Five- piece from Toledo, Ohio Matt Hammitt (lead vocals), Mark Graalman (drums), Chris Rohman and Pete Prevost (guitars), and Dan Gartley replacing Steve Goodrum(bass).
Often quoted as "Electrifying Christian Rock" with the rock edge of bands like Foo Fighters and songwriting of Matchbox 20. They are mostly known for a trio of chart-topping hits—“Everything About You,” “The Fight Song” and a cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day”.
Their albums include:
All This Talk of Aliens - 1998
Message for the Masses - 1999
Nothing to Lose - 2001
Say it Loud - 2002
The Face of Love - 2006
We Need Each Other - 2007
and... Pieces of a Real Heart, which Sanctus Real held a vote on Twitter and Facebook to decide the title. - 2010
I'm Not Alright
Sanctus Real Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That no one wants to speak of
The cool is just how far we have to fall
And I am not immune
I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I loose my need to impress
I'm not alright
I'm broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you
Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I'm open wide
With nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on
'Cause honestly, I'm not that strong
I'm not alright
I'm broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you
And I move, and I move, and I move, closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move, closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move, closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move
I'm not alright
I'm broken inside, broken inside
Broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
Leads me to you, leads me to you
I'm not alright, I'm not alright, I'm not alright, that's why I need you
The song "I'm Not Alright" by Sanctus Real is a poignant and honest depiction of the struggles of individuals to cope with the challenges that life throws at them. The lyrics describe a sense of brokenness and weakness, as well as a deep longing for love and acceptance. The opening lines of the song state that weakness is a wound that no one wants to talk about, while the coolness or façade that people put up is actually an indication of their fear of falling. Through the song, the singer openly declares that he/she is not immune to these feelings of vulnerability, and that they only want to be loved, although they feel safe hiding behind a firewall.
The song also has a strong religious undertone, with the singer seeking comfort and guidance from a higher power, represented as 'you' in the lyrics. The singer recognizes that they are broken inside and that they need help to overcome their struggles. They confess that they need to lose their need for external validation and impressing others, which reveals their deeper longing for acceptance and validation from an external source.
In the end, the lyrics suggest a sense of hope and redemption, with the singer recognizing that their struggles have led them closer to the divine, and that only through surrendering their pride and clinging to something greater than themselves can they find peace and healing. The repeated refrain of 'I'm not alright' brings a sense of raw honesty and vulnerability to the song, revealing that it is okay to acknowledge one's struggles and reach out for help.
Line by Line Meaning
If weakness is a wound
If my vulnerabilities leave me vulnerable like a wound
That no one wants to speak of
That everyone is uncomfortable talking about
The cool is just how far we have to fall
Being unfazed is just how much further we can drop
And I am not immune
And I am not unaffected
I only want to be loved
All I truly desire is to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Yet I shield myself behind my defenses, feeling secure
Can I loose my need to impress
Is it possible to release my desire for approval
If you want the truth, I need to confess
If you are seeking honesty, I must admit
Burn away the pride
Get rid of my ego
Bring me to my weakness
Expose my vulnerabilities
Until everything I hide behind is gone
Until all of my pretenses vanish
And when I'm open wide
And when I am exposed
With nothing left to cling to
With nothing to hold onto
Only you are there to lead me on
You're the only one to guide me
'Cause honestly, I'm not that strong
Because honestly, I'm not that resilient
And I move, and I move, and I move, closer to you
And I inch, and I inch, and I inch closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move
And I keep going, and I keep going, and I keep going
I'm not alright
I am not okay
I'm broken inside, broken inside
I am shattered on the inside
And all I go through
And everything that I endure
Leads me to you, leads me to you
Guides me to you, guides me to you
I'm not alright, I'm not alright, I'm not alright, that's why I need you
I am not okay, I am not okay, I am not okay, and that's why I need you
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: CHRIS ROHMAN, CHRISTOPHER E. STEVENS, DANIEL DAVID GARTLEY, DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY, MARK STEVEN JR. GRAALMAN, MATTHEW D. HAMMITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tabea Kalimeris
Lyrics:
If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of
Then "cool" is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune, I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth I need to confess
[Chorus:]
I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
Broken inside
And all I go through, it leads me to you
It leads me to you
Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
'Til everything I hide behind is gone
And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on
'Cause honestly, I'm not that strong
[Chorus]
And I'll move
And I'll move
And I'll move
Closer to you [x3]
And I'll move
And I'll move
And I'll move
[Chorus:]
I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
Broken inside
I'm broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through leads me to you
Leads me to you
I'm not alright
I'm not alright
I'm not alright
That's why I need you
Greg Riffle
This song is one of my all time favorites! I miss Matt Hammitt, but I also love where Sanctus Real is today, but those Matt Hammitt days were there when I was suicidal. It honestly saddens me that people think this song is depressing. It is quite the opposite. In fact, this song right here has pulled me out of the deepest and darkest pits of depression I have ever been in. this song lets others who are struggling know they are not alone. And when I was on the verge of suicide in my teens and felt alone and like no one cared, Matt Hammitt and the boys were there to tell me otherwise. When I couldn't see any light, all I needed was to turn to God. "I'm not alright, that's why I need You!"
Ryan Ball
Amen! Absolutely love Sanctus Real! This is one of my all time favorites as well. When this song came out I was so close to God… recent years I’ve felt far from Him. Trying to get back. When I hear this song i feel the closeness that I did all those years ago if that makes sense.
Jesus is my GOD
Glad you stuck around.
Jesus loves you.
Yeshu Lopez 2
I like SR more with Matt.
Lillia Daniels
Matt and the guys have changed me so much. And I agree this song is NOT depressing! Matt called it “an anthem of authenticity” in his book Lead Me
Lillia Daniels
@yeshulopez2021, I agree! Matt rocks!
Lillia Daniels
Just when you feel like you are the saddest, worst, person in the world… Sanctus Real changes your life forever through God with this anointed song of healing. Thank you Sanctus Real and God
Gee Gryl
One of my favorite go-to Christian rock song since I was 14.
Jack Kendall
I used to replay this song over and over again at ages 14 to 15. I'm 25 years old today. Been long time since I last played it. Expresses how I felt when I was a teenager. Adopted parents and family didn't know about my teenage hard times. Nobody did but God did. Amen ❤️
lowercase21
Seeing all these comments this song has touched us all and helped us get through so much. I also use to play this song over and over again now im 30 and I'm just looking up all the songs I haven't listened to in awhile it's truly giving me these bittersweet tears of the good times and not so good times.