I think this is one of Matt Nathanson's most symbolic songs. It seems like this song has to do with losing loved ones by pursuing success. He starts out opening up his arms and proclaiming that he's her guy but then realizes that he's been selfish for a while now. It's then revealed that something drastic has changed their relationship as he feels that she's needlessly judging him and listening to her friends rather than formulating her own opinions. She tells him that he's basically a salesman (I think the original lyric might be "you're a salesman, son" not "salesman's son") pimping pretty junk. He's been taking his own mess of a life and making it appear peaceful and serene trying to move on so he can get some money, pocket some success, and move on to the next victims of his pursuits.
Then the fight begins. She tells him that they need to be apart. He becomes defensive, saying that he's going after the money and fame because of her. That he's doing it all to make sure that she can be happy. She responds by telling him to look at himself and who he has become. She doesn't see him as the innocent cute boy that she fell in love with and instead thinks of him as cruel and worldly.
The bridge involves Matt Nathanson saying "I'm tired of baring my teeth when I smile" a line which is obscure because it doesn't say who says it. It's almost as if they're saying it in unison. That they both feel like their characters are being attacked and they can't deal with it the way it is now.
Ultimately, this is a song about the last fight before a relationship ends. I think all of us have been there before. Where both people want things to work out but someone has to say that it just isn't so. That there are no magic words that will whisk all problems away, and someone has to act up and say that the two people in the relationship deserve more than this.
I think this is one of Matt Nathanson's most symbolic songs. It seems like this song has to do with losing loved ones by pursuing success. He starts out opening up his arms and proclaiming that he's her guy but then realizes that he's been selfish for a while now. It's then revealed that something drastic has changed their relationship as he feels that she's needlessly judging him and listening to her friends rather than formulating her own opinions. She tells him that he's basically a salesman (I think the original lyric might be "you're a salesman, son" not "salesman's son") pimping pretty junk. He's been taking his own mess of a life and making it appear peaceful and serene trying to move on so he can get some money, pocket some success, and move on to the next victims of his pursuits.
Then the fight begins. She tells him that they need to be apart. He becomes defensive, saying that he's going after the money and fame because of her. That he's doing it all to make sure that she can be happy. She responds by telling him to look at himself and who he has become. She doesn't see him as the innocent cute boy that she fell in love with and instead thinks of him as cruel and worldly.
The bridge involves Matt Nathanson saying "I'm tired of baring my teeth when I smile" a line which is obscure because it doesn't say who says it. It's almost as if they're saying it in unison. That they both feel like their characters are being attacked and they can't deal with it the way it is now.
Ultimately, this is a song about the last fight before a relationship ends. I think all of us have been there before. Where both people want things to work out but someone has to say that it just isn't so. That there are no magic words that will whisk all problems away, and someone has to act up and say that the two people in the relationship deserve more than this.