Downfall

It seems to be about someone who he wants to be with, and she knows it but for whatever reason she doens't want the relationship. However, even though he wants to be with her, he knows he won't be good for her ('be my saviour, and I'll be your downfall'). This is one of my favourites on More Than You Think You Are.

When I first listened to this song, I didn't like it very much because the choir sounded strange to me. Now it is one of my favourite Matchbox Twenty songs.

To me this song always makes me think of the vulnerabilty and uncertainty that can come through in a relationship. It shows the insecurity that Rob (or whoever wrote this song) feels in his relationship, like he has nothing to give her, even though I am sure this isn't the case.

The passion in this song takes my breath away, it just seems so powerful. It is a shame that they couldn't tour with the choir, but their concert for this cd was awesome!

I think this song describes a relationship between two people who know they're dangerous for each other, for whatever reasons(...), and other people think it's wrong of them to try as well... but they connected by something emotionally or cosmically or whatever, and no matter how much they try to deny it to themselves, they know they can't resist each other, though they try hard to.

The fact he wants her to save him yet knows he'd only be her downfall... so simply put but so perfect. Kind of like he's the devil who would corrupt the angel type thing. Who hasn't been in that situation? And anyone who hasn't...I hope you never are. It sucks to be in!

"I've always been with you Hear me now with all that's within you,"

I think that's something that really puts to words that invisible connection you have with some people... you grow to expect the person to "know" how you feel or think about them even when you're not in contact anymore.<p><b><i>Edited by delial on May 28 2008, at 07:11AM</i></b></p>

This song spoke to me tonight. I've heard and loved the song for years, but only one thing hasn't made sense to me about the lyrics: the most important word, "downfall". Why would you want to be someone's downfall? I've toyed with religious implications but never really found anything until tonight.

I've been with my girlfriend now for more than two years, but there has been something that has been pulling me down for about seven years. It's been seeping into our relationship, slowly pushing us apart in the most subtle way. I haven't ever been able to quite put my finger on the exact problem, but we both know it's there, and it's big.

Tonight it came to a head. I knew that I had been hurting her, but I hadn't let myself see how badly. Tonight, as she was telling me that she is a step away from walking out of my life, I heard this song in my head. And suddenly the "downfall" part made sense.

My girlfriend was singing this song to me tonight. Not literally, but her message was clear in the lyrics (I'll try to just do the important parts):

"I wonder how you sleep I wonder what you think of me"

She asked me how I could live with myself, how I could look her in the eye, how I could really care about her, knowing that I'm driving this issue between us.

"I want you to be uneased"

She wanted me to see just how bad I've let my issues get.

"I want you to believe in me I want you on my side Come on, and Lay it down"

I have to be able to come to terms with this issue, and together, WE can come to terms with it - but first I have to actually pinpoint what's been affecting me and lay it out completely.

"Give all that's within you Be my savior And I'll be your downfall"

If I can put my issues aside and focus my energies on what's important in my life, I can be so much more than I have been. I can be the man that she's seen that I can be - I can be her savior. But first, I've been unable to actually address it because I've still been able to justify that I haven't hit rock bottom. I've still been ok. But not now - now she is showing me that I really am hitting that rock bottom. She is being my downfall. And now I can't ignore it - I have to either fix it or lose her, and lose a huge part of my life at the same time.

"Here we go again Ashamed of being broken in"

I've been unwilling to let anyone else see the problem, ashamed of what other will think.

"I want you to agree with me I want so much so bad... Only love can save us now"

After all that I've put her through, knowingly and unknowingly, she shouldn't put up with it. But instead of staying mad at me, she ended up giving me advice about how to fix it, because she wants the love that we have so badly. She wants me to want it, too - and now the only reason that we still have a chance is if this is meant to be. If it's real, we will be able to pull through if we fight hard enough - love is the only reason we are both still trying.

"Now I'm back on my own Yeah my feet are heavy, made of stone"

I've got a tough road ahead of me. But if I can take responsibility for my actions...

"And I'm coming home, on my back Kissing me, your lips painted black"

...then I can come back to her, having killed off the old me (hence the black lipstick) and starting fresh (the kiss along with the upbeat music).

It's poetic. It's perfect. And I'm not sure that it'll make sense to anyone but me, but I'm putting it out here on the off chance that this song will inspire someone else. :)

this has been my favorite Matchbox Twenty song for about 6 months. I can’t get tired of listening to it. I ADORE the incorporation of the choir which I think is absolutely beautiful and Rob’s voice blends with it sooo well. This song is also more challenging to understand than others I find (another reason why I like it) so here is my attempt

Their relationship has ended and a period of time has passed, he wants her back (needs her) even though he knows he is not good for her and or hurt her badly during their relationship. He wonders what she thinks of him now that time has passed and wants her to believe in him and to remember his good points. I wonder how you sleep I wonder what you think of me If I could go back Would you have ever been with me I want you to be uneased (he wants to let down her wall and remember the good (prolly sex and passion) I want you to remember I want you to believe in me I want you on my side

I believe that he thinks that her being with him will make him feel better as he seems to be lost without her love BUT he will continue to hurt her as he did before: Give all that's within you Be my savior And I'll be your downfall

In order for them to work as a couple or for her to come back to him, they have to feel love and forget the bad aspects of their relationship Yeah be my savior Only love can save us now Love save me now ( he seems to be nothing without love, totally dependent on her love)

Only love can save us now I'll be your downfall Our love can save us now Love save me now Lay it down I've always been with you Here and now Give all that's within you Be my savior And I'll be your downfall

At the end of the song he acknowledges that he is alone again unable to move on without her but he is gonna try and get her again using sex and her lips are painted black from the dark character he is especially for making her go with him by using sex (this must be her weakness)

Now I'm back on my own Yeah my feet are heavy, made of stone I'll make you go where I go Well they're here, can I take you home And I'm coming home, on my back Kissing me, your lips painted black

Wow definitely the hardest one to interpret...love it to death

I wish Matchbox Twenty would come to Jamaica sigh

no one's commented on this! it's just recently getting some airplay, which kind of upsets me since it's been "my" song for a year. downfall is my favorite song by matchbox twenty. to me, it's about someone wanting to affect someone else in any way possible, and not necessarily just in good ways.

i totally love this song... although i don't really know what it's about... maybe a missed chance for a relationship? the singer maybe had a chance with someone and for whatever reason, it didn't work, but still really wants to try... i dunno... i really like it though...

i love the choir in the background, i think this song is about how the person in the story doesnt think he can give her what she needs

i think i agree with 'falling from grace'. and yeah, the choir in the background is awesome!

definitely one of my favorites off the album. the choir is so great, and it's just overall a powerful song. I agree with falling_from_grace on their comments.