Conviction
Daughtry Lyrics

The first verse of Daughtry's song Conviction speaks of opening up a book that's used as a weapon, reading it sentence by sentence, and being tired of the lines that the person has been fed about themselves. The lines or convictions that they are tired of are the lies that have been propagated about them. The singer is perplexed by the audacity of the person who is pointing fingers at them, questioning what gives them the right to judge or accuse. The second verse paints a picture of the singer sitting alone and thinking about everything over coffee. They are trying to figure out the things that the other person is still holding against them, while feeling hemmed in by the other person's ideas of their identity. The singer feels suffocated by the other's efforts to mold their identity and assert their supposed authority over them. Additionally, the singer feels that the other person is trying to help them, when in reality, they are just adding to the chaos within.

The singer states that they cannot fill the void with what the other person is shoving on them, making it clear that they will assert their independence and individuality regardless of what their accuser thinks or wishes. The singer then questions the authority of the accuser, asking how they can claim to know the truth about them when they do not. In the final lines, the singer declares that they will find out what is true on their own and pleads with their accuser not to kill them from within.

Overall, the song is about the conflict that arises when one person tries to control and manipulate another person's identity, beliefs, and actions. It highlights the importance of individuality and seeking the truth independently rather than relying on others' perceptions of oneself.