Musically, Flyleaf is a Christian alternative rock and hard rock album with heavy influences of nu-metal, emo and heavy metal. While the band's frontwoman Lacey Sturm prominently sings, her unclean vocals are a frequent throughout the album. Lyrically, the album deals with topics such as Christianity, love and death. Flyleaf received mixed reviews from music critics, who commended its "radio-friendly" yet hardcore sound, but criticized its use of formula. It debuted at No. 88 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 13,000 copies within its first week. Due to the band's growing exposure to fame in 2007, it eventually reached its peak of No. 57 on the week of September 17, 2007, and spent more than 133 weeks on the chart. It also topped the Billboard Christian Albums chart, and has since become the ninth best-selling Christian album of the 2000s. It has sold more than 1 million copies to date, and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Red Sam
Flyleaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Empty hands
Wishing my wrists were bleeding
To stop the pain from the beatings
There you stood
Holding me
Waiting for me to notice you
But who are you
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Out screaming these lies
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Saving my life
The warmth of your embrace
Melts my frostbitten spirit
You speak the truth and I hear it
The words are I love you
And I have to believe in you
But who are you
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Out screaming these lies
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Saving my life
My hands are open
And you are filling them
Hands in the air
In the air, in the air, in the air
And I worship
And I worship
And I worship
And I worship
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Out screaming these lies
You are the truth (you are the truth)
Saving my life
"Red Sam" is a song that deals with the heavy and difficult topics of pain, abuse and insecurity, while seeking a sense of truth, hope and salvation. The opening lines express an intense suffering, where the singer is so desperate that she wishes her wrists were bleeding, indicating a desire to self-harm as a way to cope with the pain from the beatings, which could be either physical or emotional. However, she is met by someone who had been there all along, waiting for her to notice them. This someone is the truth, which is personified as a saving force that offers warmth, love, and hope. The truth is the antidote to the lies and the deceit that have been inflicted on the singer, and it offers her a way out of the suffering.
As the song progresses, the warmth of the truth's embrace melts the singer's frostbitten spirit. This encounter with the truth is both emotional and spiritual, and its transformative power is reflected in the line "My hands are open, and you are filling them", which suggests a sense of surrender to a higher power. The truth is worshipped, indicating an act of acknowledgement and gratitude for saving the singer's life.
Overall, "Red Sam" is a powerful song that speaks to the human experience of pain and abuse, while offering a sense of hope and redemption through the discovery of the truth. The song's dark themes are ultimately illuminated by the transformative power of love and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I stand
I am currently in a situation where I feel lost and confused.
Empty hands
I have nothing to hold onto, no physical or emotional support.
Wishing my wrists were bleeding
I am so overwhelmed by the pain I feel that I am considering self-harm as a way to cope.
To stop the pain from the beatings
I want to escape the emotional or physical abuse I might be experiencing.
There you stood
Despite feeling alone, someone is there for me but I am not aware of their presence.
Holding me
This person wants to give me comfort, reassurance, and love.
Waiting for me to notice you
This person is waiting for me to realize that they are here for me and that they genuinely care.
But who are you
I don't know who this person is, but I am curious to find out more.
You are the truth (you are the truth)
This person represents honesty, genuineness, and authenticity.
Out screaming these lies
This person is shouting the truth because they want me to hear it and believe it.
Saving my life
This person is helping me in a way that is truly valuable and meaningful – they are saving me.
The warmth of your embrace
This person's love and affection make me feel validated, appreciated, and accepted.
Melts my frostbitten spirit
This person is helping me feel better and more hopeful after feeling emotionally numb and cold.
You speak the truth and I hear it
I am starting to hear and internalize the genuine and positive things this person is telling me.
The words are I love you
This person expresses their deep love and affection for me in a way that I feel and understand.
And I have to believe in you
I feel compelled to trust and believe in this person because they make me feel good and help me overcome my struggles.
My hands are open
I am ready and willing to receive the gifts and blessings this person has to offer.
And you are filling them
This person is giving me the support, encouragement, and validation that I need to thrive.
Hands in the air
I feel free, liberated, and inspired by this person's love and care.
In the air, in the air, in the air
This person's love and care is something that fills every inch of my being and affects me positively everywhere I go.
And I worship
I recognize and admire the amazing qualities that this person has and feel grateful for their love and care.
You are the truth (you are the truth)
This person's honesty, genuine care, and positive qualities are the most important things that I need in my life.
Out screaming these lies
This person is helping me reject and overcome the negative, destructive thoughts and beliefs that have been plaguing me.
Saving my life
This person is truly making a difference in my life, helping me overcome my struggles and hardships.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: HOWARD BENSON, SAMEER BHATTACHARYA, JAMES CULPEPPER, JARED HARTMANN, WILL HOFFMAN, LACEY NICOLE MOSLEY, PAT SEALS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind