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.
Relative
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Isn't quite sunlight
But any light at all seems bright
When you're looking in the dark
A wet Dream
Isn't the real thing
It isn't really anything
But at least it makes a spark
Everything is relative, yes it is
[Chorus]
It's all about the way we receive it
How much we believe it
Depending on the life you lead, if you lead it
Compare it to yourself
Compared to someone else, you care
And if you pick the threads in your closet, the cash in your wallet
The color of the skin in your blood, and how you got it
Compare it to yourself
Compared to someone else, you care
Pre-made isn't quite home made
But pre-made with a home name
Is almost just the same
Your girlfriend
Isn't your best friend
But any friend is best when
You're freezing in the rain
And all is relative, relative
Everything is relative, yes it is
[Chorus]
You're either underweight or you're unfit
Under dressed or over zipped
Too social or you're just too shy
Too depressed or you're too high
Night to day
Day to night
Rich to poor
Black or white
All is relative
Everything is relative
All is relative
[Chorus: x2]
All is relative
Everything is relative
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Everything is relative
All is relative
You care
The lyrics of "Relative" by Gavin DeGraw speak about how everything in life, including our own perception of things, is relative and subjective. The song highlights that there is no absolute right or wrong or superior or inferior. Different perspectives, experiences, and circumstances may lead individuals to different interpretations of reality. The song uses various analogies to show that even though things may not be perfect, we can still find value in them because of our perception of them.
The lyricist starts by comparing a flashlight to sunlight, believing that any source of light is bright when we are in the dark. Similarly, a wet dream is not the real experience but still manages to ignite something within us. The chorus emphasizes the importance of personal perspective and interpretation. It highlights how much we believe in something and how we compare our lives to someone else's.
The song then touches upon the idea that pre-made food is not equivalent to home-made food; however, if it comes with a home name, it is comparable. Similarly, our girlfriend isn't our best friend, but any friend is better than none. The second chorus suggests that we compare ourselves to the past versions of ourselves as opposed to others. The song concludes by stating that there is no better or worse, but everything in life is relative.
Line by Line Meaning
A flashlight
A small portable device that provides light when there is none.
Isn't quite sunlight
It is not as bright or strong as sunlight.
But any light at all seems bright
Even a little bit of light in darkness can seem very bright.
When you're looking in the dark
When there is no light around you.
A wet Dream
An erotic dream which causes sexual arousal.
Isn't the real thing
It is not the physical act of making love.
It isn't really anything
It is not a physical experience, just a mental one.
But at least it makes a spark
It can at least provide some level of excitement or arousal.
And all is relative, relative
Everything is subjective and depends on the person looking at it.
Everything is relative, yes it is
This is a statement that reinforces the previous line.
[Chorus]
This is the chorus of the song, which is about the relative nature of things.
It's all about the way we receive it
Our perspective or the way we look at things affects how we perceive them.
How much we believe it
Our beliefs also impact how we perceive things.
Depending on the life you lead, if you lead it
Our life experiences play a huge role in how we view things.
Compare it to yourself
When comparing something, we should compare it to our own experiences and perspective.
Compared to someone else, you care
When we compare to others, it is because we care about how we measure up or stack up against them.
And if you pick the threads in your closet, the cash in your wallet
This is a reference to material things that people often use to compare themselves to others.
The color of the skin in your blood, and how you got it
This is another reference to physical features like race or ethnicity that are often used as a basis for comparison.
Pre-made isn't quite home made
Something that is premade or store-bought is not the same as something you make at home.
But pre-made with a home name
If something has a brand name that you know and trust, it can be almost as good as something homemade.
Is almost just the same
It is very similar in quality or taste.
Your girlfriend
A romantic partner, usually female.
Isn't your best friend
A romantic partner is not the same as a close, platonic friend.
But any friend is best when
Having any friend is better than having no friends, especially when in need of support or comfort.
You're freezing in the rain
This is a hypothetical scenario in which someone is cold and exposed to the weather.
You're either underweight or you're unfit
This is a reference to body image and the societal pressure to be a certain weight or level of fitness.
Under dressed or over zipped
This is another reference to personal appearance and how it is judged by society.
Too social or you're just too shy
This refers to personality traits that are often praised or criticized in our culture.
Too depressed or you're too high
This refers to mental states that are also often criticized or praised depending on context.
Night to day
This line refers to the shift between day and night, which is a natural and inevitable cycle.
Day to night
This line is the same as the previous one but in reverse order.
Rich to poor
This line refers to socioeconomic status and the relative nature of wealth and poverty.
Black or white
This line refers to race and ethnicity, which are often used as the basis for comparison and judgment.
All is relative
This is a restatement of the main idea of the song.
Everything is relative
This is another way of saying that everything is subjective and depends on one's point of view.
[Chorus: x2]
This is a repetition of the chorus, which highlights the relative nature of things.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
This is a common phrase used in music to add emphasis or emotion to a song.
All is relative
This is a reaffirmation of the main idea of the song.
You care
The final word of the song is a reminder that we care about these things because they matter to us and our perception of the world around us.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GAVIN DEGRAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind