lyrics, song meaning

[seannabelle]

Hey guys, I'm new here :) I just had a question- does anybody here have the lyrics to Reason's Why? Also, what is the meaning of this song?? I didn't think anything about it until somebody said that they thought it had theological undertones or something like that.
Thanks!
-Seanna

[matt the fiddler]

the lyrics are on the cd cover. go buy the cd, and you will have them...

as for meanings there was a conservation that did take place about this 5-7 months ago... i did a search, and it was on the yahoo boards i think, and sadly yahoo deleted all out messages with out warning.

[seannabelle]

Matt- I just read a post over at the Yahoo! forums from you that says that lyrics can't be posted. Sorry about that, I didn't see it before I posted :)
I will try to get the cd. Please don't hate me, cause I got the cd before I really liked them, but I have a burned copy and that's why I don't have the lyrics.

Thanks,
Seanna

[creekster_anna]

Hi Seanna! I don't know the exact meaning of the song but I do know that the members of NC are Christians so it is likely that the song has some spiritual meaning. Sorry that wasn't of much help but I just wanted to welcome you to the club and say that I think your name is really cool.

[seannabelle]

Anna- thank you :) It's actually pronounced Shawna and everyone always calls me See-Anna or See-Onna. It's sort of funny, I hated it when I was a little kid. That's why I feel bad for kids with really different names, cause they're cool when you're older but you never like them when you're younger. Anyhow, thank you for welcoming me!

-seanna

[matt the fiddler]

hey, no hard feelings in the least bit! we are just trying to encourage everyone to buy the cd- they are at a point now in their growth as a band, where cd sales is very important to where they will be going and who wil be listening in the future....

- too bad that old conservation got deleted... people had some really cool things to say about the song...
since that one is gone- we can always start over. on what pople here think it means- or what it means to them personally...

[mandoBob]

I dont mean to get too theological (well ok, maybe I do!), but I think the song is about the difficulties of sanctification (the process of becoming more and more like Jesus (in a small nutshell)) . interestingly enough (since most would agree NCs music is usually rather uplifting), it's a rather bleak song, without the joy that comes from being lifted from the mire of of fist-shaking. maybe the resolution will come in a future song? :-)
anyway, the reason I say it's about sanctification is b/c the song seems to recognize the foolishness of trying to live life w/o Jesus. and this realization is the first part...running to Him is the second!
I enjoy it b/c I can (unfortunately) relate so well...it is indeed hard not to wander away.
as far as the reasons I guess it's admitting that there are no real excuses, and that we should, and do, know better, because we have the Holy Spirit.
that's my 2 pesos anyway...

[Ames]

Hmm, I listen to Reasons Why constantly and I never picked up on that possible meaning. The reason I don't think that's what it's about is because I always got the feeling the song is about stepping away from what you know and branching out on your own. By saying, others have excuses, I have my reasons why that to me sounds like a justification for whatever is being done. I'd love to know for sure though. [noise]

[mandoBob]

I like what you're getting at. I think it fits with what I was getting at too...there definitely is a stepping away theme, but I think it sounds regretful...like the stepping away isn't quite right....short of the love we once knew. and there is indeed justification going on, but I also think that justification is seen as not-so-good...hence the sadness of the song. I'm infusing my own experience here, but of course all of our opinions and views are affected by our experiences and backgrounds.
I can see how it could be viewed as a breakup song on one level, and that's kinda cool too, but the shake fists at the sky seems to imply more...unless you hear shake fists at this guy :-)
as far as knowing for sure...it's debatable how to get at what for sure is when it comes to interpreting art, but that's a topic for another thread I guess.

