Although the band started out playing at Christian music festivals, they shun the label of "Christian rock," with singer and guitarist Jon Foreman saying, "For us, it's a faith, not a genre. We've always been very open and honest about where the songs are coming from. For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us `Christian rock' tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them. And that's not what we're trying to do. Music has always opened my mind -- and that's what we want." They started out on Charlie Peacock's label "re:think" and spent several years appearing at Christian festivals and enjoying Christian radio hits. Most of their early tours were with Christian bands and both of the band's new members were borrowed from Christian bands.
Switchfoot did not see success outside of the Christian rock scene until they were featured alongside singer Mandy Moore on the A Walk To Remember soundtrack. The band's first true commercial success came in 2003 with the release of their fourth major label (and first mainstream label) offering, The Beautiful Letdown. The album went on to sell more than 2 million albums and Switchfoot became the most popular rock band to be associated with Christian music.
They were featured on the British Edition of the Spiderman II soundtrack along with the likes of Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional to name a few, in 2004 with the song 'Meant To Live'.
In 2005 Switchfoot released "Nothing Is Sound". The album went gold within 3 months and received much critical acclaim.
Switchfoot's highly anticipated album, titled "Oh! Gravity." was released on December 26th, 2006.
On November 10th, 2009, Switchfoot released their first album produced under their own label, lowercase people. "Mess of Me", a single from the album released months before the CD, has enjoy chart-topping radio plays since its release.
In 2010 Switchfoot released their album, "Hello Hurricane".
On September 27th, 2011, to much anticipation and excitement, Switchfoot released their newest album, "Vice Verses".
Sites:
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Don't Be There
Switchfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I'm on my way,
And I'm already gone over,
And I'm on my way. hey...
I can't recall myself how I went down,
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And you're way up there,
That doesn't hurt, badly,
But it stings right here, hey...
I can't recall myself how I went down,
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And I won't pretend there's nothing there,
You'll be around and I'll be square.
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there,
You'll be around and I'll be square.
If you're a rose then I'm the thorn
that's in your side,
And does it hurt badly?
'Cause it burns right here.
I can't recall myself how I went down,
did I get shot or shoot myself?
I'd like to say hello,
I'd like to say I care,
I'd like to let you know,
That nothing here's the same with me,
Nothing here's the same.
And I can't recall myself how I went down,
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And I won't pretend there's nothing there,
You'll be around and I'll be square.
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there,
You'll be around and I'll be square.
Don't be around, Don't be there,
Don't be there.
The song "Don't Be There" by Switchfoot is about a relationship that has ended, with the singer being the one who is left behind. He is struggling with the pain of the breakup and the feeling of being left behind. He is asking his ex-partner not to be there, as he is already on his way out and has already moved on.
The chorus repeats the lyrics "don't be there" as a plea to the other person to move on and not be a constant reminder of their past relationship. The verses describe the singer's confusion and pain over the breakup, questioning whether he was the one who was hurt or the one who caused the hurt.
The lyric "If you're a rose then I'm the thorn that's in your side" further emphasizes his guilt and feelings of unworthiness. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that nothing will ever be the same again and that he is ready to move on.
Overall, the song is about the pain and confusion of a failed relationship, with the singer struggling to come to grips with the new reality and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't be there, don't be there,
I don't want you around me.
'Cause I'm on my way,
I am leaving.
And I'm already gone over,
I've already crossed the line.
And I'm on my way. hey...
I'm leaving for good.
I can't recall myself how I went down,
I don't remember how I got here.
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
Is this my fault or someone else's?
I'm down here, I'm down here,
I'm in a bad place emotionally.
And you're way up there,
You're doing well compared to me.
That doesn't hurt, badly,
It's not a big deal, but...
But it stings right here, hey...
It still hurts emotionally.
And I won't pretend there's nothing there,
I won't act like things are fine.
You'll be around and I'll be square.
You'll be fine and I won't be.
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there,
Don't worry about me leaving.
