Underground Track of the Week: Metermaids “Matchbooks”
My homie was complaining the other day about how people on the subway are so detached. They just read their newspapers or listen to their iPods and avoid everyone else. Nobody talks anymore, and he thinks it’s a symbol of what’s wrong with New York.
The Metermaids’ new song Matchbooks made me think of that this morning as I was (ironically) listening to my iPod on the train, and the first verse states, ”I rode the train like a ghost in the graveyard.” After that, I listened to this song like 10 times in a row. Matchbooks is a track by one of my favorite local hip-hop groups the Metermaids, from their new album “Smash Smash Bang.” Click below to listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
And be sure to follow along with the lyrics after the break.
[Verse 1 - Swell]
This morning’s cigarette tasted like last night/
And last night like the one before/
I made my bed in the morning when I woke up/
I picked my clothes up off the floor/
I rode the train like a ghost in the graveyard/
I walk the streets like a criminal’s son/
I pulled my hat real low/
I had apologies for everyone/
I wished I could make the city silent/
I wish that all I could hear was my breath/
I would lay myself down on the sidewalk/
Let the city whisper secrets as I slept/
I called my sister up long distance/
To see if she remembered me now that she’s grown/
Her laugh sounded just like our mother’s/
And I wished that I was going home/
[Chorus]
It’s gonna get so much better/
Everybody’s gonna get their turn/
Count the matches that’s left in the matchbook/
One of these is gonna burn/
It’s gonna get so much better/
Everybody’s gonna get their turn/
Count the matches that’s left in the matchbook/
One of these is gonna burn/
[Verse 2 - Sentence]
Living like the first day of summer/
The stars are getting restless hiding out of sight/
I’ve never seen a bus or a train in the daytime/
But this one’s gonna get me home tonight/
Everybody’s leaned back with their eyes closed/
My fingernails dirty like I dug out of a prison/
And I try not to think about what everything could mean/
‘Cause I’ve never been much for symbolism/
But I’ve seen this street too many times now/
And the trees all nod like they agree/
I leave the door open on my way in the apartment/
Like somehow that’s enough to make me free/
And the last thoughts I have are the pretty ones/
The last split second I’m awake/
And I’ve never been afraid and the dark don’t scare me/
‘Cause some things you can never take away/
[Chorus]
It’s gonna get so much better/
Everybody’s gonna get their turn/
Count the matches that’s left in the matchbook/
One of these is gonna burn/
It’s gonna get so much better/
Everybody’s gonna get their turn/
Count the matches that’s left in the matchbook/
One of these is gonna burn/
Jay-Izzle wrote:
Crazy! I said an exact line from that chorus last night. I’m out of weed, so I dove into the ashtray and found a couple roaches. They were very small and not promising. But in a fit of desperation, I yelled “Fuck it! One of these is gonna burn!” And one did …
Posted on 06-Oct-09 at 10:51 am | Permalink
303 b-boy wrote:
dope
Posted on 06-Oct-09 at 1:39 pm | Permalink
Kats wrote:
This song is pretty awesome…The opening verse is sick!
Posted on 06-Oct-09 at 5:51 pm | Permalink
Jacob Broesder wrote:
I would be amazed if Metermaids made a bad song…I have all of their albums they have put up for free download or sale….they are one of my favorites…I love you guys
haha
Posted on 06-Oct-09 at 8:23 pm | Permalink
geometree wrote:
i like the different sound. good to see a group breaking out of the mold of what everyone expects from hip hop. check killah koncepts.
Posted on 07-Oct-09 at 12:34 pm | Permalink
Dru Daddy wrote:
this is definitely an instant classic in my opinion.
Posted on 07-Oct-09 at 1:23 pm | Permalink
direfire wrote:
wow reminds me of Atmosphere. Definitely some powerful verses in there.
Posted on 07-Oct-09 at 6:22 pm | Permalink
doozer wrote:
yeah i know i was so happy to find you could download all their stuff for free at music.metermaidsnyc.com
Posted on 08-Oct-09 at 10:29 pm | Permalink
Metermaids “Matchbooks” Video | Strictly hip hop news wrote:
[...] is a video for former HHL quotable of the week Matchbooks – my favorite track from the Metermaids FREE EP “Smash Smash Bang.” If you like [...]
Posted on 26-Mar-10 at 12:46 pm | Permalink