Disease

Album

More Than You Think You Are

Label

Atlantic Records

Genre

Rock

Composer(s)

Mick Jagger;Rob Thomas

Entered Chart

Oct 19, 2002

Peak Date

Dec 14, 2002

Released

September 30, 2002

Recorded

Studio Bearsville (Bearsville, New York) The Hit Factory (New York City)

Catalog #

Atlantic Album Cut

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