If you're a rose then I'm the thorn that's in your side,
I'm causing problems for you.
And does it hurt badly?
Does it bother you a lot?
'Cause it burns right here.
It's a painful experience for me.
I'd like to say hello,
I want to connect with you.
I'd like to say I care,
I want to show that I care.
I'd like to let you know,
I want to communicate something important.
That nothing here's the same with me,
I'm not the same person as before.
Nothing here's the same.
Everything has changed.
Don't be around, Don't be there,
Please stay away from me.
Don't be there.
Don't be near me.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JONATHAN MARK FOREMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ned
"Don't Be There"
Don't be there
'Cause I'm on my way
And I'm already gone over
And I'm on my way
And I can't recall myself
How I went down
Did I get shot
Or shoot myself
I'm down here
And you're way up there
But that doesn't hurt badly
But it stings right here
And I won't pretend there's
Nothing there
You be around and I'll be square
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there
You be around and I'll be square
If you're a rose
Then I'm the thorn
That's in your side
And does it hurt badly
'Cause it burns right here
I'd like to say hello
I'd like to say I care
I'd like to let you know
That nothing here's the same with me
Nothing here's the same
Don't be around
Don't be there
Grace Augustin
Lyrics:
Don't be there, don't be there
'Cause I'm on my way
And I'm already gone over
And I'm on my way, hey
And I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
I'm down here, I'm down here
And you're way up there
That doesn't hurt badly
But it stings right here, hey
I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And I won't pretend there's nothing there
You'll be around and I'll be square
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there
You'll be around and I'll be square
If you're a rose then I'm the thorn
That's in your side
And does it hurt badly
'Cause it burns right here, hey
I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
I'd like to say hello, I'd like to say I care
I'd like to let you know
That nothing here's the same with me
Nothing here's the same
I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And I won't pretend there's nothing there
You'll be around and I'll be square
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there
You'll be around and I'll be square
Don't be around
Don't be there
Don't be there
Cristopher Zelaya
Such a great song! I've loved it since they first released it.
LOVEalwaysWINS🌟
💫HAPPY 25 YEARS SWITCHFOOT!!!💫 You are such an inspiration, delivering Hope to so many who have none. ❣️There's no place like HOPE❣️
Trevor Hartman
My favorite switchfoot song.
Ned
"Don't Be There"
Don't be there
'Cause I'm on my way
And I'm already gone over
And I'm on my way
And I can't recall myself
How I went down
Did I get shot
Or shoot myself
I'm down here
And you're way up there
But that doesn't hurt badly
But it stings right here
And I won't pretend there's
Nothing there
You be around and I'll be square
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there
You be around and I'll be square
If you're a rose
Then I'm the thorn
That's in your side
And does it hurt badly
'Cause it burns right here
I'd like to say hello
I'd like to say I care
I'd like to let you know
That nothing here's the same with me
Nothing here's the same
Don't be around
Don't be there
Franco
Love this song!! Love every song... love everything! Thank you!!
Jairo Caceres
Switch-foot, mi banda eterna.
lindey
All their songs are great to me<3
budi andayani
Love it ❤❤
Grace Augustin
Lyrics:
Don't be there, don't be there
'Cause I'm on my way
And I'm already gone over
And I'm on my way, hey
And I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
I'm down here, I'm down here
And you're way up there
That doesn't hurt badly
But it stings right here, hey
I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And I won't pretend there's nothing there
You'll be around and I'll be square
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there
You'll be around and I'll be square
If you're a rose then I'm the thorn
That's in your side
And does it hurt badly
'Cause it burns right here, hey
I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
I'd like to say hello, I'd like to say I care
I'd like to let you know
That nothing here's the same with me
Nothing here's the same
I can't recall myself
How I went down?
Did I get shot or shoot myself?
And I won't pretend there's nothing there
You'll be around and I'll be square
Don't be alarmed if I'm not there
You'll be around and I'll be square
Don't be around
Don't be there
Don't be there
Simon Mărăcine
You repeated some verses.