Since Mutemath released its first EP in late 2004 and hit the road in 2005, their musical style has transformed over the years. By the time of their 2006 self-titled debut, their blending of adverse genres earned them a reputation as one of modern music’s most daring young groups. By 2007, they found themselves Grammy nominated and declared by Alternative Press as “the #1 band you need to see live before you die.” But in the band almost broke up during the making of their sophomore album Armistice. “It was a risk we had to take,” says King looking back on what they set out to accomplish for Armistice. “This record was by far the most painful music-making experience I’ve ever had, but also the one I’m most proud of.”
The band is best known for the 2007 single “Typical”, taken from their 2006 self titled album. The song’s innovative backwards video was nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for Best Short Form Music Video. Speaking with Songfacts in a 2011 interview, Darren King poked fun at the somewhat futile nomination : "For the rest of our career, we get to say "Grammy nominated band." We don't have to say what it was for. (Laughing)." Mutemath re-enacted the "Typical" video during a live performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, using the same reverse playback technique used in the original video. The song also peaked at #33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The band has contributed songs to various films such as Twilight, Transformers, Never Back Down, The Stepfather, The Rocker, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.
Alongside contributing songs to film and product endorsements, Mutemath has appeared on every major late night television program including: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
In April 2011, it was announced on their official website that founding guitarist Greg Hill had left the band in October 2010. The new album was recorded with other band members filling in on guitar and a new guitarist, Todd Gummerman, was named shortly after Odd Soul was released and he features in most music videos from the album.
Chaos
Mutemath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can't believe there's another
Constantly just another
I can't avoid what I can't control
And I'm losing ground
Still I can?t stand down
And I know, yeah I know, yeah
I know you stay true when my world is false
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
I always see you when my sight is lost
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
It?s hard to trust anyone again
After all the let downs I've been through
Haunted by what I've been through
Air still trapped while I still can't breathe
And I'm screaming out
Give me hope somehow
And I know, yeah I know, yeah
[Chorus x2]
Chaos, chaos
I know you stay true, yeah
I know you stay, yeah, yeah, yeah
I know you stay true, everything around's breaking down
I know you stay true, everything around's breaking down
[Chorus x2]
The lyrics to Mutemath's song "Chaos" speak to the struggles of navigating the complexities of life. The singer of the song claims that "complication's [their] claim to fame," suggesting that they have a proclivity for getting tangled up in difficult situations. Additionally, the line "I can't avoid what I can't control" speaks to the frustration of feeling powerless in the face of circumstances that are beyond one's control.
The chorus of the song introduces a ray of hope in the form of a second person- the "you" to whom the singer is addressing their words. This person is someone who "stays true" when the singer's "world is false" and who is there for them even in the midst of chaos. The repetition of the phrase "everything around's breaking down to chaos" echoes the feelings of overwhelm that the singer is experiencing, but the presence of this trustworthy individual provides a sense of stability and comfort.
The song then delves into the singer's difficulty in trusting others again after experiencing disappointment and heartbreak in the past. They are "haunted by what [they've] been through" and it feels like they still can't breathe even though the air is still. However, the hope that the "you" provides is still present, and the singer calls out for hope even in the midst of their struggle.
Overall, "Chaos" is a song that acknowledges the challenges of navigating a complex and sometimes overwhelming world, but ultimately finds hope in the connection shared with a trusted individual who remains steadfast even when everything else is falling apart.
Line by Line Meaning
Complication's my claim to fame
I am known for making things complicated, and that is what sets me apart.
And I can't believe there's another
I am surprised that there is yet another problem I have to deal with.
Constantly just another
It feels like there is always something else going wrong.
I can't avoid what I can't control
I cannot prevent things that are outside of my control.
And I'm losing ground
I am struggling and falling behind.
Still I can?t stand down
Although I am struggling, I refuse to give up.
And I know, yeah I know, yeah
I have a deep sense of certainty despite my difficulties.
I know you stay true when my world is false
I trust that you remain reliable even when everything else around me is unreliable and chaotic.
Everything around's breaking down to chaos
The world around me is falling apart and becoming chaotic.
I always see you when my sight is lost
Even when I cannot see a way forward, I believe that you are there alongside me.
It?s hard to trust anyone again
I struggle to trust others because of past disappointments and betrayals.
After all the let downs I've been through
I have been disappointed many times in the past, and it has made me wary of trusting others.
Haunted by what I've been through
My past experiences still affect me, and I cannot forget them.
Air still trapped while I still can't breathe
I feel stuck and suffocated, unable to move forward.
And I'm screaming out
I am desperate for help and support.
Give me hope somehow
I am pleading for some reason to believe that things will get better.
Chaos, chaos
The chaotic situation is overwhelming and exhausting.
I know you stay true, yeah
Despite all the chaos, I still believe that you remain faithful and reliable.
I know you stay, yeah, yeah, yeah
I am absolutely certain that you do not abandon me or give up on me, no matter how difficult things get.
I know you stay true, everything around's breaking down
In the midst of all the chaos and destruction, I believe that your steadfastness endures.
I know you stay true, everything around's breaking down
No matter how much chaos or destruction there is, I know that you remain trustworthy and dependable.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: PAUL MEANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Moonsong08
as soon as i heard it i fell in love. so amazing.
@coolshariq
Me too ;)
@mutemath
These are clips from the forthcoming DVD, shot in LA at the Henry Fonda Theatre
@s2vics2
This song is frickin craazy mad.
@SolarSystemSound
I absolutely love this band! So glad i found them, i thought i was never going to find the kind of music that i had been craving and this band 100% satisfies my hunger for amazing fresh diverse music!
@bubbles2636
i know you stay true when my world is false... gosh i love dis song..
@Betty920418
i'm totally obsessed with this song. <3333
@mellymeliza
for sure. they are absolupositivaly the best preformance live you will ever see. I saw them live at Avalon last year. I even got to touch the lead singer. So awesome. go.
@FU1LMOON
mellymeliza I herd them sing vitals live they sound just as good live as they do on the album which is super rare. They are truly talented
@blackhatwizardcat
This is one of the best songs I've ever heard - it kicks ass!