When NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear and Bo Rinehart set out to write the songs that appear on the band’s new album, The Reckoning, they felt something bigger awaited them. It wasn’t just commercial success either. The band’s last album The Outsiders hit No. 9 on Billboard’s Rock Albums chart, went Top 20 on the Top 200, saw the band sell out venues such as Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and Chicago’s House of Blues, and score an impressive number of placements in blockbuster films and numerous prime time television-shows.
With their reputation as a must-see live act built from non-stop touring, the Rinehart brothers, pastor’s sons who hail from the rural South Carolina town of Possum Kingdom, along with drummer Joe Stillwell and bass player Seth Bolt, were determined to create a statement-making album that truly captured the magic behind this genuinely appealing rock band.
Lyrically, all roads lead from the album’s title, which Bear says has several different meanings, one of them being the justification of accounts. “I like the idea that you put in all this work and at some point it comes to a peak -- that’s the reckoning time.”
What the band emerged with is a timeless-sounding album rooted in classic American rock and roll, unafraid to veer off into unexpected directions. Songs such as “Maybe They’re On To Us” address the paranoia of wondering whether people know too much about the band. “It also asks, ‘Are we still driven in the same way?’ We’re always questioning ourselves,” Bear says. Even the songs that may sound light-hearted on the surface, like “White Fences,” “Slumber,” and “Drive All Night,” explore serious themes. “’White Fences’ is about the American dream of growing up in a big house with a white picket fence, but when the dream is broken and things don’t pan out the way you planned, asking who’s going to fix it,” Bo says. “’Slumber’ is meant to be about how beauty is all around you but you just can’t see it because of the funk you’re in,” Bear says. “It speaks to something that we really care about which is giving yourself a chance.” And there’s “Drive All Night,” a galloping barnstormer that Bear sees as a statement on the false idea that one can run away from one’s problems.
With their intriguing melodies and bright choruses, the songs on The Reckoning are certain to translate in the live setting, something that is crucial to the band. “The worst thing that could happen is you get done playing and people don’t think about you again. We’ll do whatever it takes to force people to make a decision about our band, whether they love us or not. It makes for more passionate fans.”
Clear
NEEDTOBREATHE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are the reason for what I'm doing
You are the crystalline that keeps me from my ruin
You are the movement
You're the true north pointing back home
You are the constant, my constellation
You're the steady hands of a ticking clock that I'll come to rely on
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
I just wanna be where you are
I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
You are the four winds
You're the catalyst of high hopes
You are the beauty
The sparks revival
You are the oxygen inside these lungs that's giving life to my bones
Oh, it's so clear
Come a little closer all of my love is right here
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
I just wanna be where you are I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
Oh, it's so clear come a little closer
All of my love is right here
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
I just wanna be where you are I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
Honey, it's so clear now
It's so clear now
I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
Honey, it's so clear now
Honey, it's so clear now
It feels like heaven is coming down
It's right here with me its all around
I once was so lost but I am found
When I'm with you
No ones watching the way you move
Your body's dancing under the moon
You always know just what to do
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
The lyrics to NEEDTOBREATHE's song CLEAR speaks about the importance of a significant other in the singer's life. The lyrics mention different metaphors to describe the importance of the person, such as describing them as the moonlight in the sky that they are following, the crystalline that keeps them from their ruin, or the constant, their constellation. The person is the true north that points them back home and the steady hands of a ticking clock they can rely on. They are the only thing the singer has ever been sure of, and they promise not to let them down.
The chorus repeats, "Oh, it's so clear, come a little closer, all of my love is right here. I just want to hear you whispering you still trust. You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of. I just wanna be where you are, I promise I won't let you down. Honey, it's so clear now." These lyrics emphasize the clarity that the person brings to the singer’s life, and how they want to stay close to them, never let them down, and constantly reassure the person of their love and trust.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the moonlight in the sky that I'm pursuing
You are the guiding light in my life that I am pursuing and searching for.
You are the reason for what I'm doing
You are the motivation behind all my actions and decisions.
You are the crystalline that keeps me from my ruin
You are the clear and pure force that protects me from falling to my ruin.
You are the movement
You are the force of change and progress that drives me forward.
You're the true north pointing back home
You are the unwavering direction that shows me the way back to my true home.
You are the constant, my constellation
You are the everlasting force that is always present in my life, like a constellation in the sky.
You're the steady hands of a ticking clock that I'll come to rely on
You are the constant and reliable force that I can always depend on, like the steady hands of a clock.
Oh, it's so clear come a little closer all of my love is right here
It is abundantly clear that my love for you is strong and present, and I want you to come closer to feel it fully.
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
I only need to hear you say that you still trust me, and my love for you is so strong that I crave that assurance.
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
You are the one constant in my life that I am absolutely certain about.
I just wanna be where you are
All I want is to be with you, wherever you are.
I promise I won't let you down
I make a solemn promise that I will not disappoint or fail you.
Honey, it's so clear now
My love for you is now clearer than ever before, and it is undeniable.
You are the four winds
You are the ever-changing and unpredictable forces of nature, reflecting the breadth and depth of your influence.
You're the catalyst of high hopes
You are the trigger that sparks and ignites high hopes in me and others around me.
