This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Belief makes things real
Makes things feel, feel alright
Belief makes things true
Things like you, you and I
Tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me, belief
Belief builds from scratch
Doesn't have to relax, it doesn't need space
Long live the queen and I'll be the king
In the color of grace
Oh, tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me, belief
I'm gonna yell it from the rooftops
I'll wear a sign on my chest
That's the least I can do, it's the least I can do
Tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife, in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me
Tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife, in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me and I'll stand by my belief
I will stand by my (belief)
I will stand by my
Belief
Belief
Like you stood by me
I will stand by my, stand by my belief
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Makes things feel, feel alright
Belief makes things true
Things like you, you and I
Tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me, belief
Belief builds from scratch
Doesn't have to relax, it doesn't need space
Long live the queen and I'll be the king
In the color of grace
Oh, tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me, belief
I'm gonna yell it from the rooftops
I'll wear a sign on my chest
That's the least I can do, it's the least I can do
Tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife, in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me
Tonight, you arrested my mind
When you came to my defense
With a knife, in the shape of your mouth
In the form of your body, with the wrath of a god
Oh, you stood by me and I'll stand by my belief
I will stand by my (belief)
I will stand by my
Belief
Belief
Like you stood by me
I will stand by my, stand by my belief
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
Belief Lyrics as written by Gavin Degraw
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Personally, I believe this song is just about a good friendship. Possibly a friendship he didn't know existed. When I first heard the song I had no idea what he meant by the chorus but when I started listening more closely I thought of it as someone sticking up for him. "Tonight you arrested my mind when you came to my defense with a knife in the shape of your mouth..." I just feel like that line means someone he never expected to stuck up for him by using words. I think I explained that as best as I could. Who knows, I could be wrong. It's just the way I interpreted it.
i saw gavin in concert last night & it was amazing! he said this song is about that person who has faith in you, even when you don't need it. even if you do believe in yourself, it's nice to have that person there to believe in you too.
I love all of Gavin's songs; however, this is one that hits me. This song I feel is about Gavin being in love with a girl who believes in him and makes life worth living. This song is basically saying thank you for believing in me and thank you for standing besides me no matter what.
Jess0628....you said it all :)
One of the best songs I've ever heard. And my tastes go way back. I love that whole album.
I agree!
best gavin song ever!!!! i hope its a single so the rest of the world can hear it! the chorus is what really got me the first time i heard it
i love this song!
sooo amazing. i can't even describe.. no words. i love it so much. i love you beary
BuildingMusic, I think you hit it exactly. Of course, same to Jess0628. I think that she surprised him by coming to his defense once, and then it became something more.. which makes it so perfect.