In 2001, at the age of 19, he launched the band The Format with his longtime best friend, Sam Means. The Format was his first musical endeavor to gain widespread attention. The Format lasted until 2008.
In 2008, Ruess started a new band with Jack Antonoff of Steel Train and Andrew Dost of Anathallo. The band was called fun.. With fun., Ruess won two Grammy Awards in 2013, including Best New Artist and Song of The Year for their hit We Are Young. fun. only released two albums before parting ways in 2014. On June 16, 2015, Ruess released his debut solo album Grand Romantic.
Ruess has also garnered success as a guest vocalist on songs by artists such as P!nk, Eminem, Emile Haynie, and Beach Boy Brian Wilson.
Moment
Nate Ruess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for a light when you saved me
I was convinced no one would take me
You turned and took me by the hand
But now that look in your eyes
All of your sighs are saying "Go, please"
"Leave me alone and leave you lonely"
It looks as though we've reached the end
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment
I'm alright right here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to cry
And when I think about the ways
That you never waste your breath to say you love me
How you always held your lost loves above me
As you kept your other hand on the door
Yet I'll admit I might miss
Every scar and every wish that we'd make
But our wishes were nothing but ways
To act as if we could use the change
Well, maybe one of these days
We'll cross each other on a train to our new lives
We could talk about the old times
And how we're glad we made it out alive
But for now I'll sit and drink
As I think about the night that your father died
And I said I'd never leave your side
We once swore we could defeat this
Therefore, please excuse this little bit of weakness, oh
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment of your time
To get all my things and let go
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to say goodbye
Well, Lord give me a reason
C'mon, show me you love me
I don't want to let it go
Just to watch it fly
And Lord, give me a moment
Any of it, show me
I don't want to feel it
I don't wanna watch it go by
Because I'm fine
I just need a moment
I'm alright right here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to say I'm fine
I need a moment
I'm alright here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to cry
The lyrics to Nate Ruess's "Moment" are about the end of a relationship and the heartbreak that comes with it. The song opens with the singer feeling grateful to their ex for rescuing them when they were lost but now, they can sense that their relationship is over. They ask their partner to let them go and give them the opportunity to have some space to grieve. The lyrics are raw and honest, as the character reflects on their past and contemplates the future.
The lyrics detail the singer's realization that their relationship might have been a mirage based on empty promises and sweet nothings. They come to terms with the fact that their ex never really loved them and only kept them around until they found someone better. The character is aware that they will miss their ex but also knows that they were never truly in love in the first place. The singer needs some time to come into terms with their emotions, cry and bid their farewell.
Overall, "Moment" is a touching ballad that captures the feelings of loss and pain that come with the end of a relationship. It speaks to anyone who has had their heartbroken while simultaneously looking towards the future with healing as they move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you were burning up the sky
You were striving hard for something and had a strong presence
Looking for a light when you saved me
You were trying to find a way out of the darkness but instead, you ended up rescuing me
I was convinced no one would take me
I was feeling so low that I didn't think anyone would want me
You turned and took me by the hand
You came to me and held out a hand of support and love
But now that look in your eyes
Your eyes reflect sadness, conveying a message - 'go away'
All of your sighs are saying "Go, please"
Your constant sighs and actions suggest that you want me to leave for my own good
"Leave me alone and leave you lonely"
If I stay, I will feel uncomfortable, but if I leave, you will be left feeling lonely
It looks as though we've reached the end
Our relationship seems to have reached its conclusion, and it's time for us to part ways
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment
I'm alright right here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to cry
I'm trying to convince myself that I'm okay, but in reality, I need some time to cry and grieve
And when I think about the ways
That you never waste your breath to say you love me
Reflecting on how you never said 'I love you' made me feel unimportant in our relationship
How you always held your lost loves above me
As you kept your other hand on the door
Conversely, you were holding on to your past relationships and simultaneously seeking an escape
Yet I'll admit I might miss
Every scar and every wish that we'd make
Though I understand we must part ways, part of me will miss the memories we've made
But our wishes were nothing but ways
To act as if we could use the change
Our desires were just temporary remedies, like adjusting leaves in the wind
Well, maybe one of these days
We'll cross each other on a train to our new lives
We could talk about the old times
And how we're glad we made it out alive
