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.”
Outsiders
NEEDTOBREATHE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close calls where no one wins
Stand tall we're running thin
I'm wearing thin
Oh, why are we keeping score
'Cause if you're not laughing
I've been wondering
If we stop sinking
Could we stand our ground
And through everything we've learned
We've finally come to terms
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
I'm not leaving without a fight
I got my holster around my side
Just 'cause I'm wrong it don't make you right
No, you ain't right
Oh, why are we keeping score
'Cause if you're not laughing
Who is laughing now
I've been wondering
If we stop sinking
Could we stand our ground
And through everything we've learned
We've finally come to terms
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
On the outside
You're free to roam
On the outside
We found a home
On the outside
There's more to see
On the outside
We choose to be
On the outside
You're free to roam
On the outside
We found a home
On the outside
There's more to see
On the outside
We choose to be
The lyrics to NEEDTOBREATHE's song The Outsiders describe the struggles and challenges of being part of a group that doesn't fit in with society's expectations. The first verse talks about the mistakes and flaws that the group has, as well as the feeling of being outnumbered and outrun by those who seem to have it all. The chorus questions the need for comparison and asks who really benefits from keeping score. It challenges the notion that success is measured by who is wealthiest or most popular, and encourages individuality and laughter.
The second verse is a defiant proclamation of not giving up, of being willing to fight for what they believe in, even if it means going against the norm. The repetition of the line "you ain't right" reinforces the idea that sometimes, what is popular or accepted may not be what is right. The chorus is repeated twice, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and finding a sense of belonging despite feeling like outsiders.
The bridge of the song highlights the freedom that comes with being outsiders. They are free to roam and choose their own path, creating a sense of identity and a place to call home. The repetition of "on the outside" suggests that their perspective is different from those who are conforming to society's norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Shortfalls and little sins
We have all made mistakes and have minor faults
Close calls where no one wins
We have come close to failure but have not succeeded
Stand tall we're running thin
We need to stay strong, but we are running out of strength
I'm wearing thin
Personally, I am running out of strength
Oh, why are we keeping score
Why are we focusing on who is right and wrong?
'Cause if you're not laughing
Who is laughing now
If we can't find humor in this situation, then it's not worth it
I've been wondering
If we stop sinking
Could we stand our ground
I have been questioning if we can stop our downward spiral and become strong
And through everything we've learned
We've finally come to terms
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
We are the outsiders
Oh oh oh
After all our experiences, we understand that we are different from the norm
I'm not leaving without a fight
I got my holster around my side
Just 'cause I'm wrong it don't make you right
No, you ain't right
I am not giving up easily, and just because I am wrong does not mean you are right
On the outside
You're free to roam
On the outside
We found a home
On the outside
There's more to see
On the outside
We choose to be
We are outsiders and are free to make our own choices and discover new things
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BEAR RINEHART, BO RINEHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind