“How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty

“How Far We’ve Come” is being relayed from the perspective of someone who is witnessing the end of the world. Or perhaps more accurately, let’s say he is imagining what the end of the world would actually look like. And all metaphors and allusions considered, what it basically boils down to is the singer being under the impression that even as we speak, the world is headed in such a direction. This idea is made most evident via the track’s primary music video. Or an alternative way of looking at it is that when this event actually does transpire, considering that it’s like “every other morning” it is going to catch people off-guard.

So with all of this in mind, the title of this song may actually be sarcastic in nature. For from the viewpoint that is being relayed, “how far we’ve come” is that we as humans have brought ourselves ever closer to our ultimate demise.

Conclusion

So conclusively, I guess we can say this is Matchbox Twenty’s version of an humanitarian/activism track.  For instance in the music video they reference issues such as environmental degradation and human rights.  And the implication would be that by highlighting such, they are implying that these are amongst the selfsame matters which are leading the human race to its destruction.  Thus the overall message of this song would  logically read like if we actually wanted to prevent the impeding end of the world, we could do so by definitively confronting those types of issues.

Facts about “How Far We’ve Come”

This track was released on 4 September 2007. It came out as the lead single from Matchbox Twenty’s compilation album “Exile on Mainstream”. It was one of six new tracks featured on that project. And the label behind it is Atlantic Records.

Other notable tracks from said project include the following:

• “Push”
• “3AM”
• “Bright Lights”
• “Unwell”
• “Back 2 Good”  

“How Far We’ve Come” made it onto 6 Billboard charts, including peaking at 11 on the Hot 100. It also appeared on the UK Singles Chart and charted in seven countries overall.

And whereas it has been certified double-Platinum in the United States, relatively speaking the country where it perhaps fared most-impressively was Australia. Not only has it reached Platinum status in the Land Down Under, but it was reportedly the most-played song in that country during 2008.

This track has garnered a strong pop-media presence since its release. For example, it has been used by programs as diverse as The Discovery Channel, NASCAR and the “Rock Band” videogame franchise.

Who wrote “How Far We’ve Come”?

Rob Thomas and his Matchbox Twenty bandmates penned this song. The official list of writers of “How Far We’ve Come” is as follows:

• R. Thomas
• K. Cook
• B. Yale
• P. Doucette