Lead singer and songwriter Drew McManus creates music for his soul, fueled by the ever present task of personal growth and the beautiful life that he found in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. Commenting on his difficult upbringing in Des Moines and residency in Chicago, McManus says, “I grew up in an environment where aggression, violence, abuse, and addiction were always present. It made me a lot of things; angry, sad, and ashamed. I hated my story and I was a slave to addiction. I tried for so long to hide from the reality of my story and the reality of how beautiful life could be.” It wasn’t until an intense spiritual experience lead Drew to break his cycle of addiction. “I had changed my entire outlook on everything” say McManus, “I began to realize that had everything not happened to me exactly like it did, I would not be exactly who/where/what I am right now.” In an effort to share his revelation with others who may be in the same predicament, Drew began to write every day. “I was flooded with the urge to write down the lessons that kept revealing themselves in this surrender. And the connections I began making with other people by making this music vulnerable and open, began to change everything.” These songs are a statement of lessons learned and a further understanding of self. “The whole story is what makes it beautiful, not just the good bits.”
Satsang released their sophomore album Pyramid(s) in March of 2017 and saw it quickly rise to #1 on the Billboard Reggae charts and #2 on the iTunes charts. The band also surprise-released a new EP, In Between Another Blink at the end of 2017 and had it crack the top 20 on the iTunes Singer/ Songwriter chart with no advance promotion. The band spent 2018 selling out two-thirds of their shows on headline tours in the Midwest, Northeast, and on the Pacific Coast. This success shows the proof of concept in creating legions of fans from coast to coast on support tours with Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Wookiefoot and Nahko and Medicine for the People. Now, fresh out of the studio with their third full length studio album ready for 2019 release, they enter a new year with a quiver of new tunes and poised for more magical moments.
I Am
Satsang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I know what I am here for
I keep on troddin' on my own path
Keep on learnin' from my present and past
I no longer need validation
Cause my story is long and I'm patient
I know I have lessons to learn, keep my heart open each step I earn
No need for me to feel alone, cause I got a place that I call home
I come back home and they accept me with grace
I know that I was meant to be here and I know that I was born into fear
But I will stand tall in the lions den, cause I know in my heart I am one of them
There are lies in the facets of everything that we see
Telling us to be scared, when all we ever are is free
I'm letting go of the things that don't serve me no more
I am holy and sacred and righteous and true
I deserve to be here and so do you
I'm in a constant transition constantly changing vision
story never certain there is always a revision to be made
I think about the demons i have slayed, I am not afraid of confrontation in vain
To the people that seek evil, not as peaceful as I look
A warrior at heart so precaution must be took
Trying to give in, to the lessons that will soften, my ways and means are changing cause I talk to spirit often
Tell me to stay sharp, tells me to stay present
Tells me to ignore the fools and focus on accent
I will starve my ego, I will remain strong
I will make mistakes and I will often be wrong
I'm perfectly imperfect and I'm only here to learn and all the evil on the path gets burned
The pressure always comes from the outside
Try not to let it in where i reside
This is my home, my heart, my voice, my love, my life, my path, my voice
I feel my heart grow with each step
Stand firm in where the path goes next
I know that where it goes is where it needs to be, the more lessons rained down more blessings I see
In the song “I Am” by Satsang, the singer declares a sense of confidence in their purpose and journey in life. They express a shift from fear of the unknown to a deep sense of belonging in the world. They no longer need validation from anyone else and recognize that their story is valuable and worth telling. They acknowledge that their own path is unique and trust in their ability to learn from their experiences, past and present. The singer rejoices in the sense of community and belonging they feel, even as they continually travel to new places. They feel destined to be there, even if fear still exists within them. They go forward boldly, realizing that they too are a part of the world’s great mysteries.
Throughout the song, Satsang speaks of fear, the unknown, and the importance of shedding that fear in order to grow in one’s journey. The singer declares that they will remain true to themselves and their beliefs, serving as a warrior against evil and allowing the lessons of the spirits to guide them. The song presents a message of hope, that each person is worthy and deserving of love and belonging. The singer declares this not only for themselves but for all people, recognizing the pressures and the obstacles that confront each individual on their own path.
