
Peak
29
Weeks
20
Score
1,956
Chart Year
2002
The video, directed by Phil Harder, starts with a man turning on his colorful boomboxing, then roller skating over a wide section of New York City, amid images of the band illuminated on moving billboards. During the second chorus, we see the band performing in a large outdoor roller-rink, complete with a disco ball. They are surrounded by a crowd dancing along, and to begin the third chorus, Rob slides off the stage on all fours onto the dance floor past the crowd. At the end of the song, the roller skater shuts off his beat box and then proceeds up some stairs, presumably to his home
Disease in this song is a metaphor. The girl herself, or at least the feelings he has for her, is the real disease. She's bad for him, and he's trying to cure himself of her, and hopes someday to be free of her destruction. >> The entire album is a timeline of a relationship. In the beginning the relationships is fine. "Disease" marks the time red flags start to show and it regresses from there, including a rebound documented in the last song. >> Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas wrote this with Mick Jagger. In a 2020 Songfacts interview, Thomas recalled: "I just knew that I was going to go into the studio with one of the greatest rock star/songwriters of all time and didn't want to show up empty handed so I wrote the first verse and chorus the night before. It felt so good that he liked it but I was really happy when he decided that one song we wrote together, 'Visions Of Paradise,' was going to be on his solo album [2002's Goddess In The Doorway] but that Matchbox should do 'Disease' because he liked my voice on it." Although he was particularly anxious before his meeting with Jagger, Thomas told American Songwriter he always has the jitters before a co-writing session. "I'm always more comfortable by myself," he said. "It's kind of like going to the movies - you never want to get out of your house and drive down there, but once you get to the movies, you feel better about being there. You are glad you went. It's the same about writing with people. I'm nervous about whether they are going to like me and think I'm a good writer, and what if we don't hit if off. Then once I get in a room with someone, it's like 'Oh I could have never taken that avenue.' All writers should meet people outside their element if they can. It's the only way to learn anything."
Feels like you made a mistake You made somebody's heart break But now I have to let you go I have to let you go You left a stain On every one of my good days But I am stronger than you know I have to let you go No one's ever turned you over No one's tried To ever let you down, Beautiful girl Bless your heart I got a disease, deep inside me Makes me feel uneasy baby I can't live without you Tell me what I am supposed to do about it Keep your distance from it Don't pay no attention to me I got a disease Feels like you're making a mess You're hell on wheels in a black dress You drove me to the fire And left me there to burn Every little thing you do is tragic All my life, oh was magic Beautiful girl I can't breathe I got a disease, deep inside me Makes me feel uneasy baby I can't live without you Tell me what I am supposed to do about it Keep your distance from it Don't pay no attention to me I got a disease I think that I'm sick But leave me be while my world is coming down on me You taste like honey, honey Tell me can I be your honey Be, be strong Keep telling myself it that won't take long till I'm free of my disease Yeah well free of my disease Free of my disease I got a disease, deep inside me Makes me feel uneasy baby I can't live without you Tell me what I am supposed to do about it Keep your distance from it Don't pay no attention to me I got a disease I think that I'm sick But leave me be while my world is coming down on me You taste like honey, honey Tell me can I be your honey Be, be strong Keep telling myself it that won't take long till I'm free of my disease Yeah well free of my disease Set me free of my disease
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 19, 2002 | 71 | 55 |
| 2 | Oct 26, 2002 | 57 | 69 |
| 3 | Nov 2, 2002 | 53 | 73 |
| 4 | Nov 9, 2002 | 45 | 81 |
| 5 | Nov 16, 2002 | 44 | 82 |
| 6 | Nov 23, 2002 | 38 | 88 |
| 7 | Nov 30, 2002 | 37 | 89 |
| 8 | Dec 7, 2002 | 32 | 94 |
| 9 | Dec 14, 2002 | 29 | 97 |
| 10 | Dec 21, 2002 | 29 | 97 |
| 11 | Dec 28, 2002 | 33 | 93 |
| 12 | Jan 4, 2003 | 44 | 82 |
| 13 | Jan 11, 2003 | 44 | 82 |
| 14 | Jan 18, 2003 | 51 | 75 |
| 15 | Jan 25, 2003 | 51 | 75 |
| 16 | Feb 1, 2003 | 54 | 72 |
| 17 | Feb 8, 2003 | 57 | 69 |
| 18 | Feb 15, 2003 | 70 | 56 |
| 19 | Feb 22, 2003 | 76 | 50 |
| 20 | Mar 1, 2003 | 81 | 45 |