You're a God

Songwriter Matt Scannell does a lot of introspection, which gives him plenty of ammunition for his music. In this song, he unleashes some of the negative energy he had dredged up, and it proved to be a very cathartic experience. He shares the tale: "'You're A God' was written about when we give people in our lives power over us. It can be anything, whether it's a romantic thing or not – this one wasn't. So, in every relationship that we have in our lives, there are certain dynamics that exist. On the one hand, some people may be more giving towards us and we're a little bit more taking from them, and the balance is constantly ebbing and flowing and changing over time. But there are some relationships that are nurturing, and there are some relationships where, by and large, we do the nurturing for the other person."

"Then there are some relationships that are largely positive. And there are others that are largely negative. Once, I had a relationship in my life that was largely negative. And it was a person who had power over me, seemed to be in a position that was above me, a place that was beyond my grasp, whether it's a boss, or someone that you look up to. And I realized all I had to do was stop looking up at them, and start looking down on them. And I took that power away. The power was just gone. The most amazing thing, I had this really negative relationship that was a big source of angst and friction in my life. And it was the most amazing thing to just say, 'No, I don't prescribe to your power over me anymore, and I'm gonna let you go.' And it was gone. And that's why that song starts off, 'I gotta be honest, I think you know we're covered in lies and that's okay.' It's all okay, but I'm saying it's never gonna happen to me again. You are done, you're not a god. Really, the title is ironic, you're a god and I am not – well, that's actually not true anymore, because now you're not a god."

Matt explains that the whole song carries an overtone of sarcasm. But a lot of people have expressed concern to him that they fear he's letting go of God. And while he has a healthy respect for those who embrace God, this song, he says, was written as an ironic metaphor. He explains, "We can use devices other than the words, what they mean at face value. I was amazed, and I think I continue to be. It's just one of those things, 'Everything You Want' and 'You're A God,' those were songs that people took to be religious songs."

"There are plenty of people who would be able to speak more eloquently to it than I can, but I think one of the things about religion is it causes a certain fervor, and you've got to reinforce your belief constantly. I was raised Catholic. I don't go to church every Sunday, but I go to church on Sundays. And there are things about religion to me that are beautiful. But it's a very personal thing for me. All it is for me is about my relationship about what I perceive to be something else. And I'm just not someone who's interested in projecting that outward through my music. I just don't come from that place at all."

"I'm amazed how many people try and put it there. But that's fine. If they want it to be there, that's fine. I just would hate for someone to listen to 'You're A God' and have to think that it's a song about letting go of religion. Because it's really about getting back my power." (Check out the full interview with Matt Scannell.)