Needs

Collective Soul

All around me I see what weakness has made
Too much tomorrow I think I'll take all today
Am I a poison am I a thorn in the side
Am I a picture perfect subject tonight

I don't need nobody
I don't need the weight of words
To find the way
To crash on through

I don't need nobody
I just need to learn the depth
Or doubt of faith to fall into
Here I slumber to awaken my daze
I find convenience in this savior I save
Am I a prison am I a source of dire news
Am I a picture perfect reason for you

I don't need nobody
I don't need the weight of words
To find the way
To crash on through
I don't need nobody

I just need to learn the depth
Or doubt of faith to fall into
In this time of substitute
It's my needs I've answered to (all the while)
And the hopes that I invest
Turns to signals of distress (all the while)

I don't need nobody
I don't need the weight of words
To find the way
To crash on through

I don't need nobody
I just need to learn the depth
Or doubt of faith to fall into

You are all I need
When the water runs deep
You're all I need
Now I cry my soul to sleep
You're all I need

You are all I need
You are all I need
You are all I need


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Needs Lyrics as written by Ed Roland

Lyrics © O/B/O CAPASSO

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Needs song meanings
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20 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentIn the other version of this song, he says "I don't need nobody" by then towards the end he repeats "You're all I need". I think it's about someone who is trying to convince themselves they are done with someone, but then it hits them that they DO need that person. I feel it's open to interpretation as to who that person may be though. Could be a girlfriend, could be God.
    korokuXneoon December 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI was surprised that no one said anything about this song. I might as well...First off I think that this song is about a guy who loved a girl for so long and she knows it, after a long time the guy finally figures out that he doesn't need her or anyone else to feel better. He still loves her but he is going to try to move on..

    Secondly if this was about the Acoustic version, it is similar but it ends like this.

    Your all I need, When when the water runs deep
    Your all I need, Now I cry my soul to sleep
    Your all I need, Your all I need. Your all I need.

    So this one prolly means that he cannot stop loving her no matter how hard he trys, and no matter what people tell him, its just to hard so he keeps loving her even though it rips him apart.

    Thats all I think anyway.
    rafeon June 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song has a double negative in it. "I don't need nobody"... So in actuality it means that He does in fact need somebody... I also heard that this song may have been about the birth of his child.
    MsTaR1981on September 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentfirst off let me say i love this song. Now, it could be a guy losing a girl and all that, that is very possible. but here is another option: take this line for example "Am I a poison, Am I a thorn in the side
    Am I picture perfect subject tonight." with that you could say that it is possibly written in the eyes of a young child who is being pushed around by others because of him saying that he like a girl. At the end when he is saying "Your all I need.", he could be saying that if he got the girl he would have it made. so in conclusion its about a kid having his secret crush made public.
    Iroc_CS_fan3on April 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is amazing...
    i think Its about a guy who just ended his relationship and is trying to tell himself that he doesnt need her or anyone else but deep inside he knows he does (hence using the dbl neg.)
    At the end he finally admits to himself that he really does need her.
    RachBeNiceon May 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI remember listening to this song while laying in my bed when I was a freshmen in high school which was a good while back. The strings are absoltuely beautfiul in this song. I always got pictures in my head of an empty theatre when I listened to this song, especially at night when the imagination runs wild.

    I think he's talking about some kind of spiritual expereince. "Thorn in the side" is a reference to Paul's curious thorn that plauged him thoughout his letters. He also says prison, which was where Paul was when he wrote many of his letters. Perhaps he is having a realization of how weak he is in comparison to God, as if he were Paul humbled. Or even when he says "I don't need nobody" perhaps that is implying he doesn't need any other human's approval, his weakness before God is sufficent.
    Soundboyon December 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI agree with MsTaR1981. He's saying he doesn't need anybody, but he really does deep inside. He's willing to deny it, but in the end he realizes..."you're all I need when the water runs deep."
    stixx_n_stringson February 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentTo me, this is about the inner struggle that you deal with at that point in your life you have to question things. The fact that nearly all of collective soul's songs are laced with religious or spiritual references, leads me to believe that essentially, what this song is about is someone who has been focusing on all of their needs, but is missing that one spiritual need. "All the hope that I invest" ie that there is something more out there "turns to signals of distress" ie the knowledge that there may not be. As you age, you begin to question everything, and frankly, at least in my case, things begin to not make sense. "I find conveinience in this savior I save" He is holding on to a belief because it is convienient, and easier to hold on to than admit the other possibilities. I know that my little blurb is not so eloquent, but I believe that the song is about meeting his general and everyday needs, but lacking strong spiritual beliefs. I absolutely agree with the double negative statement. "I don't need nobody". Oh, but he does, and I doubt he's talking about a girl. B.-
    BKShortie22on May 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI always likedthis song .. I think Its about a guy who is trying to tel himsel fhe doesnt need anyone but deep inside he know he does .. beautiful song the acoustic version is better ..
    ita_xoxoon July 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentTo me, this song has always seemed to be about a Priest questioning his role in this world, and ultimately his own faith.

    "All around me I see what weakness has made
    Too much tomorrow I think I'll take all today"

    - This to me indicates his despair at the state of the people today

    "Am I a poison, Am I a thorn in the side
    Am I picture perfect subject tonight"

    - These are him then questioning what he is to those who come to his church

    "I don't need nobody
    I don't need the weight of words
    [To find the way] to crash on thru
    I don't need nobody
    I just need to learn the depth
    Or doubt of faith to fall into"

    - The chorus is then about his own needs, which are centred on his own faith. Yet even this he's unsure of just how much faith he should let himself fall into

    "Here I slumber to awaken my daze
    I find convenience in this savior I save"

    - More suggestions he is a Priest. The Saviour (for example Jesus) he saves (by being a Priest he is trying to grow/maintain/save the world's faith in this Saviour). "Convenience" suggests growing cynicism about why he's chosen this profession

    "In this time of substitute
    It's my needs I've answered to (All the while)
    And the hope that I invest
    Still turns to signals of distress (All the while) "

    - And finally, his summation is that his one need is, and always has been, his faith, which he has been trying to meet/fuel by being a Priest
    - But he continues to despair that despite his best efforts and hopes, the world doesn't improve / gets worse
    Eggmobileon February 21, 2007   Link

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