You are the beauty
You are the embodiment of beauty, both inside and out.
The sparks revival
Your presence and influence sparks and renews my energy and enthusiasm for life.
You are the oxygen inside these lungs that's giving life to my bones
You are the vitally important element that fills me with energy and life, and sustains me physically and emotionally.
It feels like heaven is coming down
Being with you feels like the divine and heavenly forces are coming down to earth.
It's right here with me its all around
You are so present and all-encompassing that it feels like you are always with me, surrounding me.
I once was so lost but I am found
I was once wandering aimlessly in life, but with you, I have found my purpose and direction.
No ones watching the way you move
Your movements and actions are so natural and effortless, as if nobody is watching.
Your body's dancing under the moon
You are moving and dancing with joy and freedom, under the light of the moon.
You always know just what to do
You possess a natural wisdom and intuition that guides you through life with confidence and purpose.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NATHANIEL RINEHART, WILLIAM RINEHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elizabeth Roberts
Love this song <3 Since, I went through the trouble of typing this out, thought I'd share:
C L E A R
Needtobreathe
Intro: Bb F C Bb
Verse 1
F
You are the moonlight in the sky that I'm pursuing
dm
You are the reason for what I'm doing
C Bb dm C
You are the crystalline that keeps me from my ruin
F
You are the movement, you're the true north pointing back home
dm
You are the constant, my constellation
C Bb dm
You're the steady hands of a ticking clock that I'll come to rely on
Chorus
Bb
Oh, it's so clear Come a little closer
F
All of my love is right here
Bb
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
F
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of I just wanna be where you are
dm C Bb
I promise I won't let you down
F C Bb
Honey, it's so clear now
Verse 2
F
You are the four winds, you're the catalyst of high hopes
dm
You are the beauty, the sparks revival
C Bb dm
You’re the oxygen inside these lungs that's giving life to my bones
Chorus
Bridge: C# C C# C F
Bb
Oh, it's so clear Come a little closer
F
All of my love is right here
Bb
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
F
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of I just wanna be where you are
dm
I promise I
C
I won't let you down
Bb F
Honey, it's so clear now
Bb
Honey, it’s so clear now
F
Honey, it’s so clear now
dm C Bb
I promise I won't let you down
F C Bb
Honey, it's so clear now (repeat x 3)
Outro: F C Bb
F C Bb
It feels like heaven is coming down
F C Bb
It's right here with me, it’s all around
F C Bb
I once was so lost but I am found
F C Bb
When I'm with you
F C Bb
No one’s watching the way you move
F C Bb
Your body's dancing under the moon
F C Bb
You always know just what to do
F C Bb
When I'm with you (repeat x 4)
Anaís Anaìs
"CLEAR"
You are the moonlight in the sky that I'm pursuing
You are the reason for what I'm doing
You are the crystalline that keeps me from my ruin
You are the movement
You're the true north pointing back home
You are the constant, my constellation
You're the steady hands of a ticking clock that I'll come to rely on
Oh, it's so clear
Come a little closer
All of my love is right here
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
I just wanna be where you are
I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
You are the four winds
You're the catalyst of high hopes
You are the beauty
The sparks revival
You are the oxygen inside these lungs that's giving life to my bones
Oh, it's so clear
Come a little closer
All of my love is right here
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
I just wanna be where you are
I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
Oh, it's so clear
Come a little closer
All of my love is right here
I just want to hear you whispering you still trust
You're the only thing that I have ever been sure of
I just wanna be where you are
I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
Honey, it's so clear now
It's so clear now
I promise I won't let you down
Honey, it's so clear now
Honey, it's so clear now
Honey, it's so clear now
It feels like heaven is coming down
It's right here with me its all around
I once was so lost but I am found
When I'm with you
No ones watching the way you move
Your body's dancing under the moon
You always know just what to do
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
When I'm with you
Jim OHNECK
42 yrs. Of marriage and it's still clear....my wife is the love God gave me!
Roxy Brown
@Jeff Ewing it's my generation. And me. Then it gets mythical. Maybe if I followed my calling, he would've been there along the way.
Jeff Ewing
@Roxy Brown your missing out. Love is life. We where created to love. The world teaches us that love will get you killed or hurt. Amd thats false. Love sets us free.
Jeff Ewing
Amen brother.
Believer
Not many guys can say that. Congrats!
Trevor
That is absolutely amazing and i pray for another 42 for you both❤ eternal love never rests xx
Scott Ficarro
This song is giving me hope for the love I carry for my wife. I will be with her again.
Anthony Mazzola
Did you end up back together?
Liz Ghal
Here people are saying that HARDLOVE is dissapointing because of the "lack of Christianity"...
I am a Christian and I have heard the message of God's character and love through EVERY SONG that they have released on HARDLOVE. Not dissapoointed one bit. NEEDTOBREATHE are so talented and they are getting better. I feel that their songs are perhaps even becoming more meanigful and spiritual than what they have made before! HARDLOVE, (even the name of the album itself!) is clearly an album with a purpose and the songs are tackling things that every non-christian AND christian should be thinking about. I'm proud of this band so much :D
kizapawn
Forbid they make a song about a couples love for each other, those people seriously need to calm down.