Don’t look on that as a bad thing. It is a mystery, but a good one. You have a gift, and you use it well, and you should think of all the people that you’ve touched with your music, and not worry so much about trying to explain how it happens.

One time (true story) I had an idea, sat down, and in 15 minutes, wrote a coherent, rhyming poem in iambic pentameter. I’d never written anything in iambic pentameter before, and I didn’t even realize I was doing it when I wrote the poem; nor did I usually make anything rhyme. I have no idea how I did it. I barely remember doing it. But there it sits, a complete, structured entity. Sometimes these things just happen.

In the end, no one is ever sure of whether they always made the right choices, or where they are going next. But I am sure that you won’t ever make your life worse by using the talent you have.

“like an audible cancer into the world and remains there, malignantly caught in ones and zeros, broadcast by radio and television stations, becoming parts of the lives of strangers removed from the unknowingness of its birth.”

you think of your music as a cancer released into the world?

it’s more like there IS cancer IN the world. the lies, the deceit…
and you’re like a positive shot that kills cancer with truth and honesty

don’t think of your music negatively like that
i feel like a feeb having to write shit like this

And hey…being lost isn’t so bad.
Not being able to accept it would be unfortunate, as denying what is, is pointless.
We can find comfort in each other, because this is part of the human condition. So many have tread these trails before us.

So thanks for writing this, and know that nothing lasts forever. Not even this.

See ya when you come back through Canada!

i wont repeat everyone’s comments here, cuz i feel the same way, but i’m not able to articulate them as well as things have already been said. i’ll just simply say to matt; i adore you.

because of my lack of articulate ways, it’s hard to put into words (a talent that you have) thoughts and feelings. all i have is the constant voice in my head. i wish that mind reading was an ability we all have to easily share our thoughts and sincerely convey to each other that we understand and are alike (if not to the full extent, then very similar).

dunno if that made sense, but simply said, i get it.

You are a prism. Itself not light, but when it passes through you, those around you see the refracted rainbow that you pour into the world.

And it is a beautiful rainbow. One that has saved lives, changed their directions for the better, burned through minds like comets and ignited insight.

You are never at the eye of your own storm. But those who stand at a distance and marvel at its power think you so.

Again, I am deeply proud to know you as I do, even though I know you not as you truly are.

my god, Dale, that was so beautiful. I’m moved to tears (again)

I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who has posted a comment here. I’ve spent the last half hour reading most of them, and it’s amazing to see how deeply each of you cares for Matt. I am marveling at the outpouring of support and well wishes. It’s truly incredible. I love how unique this website is. We all feel so connected to Matt, yet he knows very few of us personally. But that’s why I love it. To me, Matt is not some famous celebrity. He’s a regular guy, a musician who puts his heart into what he does, and I feel a strong connection to that. He’s famous, but he hasn’t forgotten about the little people. I prefer to think of Matt as not having fans, but a large group of friends who listen and relate to his music.

For half of my life, I have been listening. I have anticipated release dates, scooped up concert tickets and merchandise, and read the website. The unique connection I feel to Matt’s music has shaped my life into what it is today. One that I am proud of. Sure, I feel like shit some days. We all have those days. But that’s a part of life. I know I am the same as mostly everyone else here, when I feel sad, down, or upset, I can always flip on some Matthew Good [Band]. Sometimes it will cheer me up, and sometimes it won’t. But it’s always helpful, it can take you to a new place, where you can be carefree and happy. You can just lie down and crank the volume, and suddenly everything is right. Matthew Good has remained, and always will remain, my favourite musician of all time. I am grateful to be able to listen to his music on a daily basis.

I hope you feel better sir, in every single way. I know we’re rooting for you, because we love what you do. We love how you do it. We love who you are. Hope the shows go well, see you in June! Thank you so much.

Well put! I cant wait to see you in June as well Matt.

Matt,

Not sure if you’ll read this but I figured I’d let you know that I will be at the show tonight in Chicago and that I’ve waited 8 years to finally be able to see you. I contemplated flying to Canada so many times to catch one of your shows but it just was never possible. I was in Buffalo, NY but a day too late to catch you a while back.

I’m sure you know that what you do touches a lot of people but I wanted you to know that it has been a tremendously positive influence on me and I’m so glad that I finally get to share it with you tonight; even if I’m just one guy singing all the words to your songs lost in the crowd.

Thanks for what you do, Matt

-Drew

You are definately in for an amazing show. I have seen Matt several times and not once was I dissapointed. Enjoy yourself. And bellow those songs at the top of your lungs. Who cares!!!! (well make sure Matt can stll be heard) haha

Go give ‘em your gift tonight….

