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.”
Learn To Love
NEEDTOBREATHE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need to stop trying to count the cost
I need to fight on the losing side
And always hold you
I will always stay with you
Till we know the pain of a broken heart
We can't walk through the fires we didn't start
Learn to love through the darkness and the light
I'm on your side
Oh, I'm on your side
I had the fortune of a second chance
I know the reason why we all should dance
I've seen the end and all you have to do
Is always hold true
I will always stay with you
'Till we know the pain of a broken heart
We won't walk through the fires we didn't start
So, just hold on to the way it is tonight
We can learn to love through the darkness and the light
We can learn to love through the darkness and the light
I'm on your side
I'm on your side
Oh, I'm on your side
Hey, I'm on your side
Always hold true
I will always stay with you
Yeah, you always hold true
I will always stay with you
'Till we know the broken heart
We can't walk through fires we didn't start
So, just hold on to the way it is tonight
And learn to love through the darkness and the light
Oh, learn to love
Yeah, we learn to love
Learn to love
Oh, learn to love
The lyrics of NEEDTOBREATHE's song "Learn to Love" convey the message that we all need to experience the pain of a broken heart in order to truly learn how to love. The song suggests that we need to stop trying to count the cost of love and instead fight on the losing side, always holding onto love, even when it hurts. The singer acknowledges that they've had a second chance at love and have seen the beauty of it, encouraging the person they are singing to, to always hold true to the love they share.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of experiencing heartbreak to be able to navigate through future challenges in love. It urges us to hold on tight to the love we have, to not walk away when things get tough, and to learn to love through the darkness and the light. The singer concludes the song by reiterating their commitment to staying with the person they are singing to and encouraging them to learn to love no matter the circumstance.
Overall, the lyrics of "Learn to Love" offer a powerful message about the true nature of love and the importance of holding on tight to it through life's ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
I need the fear of a love that's lost
I need to experience losing love to truly appreciate and value it.
I need to stop trying to count the cost
I need to stop worrying about the price of love and instead focus on giving it freely.
I need to fight on the losing side
I need to be willing to take a risk and stand up for what I believe in, even if it may not lead to victory.
And always hold you
I will always be there for you, no matter the circumstances.
I will always stay with you
I will never abandon you or let you go through life alone.
Till we know the pain of a broken heart
Until we experience heartbreak ourselves, we can't fully understand the depth of our emotions.
We can't walk through the fires we didn't start
We can't expect to face life's challenges without first taking responsibility for our own actions and choices.
So, just hold on to the way it is tonight
Let's cherish and hold onto the present moment, as it's fleeting and won't last forever.
Learn to love through the darkness and the light
Let's learn to love even in difficult times, as love is a powerful force that can shine through any darkness.
I'm on your side
I'm here for you, supporting and encouraging you.
Oh, I'm on your side
I'm right by your side, through thick and thin.
I had the fortune of a second chance
I was lucky enough to get another opportunity to do things differently and make things right.
I know the reason why we all should dance
I understand the beauty of life and how we should enjoy every moment, just like we dance freely without a care in the world.
I've seen the end and all you have to do
I've experienced the worst-case scenario and know that all it takes to survive and thrive is having someone to always hold onto.
Is always hold true
The key to success in love and life is always being honest, loyal, and committed.
Yeah, you always hold true
You should always stay true to yourself and your values, even when things get tough.
Oh, learn to love
Let's strive to become better at love and relationships, as it's a skill that can always be improved upon.
Yeah, we learn to love
Together, we can learn and grow in love, creating deeper and more fulfilling connections.
Learn to love
Love is a lifelong journey of growth and discovery, and we should always strive to learn and improve.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nathaniel Rinehart, William Rinehart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind