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.
i dont wanna be
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than a prison guard's son
I don't need to be anything other
Than a specialist's son
I don't have to be anyone other
Than the birth of two souls in one
Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me
I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by impostors everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn
Am I the only one who's noticed?
I can't be the only one who's learned
I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me, ah
Can I have everyone's attention please?
If you're not like this and that, you're gonna have to leave
I came from the mountain
The crust of creation
My whole situation made from clay to stone
And now I'm telling everybody
I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me
I don't want to be, hey yeah, hey yeah
I don't want to be, oh
I don't want to be
I don't want to be, anything
Anything other than me
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
(Hey yeah yeah)
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
(Hey yeah yeah)
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
(Hey yeah yeah)
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
The song "I Wanna Be Free" by Gavin DeGraw speaks to the idea of finding oneself and being comfortable in one's own skin. The first verse highlights the idea that the singer, despite having come from different backgrounds, is content with who they are and where they are from. The singer acknowledges that they are part of two souls in one, indicating that they have a strong sense of self-awareness and identity. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer expressing a desire to be authentic and not someone else. The singer is tired of feeling like they have to try to be someone they're not and just wants to be happy with who they are.
In the third verse, the singer seems to critique the people around them who aren't genuine. They feel like they are surrounded by liars, imposters, and a deadly crisis. However, they also question whether or not they are the only one who has noticed this trend. The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration with the phoniness of the world around them and a desire to find a way to be true to oneself in the midst of it all.
Overall, "I Wanna Be Free" is a song about self-discovery and staying true to oneself in a world that often pushes people to conform. It's a powerful message that resonates with many people who often feel like they have to change themselves to fit in or be successful.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need to be anything other than a prison guard's son
I am content with being the son of a prison guard and do not feel the need to be anything else to be validated or fulfilled.
I don't have to be anyone other than a birth of two souls in one
My existence is a result of a union of two souls, and that is enough for me to have a sense of purpose and identity.
Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from
To have a sense of direction in life, it is important to understand and appreciate one's past experiences and roots.
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
I am happy with my recent efforts and do not wish to become someone else or pursue something different for the sake of impressing others.
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
Thinking about myself and my own desires and needs brings me a sense of calm and contentment.
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do
I am exhausted by the pressure to conform to societal expectations and am ready to prioritize my own goals and aspirations instead.
Or who I'm supposed to be
I do not want to feel like I have to fulfill a certain role or identity imposed on me by others.
I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turn
I feel like people around me are not being truthful, and this adds to my struggle to find my own path and sense of self.
I'm surrounded by a deadly crisis everywhere I turn
I am facing significant challenges and obstacles that make it even more important for me to stay true to myself in order to navigate them.
Am I the only one to notice?
I am wondering if others are also seeing the same issues and challenges that I am, or if it is just me.
Can I have everyone's attention please
I am trying to get the attention of those around me so that I can make a point or express myself.
See, not like this and that
I do not want to be like other people or conform to certain norms or standards - I want to be true to myself.
You're gonna have to leave
If someone is not willing to accept me for who I am, I do not want them in my life.
I came from the mountain, the crust of creation
I am proud of my origins and feel that they have shaped me into the person I am today.
My whole situation made from clay, dust, stone
I am humble and recognize that my existence and identity are ultimately a result of natural processes and forces.
And now I'm telling everybody
I am speaking my truth and expressing myself to those around me, without any inhibitions or reservations.
I don't want to be anything other than me
In the end, what matters most to me is being true to myself and embracing my own unique identity and path in life.
I don't want to be
I reject the idea of conforming to someone else's expectations or ideal of who I should be.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gavin Degraw
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@king0n140
"Good 2010's shows."
-shameless
-breaking bad
-Dexter
-stranger things
-atlanta
-better call saul
-on my block
-game of thrones
-Empire
-psych
-Son's of Anarchy
-the walking dead and supernatural (but they definitely went on for to long)
"Comedy dramas 2010's"
-how I met your mother
-scrubs
"And if you where just looking for dramas 2010''s"
-gossip girl
-the fosters
-greys anatomy
-empire
-shameless
-the OC
@sophie8373
If you don't envisage Lucas with a basketball on a bridge when listening to this, did you even have a childhood!?
@myleshays4808
right man i miss one tree hill.
@Gapeaches77able
Ummm, yes.
@countyourmiracles.7734
😆😆😆
@aggelina5463
Sophie for real
@officerbutton9532
My friend took me to the River Court one night as a surprise. It was so cool to be there. Unfortunately it's been demolished
@monaechenielle
Shout out to all my One Tree Hill fans who are still listening to this in 2021!!!!
@nicholaskarageorgesirbeowu8277
I don't even know the show I just like the song .
@IzzyPeasyLemon
Now i just wanna watch OTH again 😅
@DomoDeelayO124
I’m watching it now 🤟🏾