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.”
Fade
NEEDTOBREATHE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm insecure when I'm with you, and that's all right
So take my life, and do with it what you will
And take my lungs, and make them rise so that I can feel
And all my instincts, they fade away
And I'm left here, standing in Your grace
So make me yours, make me yours today
For what it's worth, I don't know just what I could say
To make you see, I don't deserve the love you gave
You rise inside, and see deepest part of me and find my needs
You're everything, the song that I sing, you're the air that I breathe
The lyrics of "Fade" by NEEDTOBREATHE are written in a beautifully introspective style that speaks to the insecurities and vulnerabilities that one can experience in a relationship. The opening lines, "For what it's worth, I am yours, and you are mine, I'm insecure when I'm with you, and that's all right" set the tone for the rest of the song.
The lyricist is acknowledging that they may not have everything together or be perfect, but that they are willing to let go of their insecurities and give themselves completely to the person they love. The line "So take my life, and do with it what you will, And take my lungs, and make them rise so that I can feel" is a powerful statement of vulnerability and trust. The singer is willing to give up control and let the person they love have all of them, even the most essential parts of their being.
The chorus of "Fade" focuses on the idea of fading away and being left standing in grace. The lyrics state "And all my instincts, they fade away, And I'm left here, standing in Your grace, So make me yours, make me yours today." This is a deeply spiritual sentiment, as the singer is not only trusting the person they love but also placing their faith in a higher power to guide them.
The closing lines of the song, "You're everything, the song that I sing, you're the air that I breathe" bring the focus back to the person they love. The love they feel for this person is all-encompassing and fills every aspect of their life. The language used here is poetic and romantic, and emphasizes the deep connection the singer feels with their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
For what it's worth, I am yours, and you are mine
I want you to know that I belong to you and you belong to me, regardless of the struggles we face.
I'm insecure when I'm with you, and that's all right
Even though I feel inadequate and uncertain when I'm around you, it's okay because you still accept me for who I am.
So take my life, and do with it what you will
I trust you with my whole being, so do whatever you feel is best for me and my purpose.
And take my lungs, and make them rise so that I can feel
Give me the breath of life and the passion to fully experience all that's around me.
And all my instincts, they fade away
In your presence, my natural inclinations and habits that may not serve me well are replaced with a desire to follow you and grow.
And I'm left here, standing in Your grace
You show me compassion and mercy in spite of my mistakes, and I'm humbled and grateful for that.
So make me yours, make me yours today
I am devoted to you and want to live my life entirely dedicated to your mission and purpose.
For what it's worth, I don't know just what I could say
I'm at a loss for words to express how much you mean to me and how undeserving I am of your love.
To make you see, I don't deserve the love you gave
I realize that I show imperfections and inadequacies, but you still love me in a way that I can never fully comprehend.
You rise inside, and see deepest part of me and find my needs
You know me more intimately than anyone else and provide precisely what I need to thrive and grow.
You're everything, the song that I sing, you're the air that I breathe
You are the center of my universe, and I could not exist or function without you.
Contributed by Claire T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.