“I Know Better” by Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty is a quartet from Orlando currently consisting of bassist Brian Yale, frontman Rob Thomas, guitarist Kyle Cook and multi-instrumentalist Paul Doucette. All three of the latter have writing credit on their fifth-studio album, “Where the Light Goes”, which Atlantic Records made public on 26 May 2023.
In most instances, it is Rob Thomas or Paul Doucette who author or co-author the songs therein. But as for “I Know Better”, it was written exclusively by Kyle Cook, with its producer being Gregg Wattenberg. So this is also the only song on the album that Cook wrote and also in which he serves as lead vocalist.
The Lyrics of “I Know Better”
“I Know Better” is a bit unusual in that lyrically it’s based on a theme we can’t say we’ve ever specifically come across before. And that is the singer basically using the opportunity to try to convince the addressee that he or she should follow his advice.
Under normal circumstances, the vocalist would perhaps try to rationalize himself in that regard by concurrently professing how he has the other party’s best interest at heart, and that’s partially the case here.
But more to the point, as illustrated in the title, is Kyle touting himself as someone who ‘knows better’ than the addressee. And he means that literally, as in having ‘done his research’ and furthemore, as revealed in the bridge, being under the impression that some unspecified group of people, i.e. “them”, are out to do this person dirty, like they ‘did to him’.
That is to say that he is warning the addressee of a specific danger that he has already fallen victim to, something that he likens to ‘a digital disease inside your brain’.
Therefore, it would be his past victimization which makes him an expert on the subject, so to speak. So again, this is a pretty interesting song in terms of its unorthodox message, though it’s up to the listener’s imagination to fill in certain aspects of the narrative.
Listened to it a few times and to me it sounds like a tongue in cheek pull the piss on someone who never likes to be wrong … has a sarcastic tone which I love and reminds me of someone I know ..
T, I like your spin on it, makes sense. Though I can relate to being on the other side of the fence, and how frustrating it is when someone will not listen to well-intended, intelligent communication about something that has either directly been asked of you or in regard to situations that are obviously causing the other person or others in their life’s problems! I.E, in extreme cases think like addictions or other self-destructive behaviors that by nature make it extremely difficult for the person suffering them to take the first necessary step of coming to terms with the truth!
I think of this song as a mirrored image in that a toxic relationship is being played out. Both verses being each side of the relationship met with the bridge. In the end they both “know better” than to engage again
i like this
I’m obsessed with this song. I love the tune and the lyrics can have many meanings. Kyle’s voice is mesmerizing.
After paying critical attention to the lyrics of Matchbox Twenty’s “I Know Better,” I realized it encourages its listeners to have a strong sense of confidence and conviction in their knowledge and abilities. Being a researcher, the song makes me feel I possess a wealth of information and insights that are not easily accessible to others. The line “I’ve got access to information, That’s very hard to find” in the first verse, makes me feel I have answers to a number of issues facing humanity and I feel justified in sharing my perspective, even in the face of disagreement. The song suggests a certain level of intellectual superiority and a willingness to engage in debates to persuade others to align with one’s way of thinking. The repetition of the line “I know better,” gives me a lot of confidence as well as some sort of assurance and belief that my perspective is often superior. Overall, “I Know Better” encourages me to be a confident and assertive individual.
To me this song comes across as a highlighting of the flaws and mannerisms within communities such as the Anti-Vaccine movement. Lines such as “this is what they don’t want you to see”, “I’ve been accused of my tactics being cold” and “I’ve got access to information that’s very hard to find”, to me, explicitly point to this based on my own experience with these people. They have a piece of, usually incomplete, misunderstood or incorrect, information and flout it as the thing that the mainstream just don’t want you to see.
The tone of the song then becomes one of sarcasm and gentle mocking in the hopes of trying to show these people how their actions come across as arrogant and demeaning to others
100%
I took a totally different insight… spoken from the mind and mouth of a narcissist. Anyone who’s been the victim of narcissism can surely relate. Love this song! Obsessed!
That’s how I hear it too! Almost like the words of a manipulator, or DV perpetrator.
Kyle said he wrote this about politics. Kyle is on the left, and I think it’s about how the right tries to get the left on their side, or it’s about the left trying to talk sense into the right. Not sure, but it for sure has to do with the way politicians have been acting as of late.
Trump?!
I think you’re right Angie. Conservatives will always try to act like there way is the only right way to be
I think it is about narcissism and how some people feel that they are always right and will never stop until you believe their way. They always have reasons for how smart and right they are and you should agree or out comes the references and name drops. I think it is more general than specific.
This is one of my favorite songs on the album, I can’t stop listening to it! I had read, it’s about politics, and it fits right in with the narcissism of one side talking down to the other one. I love it! Kyle’s lyrics, as well as his voice is mesmerizing!