Nathaniel Rateliff (born Nathaniel David Rateliff on 7 October 1978 in St. … Read Full Bio ↴Nathaniel Rateliff (born Nathaniel David Rateliff on 7 October 1978 in St. Louis, MI) is an American singer and songwriter based in Denver, whose influences are described as folk, Americana and vintage rhythm & blues. Rateliff has garnered attention with Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, the soulful R&B combo he formed in 2013. He has also released solo albums and under the name Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel.

http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/

Members:
Nathaniel Rateliff
Patrick Meese
Julie Davis
Joseph Pope III
James Han

Longing and Losing
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I must be our ruin
I must dead iron
Don't short-sight it's worth
It comes to steal mine
It comes as it always has
and in keeping me hid

there must be

peace in the morning,
peace in the night.
peace in the daylight,

let it out stand forever
does it outstand so plight
may it wash all us over
and its back-breaking crime

let it cast me far forward,
'til the end of my life.

there must
be peace when eyes are open
peace her eyes to find
let us rest till it's over

let us soak up the healing
tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nathaniel Rateliff's song Longing and Losing seem to explore the theme of personal struggles and the search for inner peace. The singer appears to feel like he is the cause of his own destruction, feeling like dead iron that comes to steal his worth away. He then goes on to say that peace is what he seeks in the morning, at night, and during the day. He wants it to stand forever and outlast the plight that he's been experiencing.

The most interesting part of the lyrics is the way Rateliff describes the idea of peace in different ways ("peace in the morning, peace in the night, peace in the daylight"). He seems to reinforce the idea that peace is not just something you feel when you're alone or relaxed, but something universal that can be experienced at any time of day. The chorus is also significant because it highlights the fact that peace is something to be strived towards even though it may seem like there is a back-breaking crime keeping us from it.

Another important part of the lyrics is the phrase "let us soak up the healing tonight." There is a sense of turning towards the present moment and trying to experience something that's positive in the midst of all that pain. There is a sense of hope and resilience in the lyrics, as the singer reminds us that peace is possible even when the night is long.

Line by Line Meaning

I must be our ruin
I feel like I am the reason for our downfall

I must dead iron
I am hardened and unyielding, like lifeless iron

Don't short-sight it's worth
Don't underestimate its value

It comes to steal mine
It arrives to take away what is mine

It comes as it always has
It appears in the same way it always has

and in keeping me hid
and in keeping me hidden from sight

there must be peace in the morning,
There ought to be peace in the morning,

peace in the night.
peace in the night-time,

peace in the daylight,
and peace in the daylight,

let it out stand forever
May it stand forever outside our being,

does it outstand so plight
Will it outlast our strife and suffering