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.
FREE
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a mountain, and a ditch
I'm a dagger, and a shield
I'm impatient, I'm a yield
And I wanna be free
Wind in my hair
Salt on my skin
I have to feel love
Holding on me
I'll give you everything that you would ever need
I'm the fight and the dance
I am heartbreak and romance
The feather and the stone
I feel crowded and alone
And I wanna be free
Wind in my hair
Salt on my skin
Sun in the air
I have to feel love
Holding on me
I'll give you everything that you would ever need
And every once in a while
I wanna sit back and enjoy the view
I'm feeling my senses
But woman my life has been surrounded by fences
But I found some that I could see through
I could see through
And I wanna be free
Wind in my hair
Salt on my skin
Sun in the air
I have to feel love
Holding on me
I'll give you everything that you would ever need
Everything that you would ever need
Everything that you would ever need
In "Free," Gavin DeGraw cleverly highlights the duality of human existence. He acknowledges that we can encompass conflicting attributes, such as being both rich and poor, or feeling crowded and alone simultaneously. The song is a beautiful exploration of the complexities of life and human nature. At the core of the song, however, DeGraw yearns for freedom. He wants to experience life fully, feel the wind in his hair, salt on his skin, and the sun in the air. He also craves love in his life, but it should not limit his freedom.
DeGraw also acknowledges that although he has been surrounded by fences in his life, he found some that he could see through. It is that openness that he wants to embrace and live his life without being confined. The song's message is clear; DeGraw believes in living life with an open heart, unafraid of embracing love and freedom.
Overall, "Free" is a beautiful piece of music that explores the depths of human emotion and existence. DeGraw's voice melts into the lyrics, releasing his powerful message into the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a poor, I'm a rich
I fluctuate between not having much and having plenty in life.
I'm a mountain, and a ditch
I can be strong and proud like a mountain, or vulnerable and low like a ditch.
I'm a dagger, and a shield
I can be either aggressive and hurtful like a dagger, or protective and defensive like a shield.
I'm impatient, I'm a yield
I can be restless and hasty, or willing to compromise and surrender.
And I wanna be free
I desire to be unrestricted and liberated in my life.
Wind in my hair
I want to feel the breeze and freedom of the outdoors.
Salt on my skin
I want to be near the ocean and feel the sea air on my skin.
Sun in the air
I crave the warmth and light that the sun brings to my life.
I have to feel love
I need to experience the positive emotion of love in my life.
Holding on me
I want to be loved and held by someone special in my life.
I'll give you everything that you would ever need
I am willing to provide everything to someone I love to make them happy.
I'm the fight and the dance
I am both challenging in my spirit and graceful like a dance.
I am heartbreak and romance
I can both feel intense sadness and love in my relationships.
The feather and the stone
I can be gentle and delicate like a feather or resolute and firm like a stone.
I feel crowded and alone
I experience both feeling overwhelmed and surrounded by people and feeling isolated and disconnected.
And every once in a while
Occasionally in my life,
I wanna sit back and enjoy the view
I desire to take a moment to relax and appreciate my surroundings.
I'm feeling my senses
I am experiencing life through my five senses and it is invigorating.
But woman my life has been surrounded by fences
I have often felt confined and limited in my life experiences.
But I found some that I could see through
I have found ways to break free and overcome those limitations.
Everything that you would ever need
I am capable of providing all that is necessary for someone's happiness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GAVIN DEGRAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind