by Emily Medlock
Welcome to Behind the Lyrics. This week, I want to talk about a song by one of the most popular artists in the United States. OneRepublic. This song was released in September and comes in number five in Sweden and nine in the US. It’s called “Wanted” and you’ve probably heard it on the radio. OneRepublic is one of the biggest bands in the country, bridging gaps between genres and bringing us all together. They sing of love, loss, and everything in between.
Before we get too into that, let’s go ahead and dive into these wonderful lyrics by the very talented Ryan Tedder. This newer song “Wanted” has topped the charts, as I’ve mentioned, and it’s about much more that a fun beat. Take a look at this amazing message.
She said, every time I close my eyes
I feel like I could disappear (disappear)
I could overflow an ocean
With the cavalcade of all my tears (all my tears)
Another place that we’ve all been. There are times in your life when you will feel like you don’t matter. Like all you seem to do is feel sorry for yourself, drowned in sorrow. It’s important to realize that you’re never alone. Not only is God by your side, but we all feel this way at times. Never be too proud to seek help.
As Ziad K. Abdelnour said, “Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.”
And I know I sound dramatic
But that’s just how it feels (how it feels)
She said, I’m holdin’ to the notion
That I’ll find something real
When we feel like we don’t matter, it’s hard not to feel like nothing in life is real. All we are is emotions. We feel everything yet seem empty. Are we overacting? Are our feelings and thoughts valid? Somewhere in the chaos of our minds, we hope that we’ll eventually find what we’re looking for, not knowing what that even is.
Yeah I just want to be wanted, oh
I could use a little love sometimes
I just need to be needed, oh
Like to know I’m crossin’ someone’s mind
This is what we all want. We want to be wanted, loved, needed, and important. It’s easy to deny it, but that’s just the fact of the matter. Wanting love and acceptance isn’t weakness. Longing for someone’s touch, a motherly embrace or a brotherly hand on your shoulder. We need to know that someone is thinking of us or else we feel we just may cease to exist.
In Psalm 91, God promises us success, an answer to our prayers, and a lifelong friend, always bringing satisfaction. This is a gift to all of his children. And you are a child of God, loved more than you will ever know. There is no one more precious to him than you are.
I just want to be someone that somebody needs
I just want to be more than a drop in the sea
I just want to be
What’s even more serene than feeling wanted and needed? Just being. The freedom to be who we are is something special. We need to live without the fear of losing someone due to something that we said. To be able to breathe freely is a true gift that we all deserve. In fact, if we all felt like we could and let others do the same, chances are, the mental illness rate would decrease significantly.
When someone says they feel small, I always remember the mustard seed and how it was so important to God. It begins as the smallest of seeds and grows into one of the greatest of trees. Or perhaps the sparrow, who He watches just as closely as an elephant or tiger.
She said, I’m countin’ up my karma
And I think it’s time to cash it in (cash it in)
So tired of livin’ in a shadow
Of a mountain of what might’ve been (might’ve been)
Living in the past. It keeps us from everything God has planned for us. It isn’t our belief to live on karma. We don’t live by good works, but by faith. We put our trust in God, not ourselves. If we let the past consume us, then we won’t be able to live in the present and future, making the impact we are meant to make. Each and every one of us. When we make that choice, we can finally be the one to hold someone else for a change.
If only everyone who listened to this song could hear it from this point of view. When searching for someone to hold you, oftentimes, you forget (or don’t even know) that someone has been there all along.
Of course, our Lord and Savior will forever be by our side, just a “phone call” or the touch of a hand away. While this may not be the exact message that Ryan Tedder wrote about, it is one that will forever be etched in our hearts.
The beautiful video features Ryan Tedder dancing with ballerinas. This is a great way to represent the woman the song is speaking of. She’s elegant, graceful, and appears strong on the outside. But on the inside, she just wants to be held.
Though the only one who can fill the largest hole in one’s heart, that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t help out. Sometimes, you’ll be the person who needs to be held and other times, you’re the person who can be the comforter. At times, it will be a simple conversation, an ear to listen, or a helping hand. Maybe this Christmas season, and beyond, we can give the greatest gift and make sure everyone we care about, and even a few that have never crossed our mind…feel wanted.
Tomorrow, they may let God do it, but today, help them on their way to Him. One doesn’t have to know what love before they know Him, but it sure never hurt anyone. Especially this time of year.
Emily Medlock is a freelance writer who specializes in video games, movies, viral content, Christianity, music and YouTube video scripts. Visit her online at emilymedlock.com/blog.