[Rxy25]

Sometimes I find myself caught up in doing really Good things for God, and neglecting the time I spend WITH God. After a while of that, it's easy to get burnt out on doing THINGS so I look around and think, *God, where are you?* All along I was the one who took quiet steps away from His lead. Where it says, I'm holding my heart out and clutching it too reminds me of giving Almost ALL to HIM, but, at times, keeping back that ever so small part. I get distracted by the dreams of my own. So in seeking my own way... I lean another latter against the wrong wall! Others have excusses, But I have my reasons why tell of how it's easy to point out the wrong in others, but rationalize away our own sin. Just some thoughts of what the song means to me. [think]

[alysonluvsNC]

Here is a different perspective - this song fits perfectly with my situation earlier this year. Here’s my story: My husband and I lost our baby due to a miscarriage at the end of January. During that same time while I was home recovering, I discovered Nickel Creek and fell in love with their music. When I found Reasons Why it seemed to be my theme song. You see, as a Christian, I didn’t blame God for what happened to me, I was just really sad. And it seemed as though I couldn’t get plugged in again with our Bible studies and stuff. So, I felt left out. But I didn’t know how to feel spiritually (‘Where am I today I wish that I knew’). I knew God cared for me, but it seemed as though I was given a bad deal (‘looking around there’s no sign of you . . . quiet steps away from your (God’s) lead’). If you think about the rest of the lyrics (because i cannot put all of them here), it is basically saying (in my situation) that I was scared to follow God again because of what happened to us. I was confused, and I even was mad at why Jesus let this happed to me (‘shake fists at the sky’). I would still pray and attend church, but my heart wasn’t into it (‘stumbling through the lines’). My husband was wondering when I was going to stop feeling spiritually funked and I felt that I had a reason why.
Get it? I know this was kind of personal, but it gives you a different intake of the song.

As for my situation, God has healed my pain - praise the Lord!!! I hope you all know how awesome Jesus is - even though we think he is far away, He is with us.

:D

[coffmanmolly]

The first time I heard the song I thought it could be understood in two ways, but I always liked the spiritual meaning that I heard in the song.--That the speaker has slowly drifted away from God--not jumps or leaps but quiet steps away--Then also 'calling this home but it's not even close' makes me think of a Christian's view of the world . . . you know, this world is not my home . . . that heaven is our real home and that it is so much better than this world. Then the part about wandering away--'with so much deception . . .'-- could be wandering away from God. I see that the whole song could be seen in this way or it could be about a an earthly relationship as well. That's one cool thing about the song to me. That it can be interpreted on more than one level, just like good poetry. I also think of 'reasons why' as being just like excuses, but the person is just trying to excuse their excuses if that makes any sense. I can relate to it on this spiritual level definitely, though I've never really thought of it as a bleak song . . . I guess it could be though. I just really like discussing the lyrics with people. There are other songs that I'm still trying to get the full meaning of--like This Side and Locking Doors. I get the general meaning but I always like to break the whole song down and understand everything about it. I guess that's the English teacher in me. :)

[mandoBob]

alyson, thanks for sharing! you've helped me understand some of the reasons I wander. the cool thing about God is that He can use those reasons, turn them inside out, and bring us back to Himself.

[coffmanmolly]

Yes, thanks for sharing that alyson. I have had two miscarriages and know exactly what your talking about. stumbling through the lines, shaking fists at the sky . . . thanks for your post.

[alysonluvsNC]

Jesus is awesome like that.
Even though it was sad and painful, i realize now that it wasn't the right time for us to have a baby - and that in some way, Jesus will turn this into a blessing - to someone, somewhere, sometime. I have learned so much from it.


oh ya - Mando Bob - remember me (alyson)? paypal won't let me sign in! it says my city and state were invalid. i would love that cd! is there any other way to give you the $?

[mandoBob]

lest anyone suspect I'm trying to profit off NC, Alyson is referring to the small amount of money I request for materials and postage in exchange for a CD of the 4-20-2002 show...delivered right to your door.
and Alyson, I'll email you my info and you can send it via snail-mail

[alysonluvsNC]

i will testify that mandobob is telling the truth!!

[lizbeth_marie]

Just wanted you guys to know that I talked to Sean about the song after one of the concerts. He told me it definitely was metaphorical as far as Christianity is concerned. It's always amazing to me to hear other people's stories of how songs have helped them through things. It never fails- just when I feel as if I cannot convey what I'm thinking and feeling, God puts this perfect song in my lap and somehow it all makes sense. I know that was the case in Reason's Why. My favorite line is Standing on a darkened stage, stumbling through the lines. Jesus is the only light that I've found that makes our way clearer and our steps lighter. And although the song has more of a melancholy tone to it, I find it uplifting as well b/c it's so honest and true to life. Just as these lyrics relate to what we're thinking and feeling, Jesus is doing and does so much more. Just what I've thought anyway.

On another note, coffmanmolly, I'd love to hear your thoughts (and everyone else's) on This Side. I'm still trying to decipher all of the lyrics, but I love the song. I haven't totally decided what I think it all means, and I'd love to hear what others think.

[seannabelle]

You guys have been awfully helpful, as well as completely uplifting. It's different for me to see so many Christians at a secular band website, and I think that's incredible.
As far as the song, I understand where all of you guys are coming from. One of the cool things about music is that everyone can bring different interpretations based on their own experiences, and shed light on a new angle.
So Nickel Creek seems to be real about their faith. It's too often where you hear famous people talking about God when their music lyrics are definitely not glorifying to Him at all.
Thanks for all the help and encouragement :)

-seanna

[coffmanmolly]

Okay everyone who's interested . . . let's talk about This Side's lyrics. We know Sean was inspired to write the song by the movie The Matrix, and that Sara used to call it The Matrix Song until they named it This Side. It is going to be on the new CD and may be the title track.

The whole Matrix thing I guess confuses me because I've only seen a little of that movie and so I know the basic premise but not the details. When I listen to the song without thinking about the Matrix, I've thought about different things. Someone falling in love and things not being the same again (One day you'll see her . . . . Nothing's the same as you will see when she's gone). Then I've also thought it could possibly have spiritual meaning in there (and the truth is a better friend). Then I've thought about just any new experience. That at first we may be scared but then the fear subsides and we can never imagine going back to where we came from.

My favorite lines include: You climb up the slide and then you slide down the stairs. (I've thought this might mean in a new experience or relationship that you'll make mistakes while you're trying to figure things out, but I also thought it could be more of a celebration of a great new feeling . . being wild and crazy and unrestrained by the way things are supposed to be done.) and Only the curious have something to find.

Now lines that I like that I'm not sure what their exact meaning could be You dream of colors that have never been made, You imagine the songs that have never been played.

Okay, I guess this post is long enough. I hope more people can offer their insights into this song. I can't wait until the CD comes out!
Molly

[loquat]

I'm sorry I can't comment on the meaning of The Side, because I haven't heard it yet *sniff, sniff*. But I did want to say thank you to everyone who shared their views on Reasons Why. I had always listened to it very casually, and I actually thought it was talking about a couple who was having trouble in a relationship. But understanding the spiritual significance is just awesome. As I was reading some of the posts above, I said oh, wow out loud. It's really a cool song.

I also wanted to say how neat it was that so many Christians are on this sight. What an uplifting place to come share our faith.

-loquat

P.s. Seanna, I love your C.S. Lewis quote. Do you know what book it's from?

[Ames]

Hey MandoBob can I get one of those CD's? You did an awesome job with the recordings and I would love to be able to tool around in my car with them? I looked on your site but didn't see a link. Thanks!!

[southernyankee]

I ahve been so encouraged by reading all of your posts-thanks for sharing everyone! ANd about This SIde-I ahve heard the song three tiems live, but can't comment because I can never make out the lyrics-are they posted somewhere? I LOVE the MAtrix, so knowing the lyrics would be great :-)

About Reasons Why-I agree with both Allyson and Mandobob they put it much more eloquently, so I'll jsut say I agree
God bless!
April

[oogabooga]

This is a little bit of an older thread and I know everyone has said what I've said but....I wanted to throw my two cents in...

When I first heard this song I thought it was about the end of a marriage...now when I hear it, I am reminded of my own behaviour.

I don't remember one jump or one leap, just quiet steps away from your lead

It is so easy to come up with the little rationalizations that justify my actions.
well she isn't nice, so it is okay if I am not always nice to her...
I'm not gossiping...I'm just sharing information.., etc. etc. etc...

All of my little transgressions add up to such a large chasm and I know that it is I who has put the distance in my relationship with Jesus.....

anyway....that is just what I think of when I listen to it

Katy

[oogabooga]

alysonluvsnc-


I just read your post and I wanted to thank you for sharing your perspective on the song. I can't imagine the pain that must have created within you, but I am so grateful that God as able to heal that for you! Thanks again for sharing.

Katy