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.”
Oohs and Ahhs
NEEDTOBREATHE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never knew the difference
And the words were mine
Another man could take it all in his stride
My tracks have left a stain
We were fresh crawling off the vine
Thrown into a barrel of the cheapest wine
And we're all the ones to blame
'Cause in our hearts we know it's true
We got oohs, we got ahhs
We got everything a man could need
We got oohs, we got ahhs
Still got a mountain full of mouths to feed
Tear the ocean and the skies apart
Circle up the wagons underneath the stars
Watch us spin around like a meteorite
It goes down and down and down
'Cause in our hearts we know it's true
We got oohs, we got ahhs
We got everything a man could need
We got oohs, we got ahhs
Still got a mountain full of mouths to feed
We got oohs, we got ahhs
We got everything a man could need
We got oohs, we got ahhs
Still got a mountain full of mouths to feed
Flashing the lights
Drawing us in
Flashing the lights
And then do it again
Flashing the lights
As the sirens call
Drawing us in
So they can watch us fall
Flashing the lights
Flashing the lights
We got oohs, we got ahhs
We got everything a man could need
We got oohs, we got ahhs
Still got a mountain full of mouths to feed
We got oohs, we got ahhs
We got everything a man could need
We got oohs, we got ahhs
Still got a mountain full of mouths to feed
The song "Oohs and Ahhs" by NEEDTOBREATHE appears to be a reflection on the simpler times of the past, likening it to being "thrown into a barrel of the cheapest wine". The lyrics imply a sense of innocence and naivety, where the singer "never knew the difference" and "the words were mine". However, the line "my tracks have left a stain" hints at some mistakes or regrets from that time. The chorus then highlights the abundance of material possessions, "we got everything a man could need", but also acknowledges the weight of responsibility that comes with it, "still got a mountain full of mouths to feed".
The bridge of the song seems to take a turn toward chaos as it describes tearing apart the ocean and skies, spinning around like a meteorite, and eventually falling down. The flashing lights and sirens call to mind the attraction and danger of a crowd, perhaps representing fame or success. The repetition of "flashing the lights" emphasizes the potential for being lured into a cycle of striving for attention and validation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Oohs and Ahhs" convey a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, but also a recognition of the complexities and responsibilities that come with success. The song warns against being caught in a cycle of seeking validation from external sources and losing sight of one's true priorities.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me back to a simpler time
I want to go back to when things were less complicated
I never knew the difference
I did not understand the contrast before
And the words were mine
I had my own words to describe things
Another man could take it all in his stride
Some people may be able to handle things better than others
My tracks have left a stain
My actions have left a lasting impact
We were fresh crawling off the vine
We were young and inexperienced
Thrown into a barrel of the cheapest wine
Landed in tough circumstances
Bottled in a store with a neon sign
Put into a situation that lacked authenticity
And we're all the ones to blame
We have contributed to the state we are currently in
'Cause in our hearts we know it's true
Deep down, we all know the truth
We got oohs, we got ahhs
We are entertained and enjoy the spectacle
We got everything a man could need
On the surface, we have everything we could want
Still got a mountain full of mouths to feed
However, we still have many problems to solve
Tear the ocean and the skies apart
We are willing to do anything to achieve our goals
Circle up the wagons underneath the stars
We seek comfort and strength in each other
Watch us spin around like a meteorite
We move with wild energy and force
It goes down and down and down
Our situation keeps getting worse
Flashing the lights
We are being drawn into something
Drawing us in
We are being pulled towards something
And then do it again
And the cycle will repeat
As the sirens call
As we are lured by temptation
So they can watch us fall
So our downfall will be witnessed by others
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nathaniel Rinehart, William Rinehart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind