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#----------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Song: Back 2 good
Album: Yourself or someone like you
Artist: Matchbox20
Tabbed by: Nick S. (bass_freak@users.basstabarchive.com)
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3-------------
E:-------3------3------3------3------3------3------3------3----------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:-----3-2-0------3-2-------5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3
E:--3--------3--------3----------3------3------3------3------3------3
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:-----3-2-0------3-2-------5-3----5-3----------------0--0-0--0------
E:--3--------3--------3----------3------3---3--3-3--3----------------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5--5-5--5-------------------0--5-4-2---2-2--2-2--2--0------------
E:------------3--3-3--0-3--3-3-----------------------------3---------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:-------0--0-0--0--5---------------------------------3-0----5-3-----
E:--3-3------------------3--------0/3-------0/3-------------------3--
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----------3-2-0-----
E:-------3------3------3------3------3------3------3----3---------3--
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--3-2----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3--------3-2-0------3-2-----
E:------3------3------3------3------3------3----3-------3---------3--
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-3----5-3------------0--0-0--0-5--5-5--5------------------------
E:------3------3-3--3-3--3--------------------3--3-3--3-0-3--3-3--3--
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:------------------------------------------------1-7-5--------------
A:--0--5-4-2--2-2--2-2--2-0-----------0--0-0--0-5--------------------
E:--------------------------3--3-3--3-------------------------0/3----
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:---------3-0----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3---------------------------
E:--0/3---------------3------3------3------3--3-2-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
G:-----------------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---------------------------------
E:---------------------------------------------------0-2-3--3-3-3-3-3
G:-----------------------------------------------------2-0-----------
D:---------------------------------------------------------4--2-2-2-2
A:--------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---------------
E:--3-3-3------------------------------------------------------------
G:---------------------------------------------0-2--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--
D:--2-2-2-2-----------------------------------2----------------------
A:----------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-------------------------
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------
G:--2-0--------------------------------------2-0---------------------
D:-----2-----------------------------------------2-------------------
A:------2-0---------------------------------------2-0----------------
E:----------3--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3----------3--------------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-3---5-3----5-3----5-3---------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------
E:------3------3------3------3--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3----------------------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-----------------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
E:------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--0-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3---------------
G:-------------------------7-6-4-2-----------------------------------
D:--------------------------------1-0--------------------------------
A:--5-4-2--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
E:------------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3----------------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---------------------------------------3-0--------
E:------------------3-----------0/3--------0/3--5-3-0-3-3------------
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------
A:--5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3----5-3--------------------
E:------3------3------3------3------3------3------3------------------
End on this note........
G:------
D:------
A:--5---
E:------
I recommend playing along with the song the first time you play it to
understand everything with the song.
Good song. Enjoy!
Taken from BASSMASTA.NET - http://www.bassmasta.net
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John Lead Player |
#1 by John Fitch at Jul 21, 1972 at 12:02 PM EST |
| ahhhhhh. one of my favorite songs. I adore this line: "If you see me out you don't know me Try to turn your head, try to give me some room" | |
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CJ Average |
#2 by CJ Breidt at Feb 12, 1973 at 12:05 AM EST |
| This song is about having a loving relationship. Or, rather, no longer being able to find that kind of connection with another human being, because of what has happened to you and what you have done. Without trust, there is no real love. And, he's discovered the empty pointless shallowness that human relationships take on when the definition of maturity is being an aging sensualist. Look back at how the song starts, "I don't go there, cuz I don't want to". What is supposed to be the point of physical attraction and sex, that is forming a mutual loving trusting relationship no longer exists. Really a pretty sad and tragic song. To which I add, Just when you think it's all over, it's only begun. | |
