If you know me, you know that I pretty much solely listen to Needtobreathe. They have been my favorite band since I saw them in concert eight years ago. The second that I heard them perform, I was hooked. With most music groups, I tend to skip over their old songs, but I can never skip Needtobreathe songs.The lyrics to their songs and their songs in general get me. Here are some of the times when Needtobreathe got it right:
1. "Difference Maker"
"Oh, I am the difference maker. Oh, I am the only one who speaks to him. I am the friendliest of friends of God."
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If you're any kind of Needtobreathe fan, you know that this is Bear's favorite song. He has played it at every concert that I have been to. This song is about giving it up to God and fully relying on Him. I feel like, too often, we only give some of it to God, if any at all. This song shows that even when we struggle and when we are broken, God will intervene and use us just where He needs us, we just need to be willing to let Him.
2. "Testify"
"Give me your heart, give me your song. Sing it with all your might. Come to the fountain and you can be satisfied. There is a peace, there is a love you can get lost inside. Come to the fountain and let me hear you testify."Honestly, this is probably my favorite song off of Hard Love. I love how they integrate the Lord as a fountain. All wellspring comes from Him. We can go to Him for every hunger and thirst, He is the only thing from which we will ever receive full satisfaction. So, give everything to the Lord with all of your might. You will receive peace and love in return.
"I got dreams that keep me up in the dead of night, telling me I wasn't made for the simple life.There's a light I see, but it's far in the distance. So, I'm asking you to show me some forgiveness. It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness."This one is really high up there with my favorites from Hard Love. I first heard this song when it was released as a single. When I was at staff training at Kanakuk, they played this song on a day where I was becoming exhausted and nervous about receiving Kampers. It showed me that even when the days are tough and long, it is all for the Lord. This mindset is such an important one to keep in any sense of ministry. We are going to struggle, but we can find pure joy in pursuing the work of the Lord.
4. "Brother"
"Brother, let me be your shelter. Never leave you all alone.I can be the one you call, when you’re low. Brother, let me be your fortress, when the night winds are driving on. Be the one to light the way. Bring you home."This song was created to represent a much needed reconciliation between Bear and Bo. They were having conflict with being in the same band. Oh man, I'm so glad that they wrote this song. This song, to me, means that I will be by your side through it all. Whether you are a friend, a sister, or a family member, this lets you know that you have someone to depend on. You have someone to lean on. You do not have to carry anything on your own. I feel like it's so important to have someone like this in your life, whether you are Bear and Bo or best friends, you know that you always have someone to support you when you cannot support yourself.
5. Multiplied
"Your love is like radiant diamonds, bursting inside us. We cannot contain. Your love will surely come find us, like blazing wild fires singing your name."
I love that NTB used the analogy of love bursting inside of us. The love that we have for the Lord should always be to the point where our hallelujahs are multiplied. It is so sweet to be loved by the Lord and have the ability to call Him our Father. When we think that we are lost in sin, that we are too far from God, or even if we feel like nobody is there, God's love will come towards you in full force. That is the greatest feeling. Even when we are lost, God is there. Not only is He there, but He is there with open arms. Run like a prodigal to His arms.
6. "These Hard Times"
"Give me something brighter. Give me something I can see. Give me something vicious. Give me something I can be. Give me all the love and peace,to end these wars. Give me something sacred, something worth fighting for. Give me an answer. Give me the way out. Give me the faith, to believe in these hard times."
Needtobreathe surely knows how tough and dark this world is. Often times, we find ourselves trying to see God in everything. We are trying to have Him tell us what to do or where to go. Needtobreathe NAILED it on this song. They are looking for guidance. This song, to me, shows that even in hard times, we should look to the Lord. Ask for His strength, His guidance.
7. "Be Here Long"
"Close my eyes and think of you. Go to sleep and dream of you. We don't get to be here long. I gave you the best of me. Loved you more than anything.
But we don't get to be here long."
This song gets my heart for sure. Josh Lovelace, the bands keyboardist, tells the Christian Post the meaning behind the song: He says that, "Life is full of twists and turns, but if we hold on to the people we love, we can get through anything. This record is all about pressing on even when things get tough, and enjoying the journey." This song shows that life is unexpected, life is short. We never know what will happen tomorrow, if there is a tomorrow. I love the idea of just holding onto the people that we love and running through life together. The full interview with Lovelace can be found here.
8. "Wasteland"
"Yeah, in this wasteland where I'm livin', there is a crack in the door filled with light, and it's all that I need to get by. Yeah, in this wasteland where I'm livin',
there is a crack in the door filled with light, and it's all that I need to shine."
I don't know about y'all, but sometimes I'm just spiritually drained. I feel dead. Unable to press forward and unmotivated to do anything. Though we might be in the middle of a wasteland, we still have light. We still have a motivation, a reason to press on. No matter how much darkness that we are surrounded by, light will always overcome it. Whether the darkness comes from those that surround you, yourself, or the world itself, there is always light. You just have to find that light sometimes (and sometimes it is harder than others).
These songs, and lyrics, are the ones that have specifically spoken to me and that continue to shape my life. I will be forever grateful for this band and will always hold their songs close to my heart. Long live the heart.
