Native to Minneapolis, Santos discovered his passion for music at age six when he started playing piano and his inspiration for playing guitar began at the age of fifteen. At first Santos pursued the visual arts, but decided to dedicate his life solely to music and relocated to Chicago in 2001 to study music composition at Columbia College Chicago. He released his first independently produced album Change is Better in 2004 and EP As a Crow Flies in 2006. In November of 2007, Santos released an acoustic album Matters of the Bittersweet under Candy-Rat Records, with intimate video recordings available on YouTube.
Shallow Grave
Matthew Santos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When upon my weakest moments / when my demons laughing in the dark / wish it all would go away.
If I knew then what I know now / I’d know it had to happen how it did, / so that I could learn my lesson.
Mistakes are easy made and hard to take / don’t make the same mistake twice / and it’ll be just like a blessing.
I know I’m in your debt / now darlin’ / you know it’s gonna’ be repaid.
Said I hope we can forgive and forget / now darlin’/ it’s buried in a shallow grave.
This pain, how it reminds me I’m alive / with each decision do or die / raindrops wripple through the waters.
this bitter makes the sweet taste so much better / like the spring after the long and barren / cold, cold winter, yeah.
Perfect is the person who accepts / that no one’s perfect no exceptions / less the human refrains.
This love is so much bigger than the world / of cynics snickering in smoke / a lighthouse calling out my name.
Chorus x2
And I hope that there is where it’s gonna’ stay.
In Matthew Santos's song Shallow Grave, the lyrics speak to the idea that mistakes are necessary for growth and learning. The song begins with the acknowledgement that talking about issues is often better than writing about them, showing a desire for communication and connection with another person. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of forgiving and forgetting, and letting go of pain by burying it in a shallow grave. The pain, according to the lyrics, reminds us that we're alive, and that the bitter moments make the sweet ones all the more special.
The song includes a metaphor of a lighthouse calling out the singer's name, implying that there is guidance and support available to him. The lyrics also touch on the idea that perfection is not attainable for anyone, and that accepting imperfections in oneself and others is a key part of being human. Throughout the song, there is a sense of growth and moving forward, despite the challenges and mistakes that have been made.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I wrote it in a letter
I wrote about my feelings in a letter.
but I think that talkin’s better
However, I think talking about my feelings is better.
I just wanna’ make it ok.
I just want things to be okay between us.
When upon my weakest moments
During my weakest moments
when my demons laughing in the dark
when my inner demons are tormenting me
wish it all would go away.
I wish I could make them go away.
If I knew then what I know now
If I knew what I know now, in the past
I’d know it had to happen how it did,
I would understand that it happened the way it did for a reason.
so that I could learn my lesson.
It happened so that I could learn from my mistakes.
Mistakes are easy made and hard to take
Mistakes are easy to make but difficult to accept
don’t make the same mistake twice
To avoid making the same mistake again
and it’ll be just like a blessing.
It will be like a blessing to learn from my mistakes
I know I’m in your debt
I am aware that I owe you
now darlin’
beloved
you know it’s gonna’ be repaid.
I promise to repay you back.
Said I hope we can forgive and forget
I hope we can forgive each other and move on
now darlin’
beloved
it’s buried in a shallow grave.
Our past is now buried and forgotten
This pain, how it reminds me I’m alive
The pain reminds me that I am alive
with each decision do or die
Every decision feels like a life and death situation
raindrops ripple through the waters.
The raindrops creating ripples in the water symbolizes the impact of our actions on others.
this bitter makes the sweet taste so much better
Going through difficult times makes the good times even sweeter.
like the spring after the long and barren
Like spring coming after a long and harsh winter.
cold, cold winter, yeah.
Referring to a difficult and challenging period of time.
Perfect is the person who accepts
A perfect person is someone who accepts
that no one’s perfect no exceptions
It is impossible to be perfect, there are no exceptions
less the human refrains.
Unless one decides not to strive for perfection.
This love is so much bigger than the world
Our love is greater than anything else in this world
of cynics snickering in smoke
Our love is more important than the opinions of cynical people
a lighthouse calling out my name.
Our love shines as a beacon, directing us towards each other.
And I hope that there is where it’s gonna’ stay.
I hope our love will remain this way forever.
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bmf201
Why the heck isn't this guy more famous? Amazing vocals
Logan Vogt
Wooooooow Mad Respect for Santos, I love his stuff and get shocked that I still can't find him in the music stores yet.
tycho
This cd is the best one I've bought in AGES! Thanks so much for this amazing music, Matthew
Luciana Brito
I LOVE this song!!! It's impossible not to feel it coming inside my body, the rythm is contagious! Stuck on repeat.
voicesforever
I have watched this many times.... I love it!!! I also like the video ... It is great to you all in the studio... Love that!!
MrTestMusic
Haha, I love this drummer! Always smiling when he's recording.
DaveHangley
Matthew you have a ridiculously awesome, unique vocal sound - keep rockin!
Calvin Lee
oh man this one is great, just pure great. Love it, and thanks to let me have so good mood now:DDD
anointed01
Great song and great performance!!!
Piril Erel
Amazing artist, artists like these really need more credit!