The first para is clearly about cheating and revenge. The protaganist has been cheated on and has put himself in the position whereby he can cheat as well in order to spite his beloved. The girl he has the chance to cheat with tells him it'll hurt forever, she'll never know etc. She convinces him to cheat to spite his girlfriend. Thereafter the protaganist says "if the shades are drawn, then the slate is clean" insinuating that the cheating is going on behind the shades. Great song. Better than 90% of Matchbox songs. Much darker. I imagine its because Rob Thomas' life no longer has cheating and being young and stupid going on in it!
The first para is clearly about cheating and revenge. The protaganist has been cheated on and has put himself in the position whereby he can cheat as well in order to spite his beloved. The girl he has the chance to cheat with tells him it'll hurt forever, she'll never know etc. She convinces him to cheat to spite his girlfriend. Thereafter the protaganist says "if the shades are drawn, then the slate is clean" insinuating that the cheating is going on behind the shades. Great song. Better than 90% of Matchbox songs. Much darker. I imagine its because Rob Thomas' life no longer has cheating and being young and stupid going on in it!