Waddell began singing at the age of three in her home church, Truth Temple of (Kannapolis, North Carolina). She, along with her brother and cousin, eventually became involved with the church's daily program on Charlotte TV station WAXN.
Waddell turned down a scholarship from Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee to pursue a full-time music career, she felt that God called her to not go to college but to concentrate on music instead In 2004 she signed a management deal with Vertical Entertainment and then signed a development - dealing with Word Records Sparrow Records signed her in 2006 and her first album Say It was released May 22, 2007 Britt Nicole was committed to the Winter Jam Tour with Sanctus Real, Hawk Nelson Jeremy Camp and Steven Curtis Chapman Newsong [1]
A native of Salisbury, NC, Britt has always had a heart for reaching people and has long used music as the vehicle to change lives. She began singing in church at age three and by the time she was in high school, was appearing on her church’s daily television program and logged a performance at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall with her school’s advanced chorus.
Those early pursuits paved the way for her to sign with Sparrow Records in 2006. She burst on the charts a year later with her label debut, “Say It,” a finely crafted pop collection that introduced us to her engaging voice and thought-provoking lyrics. It earned her a slot on the Winter Jam tour that year with Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, NewSong and Hawk Nelson where she developed a reputation as a compelling live performer.
It was a whirlwind existence that found her looking to meet the needs of those around her—whether it was a girl in a youth group who needed someone to pray with or a parent seeking advice on their troubled teen. Her servant’s heart and earnest desire to fill others up soon left Britt herself feeling empty. It all caught up with her at an Alabama youth conference called The Ramp. “I went with my youth group as a youth leader to support and pray for them, but near the end of the event, I was kind of worn out and I began saying ‘Okay God, I just really need You to come and do something in my life,’” Britt recalls. She got her answer as she was driving back to Nashville.
“I just felt different. I felt like the old me was gone and God had started to show me who I really was and what I was called to do,” Britt says. “As I was driving home from the conference, everywhere I would stop, whether at a gas station or a restaurant, God was challenging me to step out and tell people about Him and His love for them. There are so many hurting and broken people around us each day and God was showing me the importance of reaching out to them just as He would. In the past, I have often let the fear of people and their opinions stop me from being who I am. At the core though, I know who I am and who God has called me to be. In letting go of my past, I was able to move forward, and instead of focusing on all my mistakes and failures, I started focusing on those around me. That’s ultimately why I’m here, to worship God and to reach those who need to know Him.”
After that experience, she wrote songs for the new album that included “The Lost Get Found,” “Walk on the Water,” and “Safe.” Britt continues to explain that, “They all have a similar message of having the courage to step out in faith and walk in what God has called you to do even when it’s scary. I don’t want to be selfish anymore. I don’t want to be safe anymore. When God tells me to step out and talk to somebody or believe for what seems impossible, I want to do it.”
The new album combines compelling lyrics with catchy pop songs that linger in your head such as the funky “How We Roll” and the infectious groove of “Headphones.” “When I write songs, I often write to specific people,” she reveals. “The first verse of ‘Headphones’ was written to a girl that I know. She’s in middle school dealing with the pressure of fitting in. I wanted to remind her that she does not have to look or be like anyone else because God loves her and made her just the way she is. Sometimes it is hard to stand out and sometimes you feel alone when you do, but I know she is being a light to so many and that’s what matters.”
“Feel the Light” is another song that was written for a specific friend of hers who had faced several difficult things as a child. “She was hiding all of her pain and had never told anyone what she was going through,” shares Britt. “Sometimes it’s easier to hide our fears, our struggles, and things that have happened to us in our past rather than talk about them. A lot of kids I meet feel they have no one to talk to who will understand, but God promises us that when we bring everything into His light, He will heal us and we will be free.” One of her favorite lines in the song is “you’re a queen, but you’ve never known it.” She explains that, “The important thing to remember is that your past does not define who you are. We all go through hard things, but it is our choice to decide how we deal with them. The song simply says, ‘Let go and feel the light.’”
One of the most personal songs on the new record is “Have Your Way”. “I was thinking about my brother when I wrote the song, but when I sang it in the studio, it somehow hit even closer to home,” says Britt. “I was also reminded of Job in the Bible when I wrote the lyrics. He went through so many things and everything was taken from him, but at the end of it all, he still fell to his knees and worshiped God and never turned his back on Him. He just said, ‘God have Your way, whatever You want.’ I want to be like that.” Through Britt’s achingly vulnerable vocals, you can sense the more personal nature of the song as she sings, “you never said the road would be easy, but you said you would never leave.” “The night I sang it in the studio, I sang it laying down,” says Britt. “I’ve never sung a vocal like that. I always sing standing up in a vocal booth, which makes it feel more like a performance. When I’m praying or just spending time with God, I’m usually on the floor so it just naturally felt more like I was singing to God.”