Perhaps, in the future, we'll get another chance to meet, and reflect on our past and celebrate making it out alive
But for now I'll sit and drink
As I think about the night that your father died
And I said I'd never leave your side
Currently, I'll distract myself with a drink while reminiscing the time when I pledged never to abandon you
We once swore we could defeat this
Therefore, please excuse this little bit of weakness, oh
We were hopeful about our future together and this little moment of grief is acceptable considering what we have been through
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment of your time
To get all my things and let go
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to say goodbye
I need your time to arrange my things before I go, and I need a moment just to say goodbye
Well, Lord give me a reason
C'mon, show me you love me
I don't want to let it go
Just to watch it fly
And Lord, give me a moment
Any of it, show me
I'm praying to God for a reason to hold on, so I don't have to let go helplessly and watch everything vanish; I want God to show me a sign anytime
I don't want to feel it
I don't wanna watch it go by
Because I'm fine
I just need a moment
I'm alright right here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to say I'm fine
I need a moment
I'm alright here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to cry
I'm convincing myself that I'm okay and telling myself that I only need a moment to grieve, but in reality, I'm trying to hold on to something that keeps on slipping through my grasp
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFF BHASKER, NATE RUESS, EMILE HAYNIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nateruessmusic
I remember writing "Moment" just over a year ago. I was at Emile's studio in NYC (RIP), working on the acapella to "AhHa" and I decided to steal his omnichord because I'd heard a lot of songwriters who don't play instruments have been known to use one to find different chords without having to sing the song to an instrumentalist.
So I sat around my apartment strumming the stupid thing with no real luck. Put it down. And almost instantly started writing "Moment". I was particularly excited cause in my head it sounded like a really small and nonchalant chorus- and despite my track record at the time- I've always been a bigger fan of the less obvious chorus that ends up growing on you. Plus the verses I'd started writing really made it feel like a country version of "one more try" by George Michael (one of my all time favorite songs).
I recorded the first verse and chorus acapella and sent it off to Jeff to get his thoughts on it. He freaked out about as much as I'd ever heard him freak out, and sent it back with drums and other instrumentation. Apparently he was in the studio with Shania Twain when he'd gotten my email (awesome factoid), and was really inspired by the work they were doing.
Little known fact (or not- who really knows anymore)- I love country music. I dunno if it's the Iowa or the Arizona- but it's not like when I was in my late teens and I was like "the only country I listen to is Johnny Cash and Whiskeytown". No. These days I'm into some really shitty country. Pickup trucks. Bad fashion. Whatever. My ears gravitate to it. Sometimes I hate myself for it. But it doesn't stop me from listening.
Anyway- Jeff's instrumental accompanying track was awesome. I sat on it for a few weeks before he came to New York, and I believe it was the first song he, Emile and I worked on all together for this album. By the time we all got into a room- I wanted it to feel like a country version of my favorite song of all time "Nothing Compares 2 U", but with Mutt Lange drums. If that sounds like a weird mash up- that's because it is. Emile did an incredible job on the drums. I remember writing that weird/depressing second verse pre chorus in about five minutes because I thought the song felt a little flat, and I'm so happy I did, cause it has some of my favorite lyrics I've ever written (I wrote the father dying line based off of my obsession with the "all the flowers that you planted mama" from "Nothing Compares 2 U"). Also- I'm horrendous with writing and singing harmonies. I've always been fortunate to be surrounded by people who could cover my ass when it came time to write a harmony. But I pulled that last chorus harmony out of thin air. And I'll say that to this day- it's been the toughest notes I've ever had to sing.
@dhenokambararum784
Well, you were burning up the sky
Looking for a light when you saved me
I was convinced no one would take me
You turned and took me by the hand
hmmmm...
But now that look in your eyes
All of your sighs are saying "Go, please"
"Leave me alone and leave you lonely"
It looks as though we've reached the end
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment
I'm alright , right here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to cry
And when I think about the ways
That you never waste your breath to say you love me
How you always held your lost loves above me
As you kept your other hand on the door
Yet I'll admit I might miss
Every scar and every wish that we'd make
But our wishes were nothing but ways
To act as if we could use the change
Well, maybe one of these days
We'll cross each other on a train to our new lives
We could talk about the old times
And how we're glad we made it out alive
But for now I'll sit and drink
As I think about the night that your father died
And I said I'd never leave your side
We once swore we could defeat this
Therefore, please excuse this little bit of weakness, oh ....