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KING KEVIN Average |
#3 by KING KEVIN BLAIR at Aug 22, 1973 at 11:43 AM EST |
| i agree with Tandek | |
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Tim Wanna Be |
#4 by Tim N at Jan 23, 1974 at 4:39 PM EST |
| I've read so different interpretations in here. I know it's a cheating song, as I heard it from Rob himself, and if you read the lyrics they mean exactly what Tandek say. But of course all of us can make them fix into our own situation. So when I discovered it, in 2003 I used to think that it talked about how a person can go down with his own weakness, calling it drugs, alcohol, or any kind of self-harming stuff; then not being able to get back to good, to be healthy. Rob's voice in here sounds so pure and sincere, it is one of my favourites for sure. But like I said before, it IS about falling into the temptation of cheating and realising how it hurted the relationship you cared for...trying to hide it, but feeling awful inside. | |
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Brenton Average |
#5 by Brenton Giordano at May 7, 1976 at 8:36 AM EST |
| just wanted to say that TANDEK, that's one heck of an interpretation. awesome. | |
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Cam Wanna Be |
#6 by Cam Reck at Feb 22, 1980 at 9:30 AM EST |
| When I saw them in concert, Rob said it was about two people in a bar, really late at night. | |
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max Average |
#7 by max the bassist at Apr 11, 1981 at 11:16 AM EST |
| Rob Thomas says it's about screwing up so much that you actually become good at it. | |
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Huuuu??? Yessss Wanna Be |
#8 by Huuuu??? Yessssssss Its Meeeeeeee >jOrDaN< at Jan 31, 1982 at 1:38 PM EST |
| Tandek, that's very well put. I don't think this is so much a "cheating song" as it is a "thinking about cheating" song. The songs message, to me, is that we should not worry about our partners' "thinking of cheating" because it's a feeling everyone has, and when we drink it may be more pronounced and we're more likely to act upon it that if we're sober. But we don't know how to make those feelings to go away, but we should accept those feelings in other people, including our partners. The song also says that if he were to cheat, no one would notice or care, however he does not act upon it. The best way to deal with these feelings is to "keep this under our heads." No idea though why the song is titled "Back 2 Good" which is something I think Prince would do not Matchbox 20... er Matchbox Twenty. | |
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Frankie Wanna Be |
#9 by Frankie S at May 21, 1982 at 2:08 PM EST |
| I love this song. It says so much about me and a group of my friends. It is just awesome. | |
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heitor Average |
#10 by heitor dolinski at Aug 17, 1982 at 3:33 AM EST |
| Everyone here, knows everyone here is thinking about Somebody else It's best if we all keep it under our heads I couldn't tell, if anyone here was feeling the way I do But I'm lonely now, and I don't know how To get it back to good I think it's about being in a relationship that used to be very powerful, but they won't break up because they have to stay together because that's what they and everyone else think. they want it to be stronger, but they don't know how to fix it. And everyone here, hates everyone here for doing just like They do It's best if we all keep this quiet instead its true. people hate people just like them. for instance, my dad and i don't get along and what we hate the most about each other is what we each do, but we never admit it. Everyone here, is wondering what it's like to be with Somebody else Everyone here's to blame, everyone here Gets caught up in the pleasure of the pain, everyone hides Shades of shame, but looking inside we're the same, we're The same And we're all grown now, but we don't know how To get it back to good This goes along with what i said earlier about staying together even though they shouldn't. they want to be with someone else (not necessarily someone in particular) because they want a different experience. The please or pain part is the guilt of cheating. at the time it feels good, but the guilt afterward it the pain. | |
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Bye! Average |
#11 by Bye! at Apr 8, 1983 at 10:19 PM EST |
| reminds me of listening to it on a jukebox in Pizza Hut when I was a freshman in high school | |
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Black Rainbow Professional |
#12 by Black Rainbow at Sep 22, 1983 at 12:24 AM EST |
| my favorite Matchbox 20 song ever, for sure. i love the lyrics, love the melody, love the emotions it conjures up inside me, and i love the fact that i just HAVE to sing along whenever i hear this song. =D for me, i think it's about screwing up and trying really hard to get "back 2 good", then realizing along the way that we're not alone. there are other people too who are trying to get better. | |
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mason Average |
#13 by mason coats at Oct 13, 1984 at 7:30 AM EST |
| They losed their Melbourne show last year with this and Rob said that this was their 'Drinking and Cheating song'- whatever that alludes to | |
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Gino Average |
#14 by Gino Rivera at Aug 2, 1986 at 7:46 AM EST |
| This song fit the circumstance others have mentioned about meeting up with an old love while already being involved with someone else. Then meeting back up with that old love changed everything. And so trying to go back to the world you had before was impossible... Simply put--Theres no getting back to good!! | |
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Kevin Average |
#15 by Kevin Toutkoushian at Dec 19, 1986 at 4:30 AM EST |
| Also this song brings up a good point. In cultures where monogomous relationships are the expected norm, such as any Western country, we cannot reconcile our cheating desires with keeping a marriage or long-term relationship for years. The only way we can handle those desires is to either cheat or to keep quiet, and these problems come to surface when we start drinking. I have never cheated but I agree wholeheartedly with it. I do think it's not entirely realistic to expect someone to be committed to only one person for years and years without someone even thinking about cheating. This could bring in the swinging discussion which is a whole new can of worms, but I agree that there seems to be no good solution except to the cheating feelings if the partners don't agree to accept new partners in a relationship from time-to-time. The only solution is to relocate it to silence and make it a taboo topic. | |
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Drew Wanna Be |
#16 by Drew Hanson at Oct 6, 1991 at 1:48 PM EST |
| This song is pure humanity put to melody. | |
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Hobson Average |
#17 by Hobson at May 11, 1992 at 8:41 AM EST |
| This is a really good song. I luv matchbox 20!!!! | |
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Sam Average |
#18 by Sam the man at Jun 9, 1995 at 10:37 AM EST |
| In relation to what utasteadrenaline said about a "Drinking and Cheating song" - I completely agree with that. I always thougth that the song was basically about going out to a bar or something thinking of cheating or cheating... "And everyone here, hates everyone here for doing just like They do" - Basically saying people are mad at someone for cheating on them when they have done the exact same thing. "If you see me out you don't know me Try to turn your head, try to give me some room To figure out just what I'm going to do" Basically saying if you see me out later... pretend not to know me and let me figure out what I'm gonna do. To me "back to good" just means how someone is going to get it back to good after they've cheated... | |
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Alek Wanna Be |
#19 by Alek Kalinowski at Sep 2, 1995 at 12:05 PM EST |
| "It's nothing, it's so normal you Just stand there I could say so much But I don't go there cuz I don't want to I was thinking if you were lonely Maybe we could leave here and no one would know At least not to the point that we would think so" he runs into someone he used to date, and they don't say what he really wants to say -- small talk. and he says that even if they did run away together, no one would really notice. they'd be like 'oh, they're gone' and go about their daily lives. 'Everyone here, knows everyone here is thinking about Somebody else It's best if we all keep it under our heads I couldn't tell, if anyone here was feeling the way I do But I'm lonely now, and I don't know how To get it back to good' everything and everyone is littered with infidelity, but as long as it's kept secret it's all right. because of all the lies, he can't figure out if anyone else feels like he does, and all he wants is the truth. 'And everyone here, hates everyone here for doing just like they do It's best if we all keep this quiet instead And I couldn't tell, why everyone here was doing me like they do' he's talking about hypocrites and how they don't talk about anything important. he feels like he's somehow caught in the middle or involved and he wants out. 'everyone here gets caught up in the pleasure of the pain, everyone hides shades of shame, but looking inside we're the same, we're the same And we're all grown now, but we don't know how to get it back to good' he's talking about how everyone's hiding behind their lies, how they get so caught up in it that they find pleasure in pain. they all believe they're so different, but "inside we're all the same". and he says that no matter how old they get, they're still immature and don't know how to make it right again. | |
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kevin Average |
#20 by kevin Kicks at Sep 15, 1998 at 2:19 PM EST |
| I remember Rob saying one time that it's about everyone fucking everyone up all the time. | |
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Joe Average |
#21 by Joe Montana at Oct 23, 2001 at 10:26 AM EST |
| I love the lones- Everyone here, knows everyone here is thinking about somebody else. It's best if we all keep it under our heads I couldn't tell, if anyone here was feeling the way I do But I'm lonely now, and I don't know how To get it back to good" I feel that way so often, I think this song is amazing | |
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Lucifer Average |
#22 by Lucifer at Sep 16, 2002 at 11:21 AM EST |
| I think it's about someone who looks at people drinking all the time, thinking bad thoughts, and that all this cheating and lying is pathetic and that it's never really good. Everyone has lost innocence and stopped being virtuous, instead opting for cheap thrills, and so "dont know how to get it back to good". That's just my opinion. | |
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Ben Average |
#23 by Ben Zero at Sep 17, 2002 at 9:57 PM EST |
| This song means a lot to me right now 'cause it speaks to me about something I'm going through, but not in the same way as it seems to speak to the rest of you. That's the beauty of music, that a single song can mean so many things to so many people. Anyway, to me it's about not being able to be with the person you want to be with, because they're really thinking about somebody else they'd rather be with, and that really everyone does that, thus the part about hating everyone for doing just like they (you) do. It's almost cyclical. Everyone's thinking about being with somebody else, but that person is in turn doing the same thing, and it hurts, but can you really blame them? You want to yet at the same time you're doing it to the person you're with. In the end no one's happy, and that's why they invented the blues lol. As the Beetles said, "obladi oblada life goes on..." | |
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Jonathon Wanna Be |
#24 by Jonathon Gangloff at May 25, 2003 at 7:02 PM EST |
| Besides some very good music, the lyrics are very surprisingly deep for a band most consider "pop-ish". As stated, it is a "Drinking and Cheating" song. In the beginning, we are committed to someone (dating, married, whatever) and are sitting at the bar, drunk and looking to have a good time... with whoever. We feel something is missing at the moment (the only think that really matters when you're drunk) and we want to get "back to good". Now, everyone knows that the same thing is going through everyone else's mind, it's just not talked about. Yet all the signals are there. Eventually, we slip away with someone. As long as nobody notices, who really does it hurt? The second verse is right after the fact, and regret sets in. We are now hurt, and possibly hurt the person we are committed to, and maybe even hurt the person we were with. But we don't know how to get back to the way it was before what we did (Back to Good). It was fun at the moment, but there was nothing lasting in it ("you don't own me") and was just meaningless ("in fact it's phony as hell"). Yet, we truly hope in the end that this moment will never come up again, or we will be at a loss to explain ourselves. But should we have to explain ourselves? Everyone has those cheating feelings. Everyone. How can one person look down on another for breaking down and going farther with those feelings than another? One person stops at flirting, another with a caress, another at a kiss, another... ("everyone hides shades of shame"), yet we have all cheated to some degree. Yet it's all still cheating ("but looking inside we're the same"). Overall, the song is just telling us that everyone is human, and we all eventually go astray. Don't think for a second that everyone else is faultless, and don't put other's down for thier moments of going "too far". | |
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Doug Wanna Be |
#25 by Doug Little at Sep 28, 2006 at 11:32 PM EST |
| awesome song. u all say u read/ heard from rob thomas that its a "drinking and cheating" song and i agree, but i interpret this song on a slightly dfferent level. When i hear this song i imagine a few friends (3 guys and girls to be exact :D ) who used to be couples but broke up. they are sittin at a coffeshop, or a restaurant and they are talking n laughin n havin a good time. However, deep inside , each one of them is not as happy as they seem cuz they miss being with thier X.They all broke up with thier partners for no obvious reason. Their happiness is like a mask they hide their frustration and hurt behind. "Everyone here, knows everyone here is thinking about Somebody else It's best if we all keep it under our heads I couldn't tell, if anyone here was feeling the way I do But I'm lonely now, and I don't know how To get it back to good" and u could c that they still have feelings towards one another and they want to give it another try and spend time away from anyone else who used to envy them wen rob thomas sez "you Just stand there I could say so much But I don't go there cuz I don't want to I was thinking if you were lonely Maybe we could leave here and no one would know" Verse 2 is them trying to get together and they want to take time to think of it cuz they are confused, blaming each other, and mixed up. they are scared of getting hurt again or that if they screw up this time they may never be together ever again...so they are trying to sort out the differences between em and they're trying to compromise and suck it up to make it work cuz its really worth it... "This don't mean that, you own me This ain't no good, in fact it's phony as hell But things worked out just like you wanted too If you see me out you don't know me Try to turn your head, try to give me some room To figure out just what I'm going to do" Finally (and i think ur happy u reached this part now :D) they agree it was thier fault cuz they didnt put much effort in the realationship, so "everyone's here to blame"..i feel its like a confession or an obligation to try and keep a healthy relation this time... i've been in such a situation. i broke up with a the girl ive loved the most, just out of the blues. it hurt so much. although she said there was reason and we just werent a good match, deep inside i no its cuz im a big fuck up :(.. i think thats the beauty of MB20, u can interpret thier lyrics on ur own way and they all work ;).. | |
