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.”
NO EXCUSES
NEEDTOBREATHE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you find a solace in shadows
I don't wanna find out you're going 'round my back
Why you wanna bring me these sorrows
'Cause there's no excuses for what you're doing
There's no excuses for what you're doing
Everything I did, I did for you
If you're gonna tighten this rope around my neck
Girl, you better know I'm gonna fight it
'Cause there's no excuses for what you're doing
There's no excuses for what you're doing
'Cause there's no excuses for what you're doing
There's no excuses for what you're doing
The song "No Excuses" by NEEDTOBREATHE explores the feeling of betrayal and mistrust in a relationship. The singer senses that his partner finds comfort in keeping secrets and hiding in the shadows. He fears that she is cheating on him and he does not want to be blindsided by the truth. He wants her to know that her actions will not go unchecked and that he will fight for his love. The chorus, "there's no excuses for what you're doing," repeatedly emphasizes that her deceitful behavior is inexcusable.
The lyrics also reveal the history of their relationship, as the singer suggests that he has been with his partner since high school and has done everything for her. He feels as though this history should warrant loyalty and honesty, yet she is unfaithful. The tone of the song is one of determination and resilience, as the singer promises to fight for his love and hold his partner accountable for her actions.
Overall, "No Excuses" highlights the importance of trust and open communication in a relationship. It shows that while love can be all-consuming, it cannot exist without honesty and respect.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got this feeling in my bones
I have an intuition telling me that something is not right
That you find a solace in shadows
You seem to take comfort in the darkness and secrecy
I don't wanna find out you're going 'round my back
I don't want to discover that you are being unfaithful or deceptive behind my back
Why you wanna bring me these sorrows
Why do you want to cause me pain and sadness?
'Cause there's no excuses for what you're doing
You can't justify or explain away your actions
There's no excuses for what you're doing
You are fully responsible for your decisions and their consequences
Girl, I've been your lover since high school
I have been in a romantic relationship with you since we were in high school
Everything I did, I did for you
I did everything with your best interests in mind and to make you happy
If you're gonna tighten this rope around my neck
If you are going to increase the pressure and stress in our relationship
Girl, you better know I'm gonna fight it
I will not let you have the upper hand without a fight
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NATHANIEL RINEHART, WILLIAM RINEHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind