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.
Nothing Without Love (PrimeMus
Nate Ruess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m but a ship stuck in the sand
Some would say that I’m all alone
But I am nothing without love
I wanna hold her in my arms
But she feeling low she feeling sad
I would take credit for what’s wrong
Three years at sea after the storm
On this sinking ship that love had put me on
God I wish a gust of wind would come and carry me home
But I got nowhere to go
Now here you show up with the force of a wave
And so I'm setting my sail, I’m headed for the empire state
Hey hey lord, I don’t want to lose this one, she make me feel whole
You know, I am nothing without love
Oh baby show me a sign
Send up a signal, that everything’s fine
Come on slide up right here by my side
You know that I want to rest in your light
I am nothing without love
I’m just these thoughts without a pen
And I would take credit for this song
But I am nothing without love
The lyrics of Nate Ruess's song "Nothing Without Love" convey the message that love is a powerful force that gives meaning to life and without it, life is meaningless. The first line, "I am nothing without love," is a bold statement that highlights the importance of love in the singer's life. The second line, "I'm but a ship stuck in the sand," serves as a metaphor for the feeling of being stuck and immobile without love.
The third line, "Some would say that I’m all alone," brings up the idea that people can feel alone even when surrounded by others. However, it is the final line of the stanza, "But I am nothing without love," that emphasizes the true isolation that comes from not having love in life.
The second stanza describes the singer's desire to hold someone he loves but is unable to because of their sadness. However, the singer is willing to take credit for any wrongdoing because love is more important than being right. The third and fourth stanzas depict the singer's struggle with feeling lost at sea without love until the arrival of someone who brings him back to life. The final lines express the singer’s gratefulness for this person who makes him feel whole and complete.
Overall, the lyrics celebrate the power of love and its ability to give meaning to life. They emphasize the idea that no matter how lost or alone one might feel, love has the ability to bring people back to life.
Line by Line Meaning
I am nothing without love
The love I receive from someone special gives me purpose and makes me complete.
I’m but a ship stuck in the sand
Without love, I am directionless and stranded, unable to move forward.
Some would say that I’m all alone
Although it may appear that I am alone, I know that I need love and cannot exist without it.
I wanna hold her in my arms
I desire the physical closeness and emotional connection that come from being with my loved one.
But she feeling low she feeling sad
Unfortunately, my loved one is currently struggling with negative emotions that I cannot fix on my own.
I would take credit for what’s wrong
Even though I cannot fix everything, I am willing to take responsibility for any mistakes that may have contributed to my loved one's sadness.
Three years at sea after the storm
I have been lost and adrift for a long time, battling the aftermath of an emotional storm that left me feeling stranded.
On this sinking ship that love had put me on
My previous experiences with love have not always been positive; in fact, they have often caused me to feel hopeless and lost.
God I wish a gust of wind would come and carry me home
I am searching for a sign or signal that will guide me back to a place where I can feel safe and loved again.
But I got nowhere to go
I feel stuck and directionless, unable to find my way out of the situation that love has left me in.
Now here you show up with the force of a wave
Suddenly, my loved one appears in my life with a power and intensity that cannot be ignored.
And so I'm setting my sail, I’m headed for the empire state
With renewed hope and purpose, I am ready to pursue a bright future with my loved one by my side.
Hey hey lord, I don’t want to lose this one, she make me feel whole
I am praying for the strength and courage to hold onto my loved one and not let her slip away, as she is the missing piece that makes me feel complete.
You know, I am nothing without love
Once again, I am reminded that without the love of someone special, I am incomplete and directionless, like a ship without direction.
Oh baby show me a sign
I am desperately seeking reassurance and guidance from a higher power or from my loved one herself.
Send up a signal, that everything’s fine
I need to know that my loved one is okay and that our relationship is still strong and secure.
Come on slide up right here by my side
I want physical closeness and emotional support from my loved one, and I hope she will come closer to me and comfort me.
You know that I want to rest in your light
Despite my struggles, I am still deeply devoted and committed to my loved one, and I want to bask in the warmth of her love and support.
I am nothing without love
Once again, I am reminded of how much I need love to survive and thrive, both emotionally and creatively.
I’m just these thoughts without a pen
Without the guidance and inspiration that come from love, I am adrift and unable to create or communicate my deepest thoughts and emotions.
And I would take credit for this song
Although I may have written this song, I know that it was love that provided me with the inspiration and motivation to create it in the first place.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFF BHASKER, JOSH KLINGHOFFER, NATE RUESS, EMILE HAYNIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vasilismavratsas4571
I like how "violence" is censored but "wanna see me stick 9-inch nails into each one of my eyelids?" isn't xD
@sylviayong8906
All I did was put nine 9-inch nails in my eyelids now seeing diamond like I'm in zales 🎶
@sylviayong8906
@DrugzIsXO// Hehe
@RiskyFishness
Primus bro.
@RiskyFishness
Not violence
@RiskyFishness
Dank AF swamp rock band
@Yxy.cartii
lets not forget this man made a whole clean version of some songs for his daughter
@simplyskrypt3914
He censored the word "fuck" and "asshole" but not the parts where he speaks about being institutionalized and trying to impregnate a spice girl tho
5head censorship
@jackfoster9802
@@simplyskrypt3914 😂😂😂😂😂
@souperupper
I think the censorship had to do with the sample used. He could only get the rights after editing the lyrics.. at least for this song.