In 1995, songwriter/producer and representative for Atlantic Records Matt Serletic approached the members of Tabitha's Secret concerning a long-term record deal. However, Serletic was more interested in helping Thomas find his voice than he was in the band Tabitha's Secret. Jay Stanley and John Goff were uninterested in a long-term record deal, believing it was better to sign for a one-record deal and evaluate the situation following this record's release. Thomas, however, felt the band should take the offer.
The fact that Stanley and Goff were resistant to sign, alongside pressure from the record company to drop the two guitar players, Thomas, Yale, and Doucette decided it was best to part ways with the other members of the band. Splitting the band landed Thomas, Yale, and Doucette a two-record deal with Atlantic Records, which was later renewed. With their two guitar players gone, Atlantic introduced the trio to Adam Gaynor, a rhythm guitarist and Kyle Cook, a lead guitarist. The five now comprise Matchbox Twenty, a world-renowned band.
When Matchbox Twenty debuted its first album Yourself or Someone Like You, Jay Stanley sued for royalties, claiming he owned the rights to the song 3am which appeared on the newly released record. Stanley stated that he was paid for the original recording sessions of the song when it was performed by Tabitha's Secret (it's released on multiple albums by Tabitha's Secret). This lawsuit lasted five years and was settled in 2000.
Although the band never released any records while they were together, Jay Stanley released three albums after getting the rights to the recordings of Tabitha's Secret. He released a rough demo mix, "Don't Play With Matches" in 1998, to satisfy the hard-core fans and the "Live" record in 2000. Later, Stanley joined with Tony Miceli and engineer George Spatta to re-mix, re-master, and overdub the original recordings and put them into the album "Tabitha's Secret?" which was released in late 2001.
This is not a love song
Tabitha's Secret Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think my half wants a little more pride
I'm running out of reasons for sharing sometimes I can't think of one
I'm running out of faces that I can call familiar
Hey man I'm running out of friends
That I can call at all
How long have I been sleeping, why the hell am I awake
It seems just to stand here is overkill
And I think you should let me
It all seems so perfect, yet
Some people, some people get lonely
Some people they just grow older, and scared of a little pain
And we people, we cause a commotion
We didn't mean to be confused, we didn't mean to be alive
And we don't want to be standing here, standing here
How long have we been sleeping, why the hell are we awake
It seems just to stand here is overkill
If I bend any farther, I swear that I'll break
(chorus)
We ask, and we burn what we hear, on the water
And we speak, we burn what we say
But if you hold the rain
It's just a little further
Don't wanna scare you
Don't be unhappy
This is not a lovesong
This is not a lovesong
(chorus)
The lyrics of Tabitha's Secret’s “This Is Not a Love Song” seem to be about feeling lost and disconnected. The singer is running out of reasons to care about the people around them, including friends and loved ones. They express feeling overwhelmed and on the brink of breaking. The singer questions their own existence and purpose, wondering why they are awake and alive. The chorus repeats the idea that we burn and speak, but ultimately this is not a love song. It seems to suggest that despite our attempts to make connections and communicate, we are still alone in the end.
The song also explores the common human emotion of loneliness. Some people get lonely, some people just grow older and become scared of a little pain. The singer suggests that society is a contributor to this loneliness, as we cause commotion and confusion without necessarily meaning to. In this way, the song speaks to a larger societal issue of disconnection and isolation.
Overall, “This Is Not a Love Song” seems to question the purpose of life and human connection, while also acknowledging the difficulty and pain that can accompany these things.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm running out of reasons for caring about the other half
I'm starting to lose my motivation for caring about others who don't reciprocate the same level of care for me.
I think my half wants a little more pride
I believe that I deserve more respect and self-assurance in my relationships.
I'm running out of reasons for sharing sometimes I can't think of one
I'm losing the desire to share my thoughts and feelings because I don't see the benefit in being vulnerable.
I'm running out of faces that I can call familiar
I'm becoming more disconnected from the people around me and don't have a solid support system.
Hey man I'm running out of friends
I don't have many close friends left who I can rely on and confide in.
That I can call at all
I'm at a point where I don't have anyone to turn to when I need help or advice.
How long have I been sleeping, why the hell am I awake
I feel like I've been going through life on autopilot and am now questioning my purpose and existence.
It seems just to stand here is overkill
I feel stagnant and unfulfilled, as if just existing without purpose is too much to bear.
If I bend any farther, I swear that I'll break
I'm at my breaking point and can't handle any more stress or pressure.
And I think you should let me
I need to be allowed to embrace my vulnerabilities and seek help before I reach my breaking point.
It all seems so perfect, yet
Everything may appear fine on the surface, but I'm struggling internally.
Some people, some people get lonely
It's common for individuals to feel isolated and alone, even if they appear content outwardly.
Some people they just grow older, and scared of a little pain
As we age, we may become more fearful of getting hurt or experiencing emotional pain, causing us to withdraw from others.
And we people, we cause a commotion
People often create drama and disturbances in their personal lives and the world around them.
We didn't mean to be confused, we didn't mean to be alive
Nobody intends to feel lost or unsure of their existence, but it's a natural part of life.
And we don't want to be standing here, standing here
We don't want to remain stagnated and unfulfilled, we want to find purpose and meaning in our lives.
We ask, and we burn what we hear, on the water
We seek advice and guidance from others, but often feel like their words don't stick with us.
And we speak, we burn what we say
We may say things we don't mean, or regret something we've shared with someone else.
But if you hold the rain, it's just a little further
Sometimes, taking a step back or seeking a different perspective can help us to gain a clearer understanding or outlook on life.
Don't wanna scare you, don't be unhappy
I don't want to bring negativity into your life or make you feel unhappy through my struggles.
This is not a lovesong
This song is not about romantic love, but rather the struggles and complexities of human relationships and emotions.
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.