Gavin Shane DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter… Read Full Bio ↴Gavin Shane DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter from South Fallsburg, New York. DeGraw began singing and playing piano at the age of eight and attended Berklee College of Music during the same year as artist John Mayer.

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.

Help Me
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You got to treat each one like they wanna be treated
Give each one special needs if they need it
Good ones don't lie
Babies don't trick
A few will get ruined
But we're all kinda sick
And its not as if your egos defeated

They say tell me
They say tell me, no
They say hold me
They say touch me, no
I've got my needs
Not that they need you
You say you need
I say help me
Help me yeh

I give my soul to the hand that dealt me
Give my hand to the souls who tell me
Paperback lives
Paperback views
Some go down and some of us loose
And it's not for me to know who's which way

They say tell me
They say tell me no
They say hold me
They say touch me no
I've got my needs
Not that they need you
You say you need
I say help me
Help me yeh

You're the house and I'm the cellar
You're the landlord I'm the dweller
You take your time
I'll take the rest
Sometimes hell is as good as it gets
And we're the best thing we got goin

They say tell me
They say tell me no
They say hold me
They say touch me no
I've got my needs
Not that they need you
You say you need
I say help me

You say tell
You say tell me no
I say hold me
You say touch me no
I got my needs

I've been nearly you
I've seen too many

Overall Meaning

"Help Me," by Gavin DeGraw, is a song that focuses on understanding the complicated nature of relationships. DeGraw urges the listener to treat each person in their life like they would want to be treated, even if it means catering to their individual needs. The singer suggests that people should not assume everyone is the same, and that they should not be quick to mistrust others, especially babies. He also acknowledges that while not every relationship or experience will be perfect, everyone is ultimately flawed in some way, and that it is important to accept this imperfection.

The chorus of the song centers on the idea that everyone has their own individual needs and desires. These needs may not always align with the desires of others, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. Despite this, DeGraw juxtaposes this idea with the line "Not that they need you," indicating that while everyone should be treated with respect, people should not assume that they are the center of someone else's world. Rather, their focus should be on how they can help others, making sure their needs are met along with their own.

Overall, Gavin DeGraw's "Help Me" is a reminder to treat others with respect, and that everyone has their own individual needs and desires. The song also suggests that accepting imperfection in others and ourselves is an important part of building healthy relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

You got to treat each one like they wanna be treated
You should treat every person with respect and kindness, and take into account their individual needs and desires.

Give each one special needs if they need it
Some people require additional care or attention, which should be provided to help them thrive.

Good ones don't lie
Honesty is an important quality that is often associated with good people.

Babies don't trick
Infants are innocent and do not have the ability to deceive or manipulate others.

A few will get ruined
Some individuals may encounter difficulties or challenges that can negatively impact their lives.

But we're all kinda sick
Despite our flaws and limitations, we are all members of the human race and should thus strive to support and care for one another.

And its not as if your egos defeated
Acknowledging one's own limitations and accepting compassion from others does not indicate weakness or defeat.

They say tell me
Others may express a desire for emotional connection or support.

They say tell me, no
Some individuals may not be receptive to hearing or discussing certain topics or emotions.

They say hold me
Physical touch and affection can be comforting and healing for some people.

They say touch me, no
However, others may not be comfortable with physical touch or may not desire it at certain times.

I've got my needs
Everyone has their own emotional and physical needs that should be respected and met if possible.

Not that they need you
Although we may seek support and companionship from others, ultimately we are responsible for our own fulfillment and happiness.

You say you need
Another person may express a need for connection or assistance.

I say help me
However, sometimes we ourselves require help and support to overcome challenges and heal from pain.

I give my soul to the hand that dealt me
We must take responsibility for our own lives and the choices we make, and accept the outcomes that result from them.

Give my hand to the souls who tell me
We should seek out and accept support and guidance from others who have our best interests in mind.

Paperback lives
Some people may lead lives that seem simple or unremarkable, like the pages of a standard paperback book.

Paperback views
These individuals may hold basic or conventional beliefs and values that are common among many.

Some go down and some of us loose
Life is unpredictable and some people may experience hardship or loss, while others do not.

And it's not for me to know who's which way
We cannot always understand or make sense of the challenges or pain that others experience, and it is not always our place to judge or compare.

You're the house and I'm the cellar
Another person may have more power or control in a particular situation, like a homeowner and their subservient cellar.

You're the landlord I'm the dweller
One person may own or control a living space, while another resides in it as a tenant with less authority.

You take your time
Some individuals may require more time or patience to work through their issues or make progress.

I'll take the rest
Others may have already made progress or overcome certain obstacles, and can now lend their support to those who are struggling.

Sometimes hell is as good as it gets
Life can be challenging and painful, and we must learn to appreciate the good moments even when they are far and few between.

And we're the best thing we got goin
Despite our flaws and differences, we have the power to support and care for each other, and this is one of the most important gifts we possess.

Writer(s): Gavin Degraw Copyright: G. Degraw Music Inc., Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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