In 2001, DeGraw released his first album independently named Gavin Live.
In 2003, his first major studio album was released, entitled Chariot, on July 22nd. He released Chariot Stripped a year later, an album with the same songs, but the instruments brought down to a minimum. The album has so far peaked at #1 in two countries, in Denmark and on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It went to #2 in Norway and #56 on the Billboard 200 and has benn certified Platinum. His first single, I Don't Want To Be, was released on December 14th 2004 and was the theme tune to the hit TV. drama series One Tree Hill. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #10, the Billboard Pop 100 at #3, #6 in Norway and #38 in the UK, making it his only UK top 40 hit. It has been certified 2x Platinum, selling over 2 million copies. The second single, Chariot, was released on March 1st 2005 and made it to #1 on the Italian Airplay chart. It also did quite well in the US, hitting #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single was Follow Through and it was released on November 17th 2005. It was used on several TV shows, including Scrubs, and was used on the Carte D'or, an ice cream company. The song peaked at #12 in Norway, #13 in Holland, #38 in Portugal and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The final single from the album, Just Friends was released in early 2006 and went to #21 in Holland.
DeGraw's second album, the self-titled Gavin DeGraw, was released on May 6th 2008. It debuted and peaked on the US Billboard 200 at #7, selling 66,000 copies in its first week. It also made #3 in Denmark, #8 in Norway and #13 in Sweden. The first single, We Belong Together, was featured on the soundtrack of the film Tristan & Isolde. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, In Love With A Girl, was released on February 12th 2008. It peaked at #5 on the US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks, #22 in Holland, #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 in Canada. She Holds A Key was released next, in Mid-2008, and peaked at #29 in Holland. The next single, Cheated On Me, was released in September 2008 and peaked at #77 on the Billboard Pop 100. I Have You To Thank was the final single of the album, being released in early 2009.
His third album, Free, was released less than a year after Gavin DeGraw, on March 31st 2009, and was made in less than two weeks. It entered the Billboard 200 at #19, selling 29,000 copies. The first single, Stay, was released on March 11th 2009, through the internet.
His fourth album Sweeter was released on September 20th, 2011 and spawned lead single Not Over You which peaked at #18 on the Hot 100 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. Second singlek Sweeter reached #18 on Billboard's Adult Pop Songs chart. The final single from the album was Soldier.
Gavin released a live album on December 4th, 2012 entitled "Sweeter Live" singing some tracks from Sweeter and earlier favorites.
His current single Best I Ever Had is a song from upcoming fifth studio album Make A Move to be released on October 15th, 2013 in the US. The song has so far peaked at 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.
Anyway
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to get too close
You see this isn't where my head is
If you knew me, I'm not like this
But I just found someone special
And that's really something special
If you knew me
Nice to meet you anyway
I believe you're very fine
Still I haven't got the time
'Cause I just found someone special
And that's really something special
If you knew me
Nice to meet you anyway
And the sky opened up
With the soil of the sun
Dreaming of my true love
I don't mean to be so strange
But my life just took a change
'Cause I just found someone special
And that's really something special
If you knew me
Nice to meet you anyway
And the sky opened up
With the soil of the sun
Dreaming of my true love
So before this goes too far
Let me tell you what you are
You're amazing, I'm attracted
But I'm terribly distracted
And I'm trying to be verbal
And I'm back into this circle
'Cause I just found someone special
And that's really something special
If you knew me
Nice to meet you
Nice to meet you
Nice to meet you anyway
Nice to meet you anyway
Nice to meet you anyway
Nice to meet you anyway
And even if you want me to stay here
(Nice to meet you, nice to meet you anyway)
I'm telling you right now I should leave
(Nice to meet you, nice to meet you anyway)
'Fore I get to changing my mind, dear
(Nice to meet you, nice to meet you anyway)
I hope you understand what I mean
I hope you understand what I mean (nice to meet you anyway)
I hope you understand what I mean
I hope you understand what I mean
The singer in Gavin DeGraw's "Anyway" is contending with the difficult task of trying to express their desire to keep their distance from someone who seems romantically interested in them. The singer begins by stating that they do not want to get too close to this person because it's not where their head is at. They also note that if the person truly knew them, they would know that they are not usually like this. However, the singer has found someone special and that is really something special. This suggests that the singer is interested in pursuing a relationship with this other person and wants to keep their emotional space clear for this new relationship.
When the sky opens up with the soil of the sun, it seems like the singer is experiencing a moment of epiphany or revelation. They are dreaming of their true love and it feels like their life has just taken a change. The singer acknowledges the attraction to the person they are speaking to, calling them amazing, but admits that they are terribly distracted. They are trying to be verbal and are back into this cycle because they just found someone special. The song ends with the singer telling the person they are speaking to that it's nice to meet them anyway, even though they want to keep their distance.
Overall, the main message of the song seems to be about the complexity of romantic attraction and how sometimes it's difficult to express our emotions in a way that doesn't hurt others. The singer acknowledges that they appreciate the other person but must be true to their own feelings and emotions when it comes to pursuing a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to get too close
I don't want to form a deep connection or relationship
You see this isn't where my head is
My focus or mindset is not in that direction
If you knew me, I'm not like this
If you truly knew me, you would know that this is not typical behavior for me
But I just found someone special
I recently met someone important to me
And that's really something special
This person is significant to me and has a special place in my heart
Nice to meet you anyway
It's still nice to meet you and get to know you, despite my current situation
I believe you're very fine
I think you're a great person
Still I haven't got the time
I'm not available for a relationship or extra commitment
'Cause I just found someone special
I just met someone important to me
And the sky opened up
I feel a burst of emotion or happiness
With the soil of the sun
With the warmth and energy of the sun
Dreaming of my true love
I'm fantasizing about my soulmate or ideal partner
I don't mean to be so strange
I'm sorry if my behavior seems unusual or eccentric
But my life just took a change
My life has recently undergone a change or transformation
So before this goes too far
Before things get too serious or complicated
Let me tell you what you are
I want to express my admiration for you
You're amazing, I'm attracted
You're wonderful and I'm drawn to you
But I'm terribly distracted
I'm finding it hard to focus or pay attention
And I'm trying to be verbal
I'm making an effort to communicate my feelings clearly
And I'm back into this circle
I'm caught up in this cycle or pattern of behavior
Nice to meet you
I'm glad we got to know each other
And even if you want me to stay here
Even if you want me to stay or continue spending time with you
I'm telling you right now I should leave
I want to be honest and let you know that I need to go
'Fore I get to changing my mind, dear
Before I start to feel differently or regret my decision
I hope you understand what I mean
I hope you can comprehend my situation and feelings
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gavin Degraw
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@YouCanCallMeJenny
So many memories... I'm obsessed with this. It's just what I needed today.
@Taniere
A lot of memories. I was just 19. Wow!
@Elle-cg1dh
I listened to this song obsessively on my first trip to New York City. Brings back a flood of amazing memories.
@karenrandall13
Nice vocals. Simple lyrics. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@kaneclamage7142
This was always one of your best. Esp raw. Are you.. thinking of releasing an updated version of old songs? Bc if you ARE - have a bunch of good ideas for you to make it more unique then most who do this.