Own Little World

I'm pretty sure a lot of this song is based on his falling out with REX record labels back in the Circle of Dust (COD) days and the Christian music industry itself. I'll try to elaborate as much as possible:

"Mutual sight mutual sound, Mutual struggle for shared ground,It's safe to say they'll try to take from me,I'm just another one for them to break down"

-To me this is saying how all christian bands are pretty much the same and how they're all fighting for the same spotlight with the same music material. Klayton knows that he's being ripped off by the label who doesn't care about his view on music, only the money they'll gain from his endeavors.

"So stick your standards where the sun doesn't shine"

-In an interview, Klayton says, "It goes back to the stigma of being on a ‘Christian' label. Once you sign that dotted line, you're instantly branded not only as ‘Christian' artist, but role model, teacher, preacher etc..and it was obvious that there are all these people expecting us to be something we're not, that we had to get out, even if it meant starting over."

When Christian labels add new artist, they try to please the religious population by reconstructing the musicians image and songs to make them 'God friendly'. Musicians must be free of any scandalous propaganda such as drinking, sex, drugs etc. Any of the naughty gets scorned and fans drop...too sheltered...

"Explain the reasons explain the rhymes" Is not required inside our minds It's safe to try no need to justify "

-Again, Klayton explains himself here:

"I had problems with REX because of some of the content. I needed to write what I did for me, not for anyone else. That is my only catharsis.I wasn't going to change the lyrics just because they were afraid certain types of stores or people with certain religious beliefs ‘wouldn't like it.' If those people want to hear lyrics with a nice candy coating that tell the tale of the beauty and fulfillment of daily life, then I'm sure there's a myriad of bands singing them (‘Christian' or otherwise). That's all good – just don't lay those expectations on me because that's not how my life is."

"It's time to go get off of my case "

To this Klayton says -"I was so fed up of all these kids and parents telling me what I doing or saying wasn't good enough. I'd be thinking ‘I've heard that crap my whole life and I certainly don't need to be hearing it from you too."

"They're for themselves, it doesn't matter what they say Promise the world then take the universe away They'll break you down making your vision fadeaway"

When having trouble with the company, Klayton was accused of dealing drugs, which was completely false, and was a miserable attempt by the company to ruin his image. He says in the interview,"In retrospect, if I had been a drug dealer instead of getting trapped into the ‘Christian' scene for a time, I probably would have less problems. At least if I got stabbed in the back or shot, it wasn't coming from someone who is supposed to ‘love' me..." After REX's demise, the label wouldn't let him out of his contract, therefore he couldn't produced music under the COD name, since it was owned by the label. In the end, REX brought about COD's downfall.

SO basically, through reading about his legal struggles with REX, this song to me is exposing the corrupt christian label. He also shares his vision of writing songs for himself, not for others. He doesn't want to be held back by labels that will restrict him and use him, because he like others will only end up being burned. He's now a free artist who has control over his dreams and goals with nothing to hold him back, and he's encouraging others to do the same: not to be a slave to the label.