There are very few differences between your statement and my own situation. Probably the biggest difference being the fact 14 years ago, I was just getting ready to start the music lessons that lead to the last 10 years of my education spent obsessing over an art form that has yet to materialize in anything worthwhile. I was so obsessed with it that I would commit myself to 4 school bands at a time and outside musical plays that always collided and freaked me out when I was forced to make choices (and offending people when I didn’t choose that commitment) because I wanted it so bad. For a good number of those years, I was so notorious for it, that I was taunted and teased by my classmates to the point that it became an embarrassment and a brick in the wall that created the emotional mess I’ve become.

Fast forward to today. Last year at this time, I developed this mindset that made me feel like I was pushing 32. It was so bad, I even felt the biological clock starting to wind down. When I expressed my feelings to my close circle of support, they either took it as a bit of a joke, and some got slightly offend. But when you’re a month away from 22, stuck in front of a computer a block away from a venue that once promised a future of performance at the grassroots level, the feeling of the end is just so real you can feel it in every bone in your body. I was supposed to go away to study music when I was 19, but I let the building insecurities explode over such a basic part of life and turned my ever visible roots into constant reminder of how wrong things went. Music maybe an outlet, but it has yet to give me the confidence it has the potential to provide and certainly does not give me a reason to love myself.

But through it all, I would be dead a long time ago if I didn’t have it in my life.

I learned how to get back on public transit once I traded in skipping CD player and dollar store headphones for an iPod and a stereo headset three times the size of the music player.

As much as I hate the fact I let my life come to a halt like it did, three years of sitting on my fat ass listening to music eight hours a day added at least 30 new artists to my iPod and mix CDs, made me revisit old favourites and makes me revisit my roots in music theory and history.

My outlook on life took a 360 when guitar lessons reappeared last year. I couldn’t have asked for a better music teacher. I told him I was a Beatlefan on first meeting, but it was my subtle hint of a Paul McCartney worshiper to give him a green light to go right into the bass line for Something, whether I liked it or not.

The best day of my life was September 3, 2007. My third visit to London, my second pilgrimage to Abbey Road and the first since my breakdown. The train ride down I was forced to stand as it was rush hour, so now I can’t listen to Come Together without revisiting the groove of the train into Euston Station and feeling relief when I know it might not be so bad after all.

And, last but not least, the only time I’ve been able to enter the theatre at all in the past three years was for a single concert by some guy who released a record that finally got it spot on. I get to try it again in four months.

It may have turned into a burden over the years, but on the days when the only answer is to “accidentally” walk in front of the one way street during rush hour, there will always be that one more song that I need to remember to listen to, that one last CD I need to buy, that one last Beatle song Glenn wants me to master and that one last question about Pink Floyd my little sister wants to ask me when I get home…at 1am…on a school night.

You have no idea how lucky we are that you decided listen to whatever told you to do music for the rest of your life and to keep going no mater how hard the process becomes. God may very well be an untrustworthy fucker, but he’s making you do it for a reason, just as he’s making me keep listening.

Keep going. We’re all routing for you - and happy to see you on your feet (however wobbly). :)

For half of my life, I have been listening. I have anticipated release dates, scooped up concert tickets and merchandise, and read the website. The unique connection I feel to Matt’s music has shaped my life into what it is today. One that I am proud of. Sure, I feel like shit some days. We all have those days. But that’s a part of life. I know I am the same as mostly everyone else here, when I feel sad, down, or upset, I can always flip on some Matthew Good [Band]. Sometimes it will cheer me up, and sometimes it won’t. But it’s always helpful, it can take you to a new place, where you can be carefree and happy. You can just lie down and crank the volume, and suddenly everything is right. Matthew Good has remained, and always will remain, my favourite musician of all time. I am grateful to be able to listen to his music on a daily basis.

I hope you feel better sir, in every single way. I know we’re rooting for you, because we love what you do. We love how you do it. We love who you are. Hope the shows go well, see you in June! Thank you so much.

Thinking about the “should haves” or “shouldn’t haves” doesn’t really get you anywhere.

This is true. It’s easy enough to think about how things would be if we took another path in life, but chances are, we wouldn’t be shitting rainbows so much as we would still be thinking about the other choices. As long as you find that overall, you’re content with where and who you are, that’s all that really matters.

All I can truly say is that - as made apparent by the influx of support - you are not alone, Matt. I look forward to seeing you live for the first time in Buffalo, but if the need arises, please put your well-being before the show(s). I think all of your fans would hold the same opinion.

Thank you for your music.