In listening to Britt Nicole’s music, it’s obvious she possesses wisdom beyond her years and a spiritual maturity not often seen in one so young. Yet she’s very much the playful girl next door and those equally intriguing sides of her personality merge seamlessly on “The Lost Get Found.”
“My fans want a pop record,” she says wistfully. “I’m a pop artist and they love fun music. When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that. That’s in my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and to see people’s lives changed and to reach those who are hurting. It’s what I believe God has called me to do.”
Salisbury, North Carolina, United States2007
How We Roll
Britt Nicole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just trying to get away (you, you can't get away)
Life can feel a lot like a rat race
Like everyday is so mundane
But I am saying
Hey, hey, oh, oh
I'm not getting caught in the undertow
I'm never gonna follow, no
Turn it up, make it loud on your radio
We are gonna dance everywhere we go
Everybody knows
That's how we roll
Why don't you come on and join us
Take your rose off the grindstone
Take, take your hands off the keyboard
And put down the iPhone
And let me hear you say
Hey, hey, oh, oh
We ain't getting caught in the undertow
We'll keep taking it easy and taking it slow
We're never gonna follow, no
Turn it up, make it loud on your radio
We are gonna dance everywhere we go
Everybody knows
That's how we roll
That's how we roll
Don't fold under the pressure
A smile can make it better
Whoa, ya know, ya know, yeah
Don't fold under the pressure
A smile can make it better
And if everything goes wrong
Keep singing this song
Turn it up, make it loud
You, you can't get away
Don't, don't try to get away
Turn it up, make it loud
You, you can't get away
Don't, don't try to get away, oh no
Turn it up, make it loud on your radio
We are gonna dance everywhere we go
Everybody knows
That's how we roll
That's how we roll
In this song, Britt Nicole addresses the common feeling that life can feel like a never-ending rat race, with everyone running and trying to get ahead. She encourages listeners to step back and take things slow, not getting caught up in the pressures of day-to-day life. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "that's how we roll," which can be interpreted as a mantra for the approach to life that the singer is advocating for.
In the first verse, the idea of the rat race is established, with the singer acknowledging that many people are just trying to get away from it all. However, she sets herself apart from this mentality by stating that she won't get caught in the undertow. Instead, she plans to keep things easy and never follow the crowd. In the second verse, she urges listeners to put down their technology and take a break from the grind of daily life. She wants people to join her in living life at a slower pace, enjoying the simple things like dancing and singing along to music on the radio.
Overall, this song encourages people to slow down and take a break from the rat race, not getting caught up in the pressures of society. By embracing a leisurely approach to life and having fun wherever they go, listeners can adopt the same carefree attitude as the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that everyone's running
I am aware that most people are constantly on the move
Just trying to get away (you, you can't get away)
They are attempting to escape something, but it is impossible to do so
Life can feel a lot like a rat race
Life can often resemble a competition where everyone is trying to get ahead
Like everyday is so mundane
Everyday can feel repetitive and boring
But I am saying
However, what I want to convey is
Hey, hey, oh, oh
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm
I'm not getting caught in the undertow
I am not going to let myself be carried away by negative emotions or forces
I'll keep taking it easy and taking it slow
I will remain calm and relaxed, not letting the pressures of life get to me
I'm never gonna follow, no
I will not let others influence my decisions or actions
Turn it up, make it loud on your radio
Listen to the music and feel its energy
We are gonna dance everywhere we go
We will enjoy ourselves and have fun wherever we are
Everybody knows
It is common knowledge that
That's how we roll
That's the way we live our lives
Why don't you come on and join us
Why not come and have fun with us
Take your rose off the grindstone
Stop working so hard and take a break
Take, take your hands off the keyboard
Stop focusing on work or technology
And put down the iPhone
Take a break from your phone and enjoy the moment
And let me hear you say
And express yourself by saying
We ain't getting caught in the undertow
We will not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by negative emotions or forces
We'll keep taking it easy and taking it slow
We will remain calm and relaxed, enjoying every moment
We're never gonna follow, no
We will not be influenced by others, but rather make our own choices
Don't fold under the pressure
Don't let the stress or challenges of life defeat you
A smile can make it better
A positive attitude and smile can improve the situation
Whoa, ya know, ya know, yeah
An expression of agreement and understanding
And if everything goes wrong
Even if things don't go as planned
Keep singing this song
Keep a positive attitude and keep going
You, you can't get away
It's impossible to escape this feeling or situation
Don't, don't try to get away
Don't bother attempting to escape
Turn it up, make it loud on your radio
Listen to the music and feel its energy
We are gonna dance everywhere we go
We will have fun and enjoy ourselves wherever we are
That's how we roll
That's the way we live our lives
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Don Omar, James Smith, Ruwanga Samath, Tariek Williams, Trevor Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind