Aware that he is relational poison at the moment, a confused man tells a love to write him off, but she refuses to abandon this “Prodigal” (“So ashamed, but I need you so, and you wait for me”). It’s lead singer Ryan Tedder who models loyalty on “All Fall Down” (“Whenever your world starts crashing down, that’s where you’ll find me”). He bids farewell to indifference on “Goodbye Apathy.” “Tyrant” seems to be a scathing indictment of self-deception and the evil that lurks within. Longing for an end to a vain conflict, “Come Home” states, “The world ain’t half as bad as they paint it to be/… Hopefully, the hate subsides and the love can begin.” “Someone to Save You” includes the line “Honesty is what you need/It sets you free.” On “Won’t Stop” Tedder expresses devotion to a woman who eludes him in hopes that he still might win her heart. “Say (All I Need)” preaches contentment to a heart rebounding from a setback.
It may have nothing to do with alcohol, but the singer tells an exhausted friend, “I can see by your eyes you’re wasted” (“Someone to Save You”).
Here, the 2007 MySpace Band of the Year focuses on romantic ties with loose knots, though introspection places an optimistic premium on loyalty and love.
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