Line by Line Meaning
I no longer fear the unknown
I am no longer afraid of things that are unfamiliar or uncertain.
Cause I know what I am here for
I understand and have a purpose for my existence.
I keep on troddin' on my own path
I continue to walk along my own unique journey.
Keep on learnin' from my present and past
I am always learning from my experiences and using them to grow.
I no longer need validation
I don't require the approval or recognition of others.
Cause my story is long and I'm patient
Because I understand that my journey is lengthy, and I am willing to be patient and persistent.
I know I have lessons to learn, keep my heart open each step I earn
I recognize that there are lessons for me to learn along the way and strive to approach each one with an open heart.
No need for me to feel alone, cause I got a place that I call home
I never experience loneliness because I have a familiar place that I consider my sanctuary.
every single road traveled, every single new place
Every new experience and path I take,
I come back home and they accept me with grace
I always return to a place where I am welcomed and accepted for who I am with kindness and respect.
I know that I was meant to be here and I know that I was born into fear
I understand that my existence has a purpose and that fear is a part of my journey.
But I will stand tall in the lions den, cause I know in my heart I am one of them
I will remain strong and resolute in the face of adversity because I trust in my innate strength.
There are lies in the facets of everything that we see
Misrepresentation and deception can be found in everything we observe.
Telling us to be scared, when all we ever are is free
These falsehoods can instill fear in us, even though freedom is our natural state.
I'm letting go of the things that don't serve me no more
I am actively releasing anything that no longer contributes to my growth and wellbeing.
I am holy and sacred and righteous and true
I embody qualities of sanctity, righteousness, and truthfulness.
I deserve to be here and so do you
I believe that I, and every individual, have a right to exist and take up space in this world.
I'm in a constant transition constantly changing vision
I am always in a state of transformation and am continuously revising my goals and outlook.
Story never certain there is always a revision to be made
My life narrative is not predetermined, and I am open to making changes wherever necessary.
I think about the demons i have slayed, I am not afraid of confrontation in vain
I reflect on the battles I have fought and won, and I stand confidently in the face of adversity.
To the people that seek evil, not as peaceful as I look
I may appear gentle and serene, but I am not afraid to defend myself against those who wish to do harm.
A warrior at heart so precaution must be took
I have a fighting spirit, and I take appropriate measures to protect myself.
Trying to give in, to the lessons that will soften, my ways and means are changing cause I talk to spirit often
I am open to learning lessons that will guide me towards kindness and compassion, and I communicate with my spiritual guides frequently.
Tell me to stay sharp, tells me to stay present
My spiritual guides remind me to stay focused and attentive.
Tells me to ignore the fools and focus on accent
My spiritual guides advise me to disregard negative influences and concentrate on my strengths.
I will starve my ego, I will remain strong
I will minimize my self-centeredness in order to cling to my inner resilience.
I will make mistakes and I will often be wrong
I will make errors and do the wrong thing, but it is all part of my learning process.
I'm perfectly imperfect and I'm only here to learn and all the evil on the path gets burned
I fully understand my flaws and weaknesses, and view my existence as a permanent learning experience wherein negative energy will be destroyed.
The pressure always comes from the outside
External forces frequently bring about stress.
Try not to let it in where i reside
I attempt to prevent these external forces from affecting my personal space.
This is my home, my heart, my voice, my love, my life, my path, my voice
I acknowledge that my home, passions, and expressions form part of my identity.
I feel my heart grow with each step
I perceive a gradual strengthening of my emotions with every stride forward.
Stand firm in where the path goes next
I am confident in the direction my journey will take me, and I stand by this belief unwaveringly.
I know that where it goes is where it needs to be, the more lessons rained down more blessings I see
I have faith that wherever my journey leads will be the right place, and I understand that each challenge brings about new rewards.
Contributed by Lily E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.