier line to emphasize the artist's patience and observation
But that's just love
A repetition of an earlier line to reinforce the connection between the singer's passion and destructive tendencies
And you know that love's not enough
Another repetition of an earlier line to emphasize the limitations of passion
Love's not enough
A final repetition of the message that the singer's passion alone is not sufficient for success or fulfillment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW GOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@explodingpuppy
best music to set yourself on fire to.
@filippians413
cant decide if this is dark or funny or both
@fionagaudin2433
Matthew's voice is phenom in this..just like an angel!!!I've never really heard a song like this where the singer uses his voice soooo unusual and so beautiful..
@lucasdiehl4661
Man that guy matt good can produce some great sounding records,very true and gifted
@Vandral007
Easily one of my top 10 favourite songs of all time!
@filippians413
Finally, a man of culture.
@emilyrl840
I have a grenade with our names scratched on the side...
@lucasdiehl4661
The vocal mix is phenominal
@Philthy_Collins
This album is stellar!! Front to back.
@alexndg5260
One of the forgotten gems of canadian altrock