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment
of your time
To get all my things and let go
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to say goodbye
Well, Lord give me a reason
C'mon, show me you love me
I don't want to let it go
Just to watch it fly
And Lord, give me a moment
Any of it, show me
I don't want to feel it
I don't wanna watch it go by
Because I'm fine
I just need a moment
I'm alright right here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to say I'm fine
I need a moment
I'm alright here on the floor
Well, I'm fine
I just need a moment to cry
@absolutelynoclue.3393
My Rank:
1. It Only Gets Much Worse
2. Intro
3. Moment
4. Take It Back
5. Grand Romantic
6. Great Big Storm
7.AhHa
8. You Light My Fire
9. What This World Is Coming To
10. Brightside
11. Harsh Light
12. Nothing Without Love
I LOVE every song on the album, these are just the order I like them in.
@BrendaRoyte
Nate, we want you to come back... Please😣
Am i the only one who want him back??
@hahaha-jn9fj
me too his music is a masterpiece
@hahaha-jn9fj
@@BrendaRoyte yea why not :)
@BrendaRoyte
@@hahaha-jn9fj thank you 😊👌👌
@noname-yo6yn
He wont come back so soon. He needs to take care about his Child
@shauna7086
No i love him i want him back so Bad 😪
@nateruessmusic
I remember writing "Moment" just over a year ago. I was at Emile's studio in NYC (RIP), working on the acapella to "AhHa" and I decided to steal his omnichord because I'd heard a lot of songwriters who don't play instruments have been known to use one to find different chords without having to sing the song to an instrumentalist.
So I sat around my apartment strumming the stupid thing with no real luck. Put it down. And almost instantly started writing "Moment". I was particularly excited cause in my head it sounded like a really small and nonchalant chorus- and despite my track record at the time- I've always been a bigger fan of the less obvious chorus that ends up growing on you. Plus the verses I'd started writing really made it feel like a country version of "one more try" by George Michael (one of my all time favorite songs).
I recorded the first verse and chorus acapella and sent it off to Jeff to get his thoughts on it. He freaked out about as much as I'd ever heard him freak out, and sent it back with drums and other instrumentation. Apparently he was in the studio with Shania Twain when he'd gotten my email (awesome factoid), and was really inspired by the work they were doing.
Little known fact (or not- who really knows anymore)- I love country music. I dunno if it's the Iowa or the Arizona- but it's not like when I was in my late teens and I was like "the only country I listen to is Johnny Cash and Whiskeytown". No. These days I'm into some really shitty country. Pickup trucks. Bad fashion. Whatever. My ears gravitate to it. Sometimes I hate myself for it. But it doesn't stop me from listening.
Anyway- Jeff's instrumental accompanying track was awesome. I sat on it for a few weeks before he came to New York, and I believe it was the first song he, Emile and I worked on all together for this album. By the time we all got into a room- I wanted it to feel like a country version of my favorite song of all time "Nothing Compares 2 U", but with Mutt Lange drums. If that sounds like a weird mash up- that's because it is. Emile did an incredible job on the drums. I remember writing that weird/depressing second verse pre chorus in about five minutes because I thought the song felt a little flat, and I'm so happy I did, cause it has some of my favorite lyrics I've ever written (I wrote the father dying line based off of my obsession with the "all the flowers that you planted mama" from "Nothing Compares 2 U"). Also- I'm horrendous with writing and singing harmonies. I've always been fortunate to be surrounded by people who could cover my ass when it came time to write a harmony. But I pulled that last chorus harmony out of thin air. And I'll say that to this day- it's been the toughest notes I've ever had to sing.
@alejandraguacamaya2969
Nate Ruess Al fin! un canal de YouTube donde pueda escucharte :3 tengo que decir que me encanta tu voz!
@96Z24
Nate Ruess Thanks for writing. It's a great song. I like it a lot.
@chicagofan76
Nate Ruess Now you need to appear on a Tim Mcgraw/Keith Urban/Brad Paisley/Jennifer Nettles song. Love the album. One of the best on years i have heard.