Where I Belong

Album: Listen To The Sound (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a single from Listen To The Sound, the seventh studio album by Christian rock band Building 429. It gave the group their second #1 song on Billboard's Christian songs chart, their previous chart-topper being "Glory Defined" back in 2004. Building 429's guitarist/vocalist Jason Roy told us that getting another #1 was quite a relief, especially since he considers "Glory Defined" a "God Song," meaning God gave it to him. "It was the only #1 song we've had in the last 10 years, until finally 'Where I Belong' comes along. So it's a sweet thing to finally have another one," said Roy.
  • Lead singer Jason Roy's work as a pastor at the Grace Community Church in Clarksville, Tennessee gave him the inspiration for this song. He told us: "We had a lady in our small group who was fighting cancer, and she looked like she was going to lose the battle. And I mean, we were on our hands and knees praying, because she had two little kids and a husband. We were all watching her start to fade away. She was scared out of her mind in some ways, but also in some ways one of the things that we began to see in her life is that she got to the point where there was no consolation anymore. The truth was that all she cared about anymore, and she said it many times, she said, 'Take this whole world, but all I need right now is I need Jesus to be real to me. I need Jesus.'

    So that's where the chorus came from. 'All I know is I'm not home yet, this is not where I belong. Take this world and give me Jesus, because this is not where I belong.' Now, the story goes on to end really amazing, as well. She actually has recovered fully and she's in remission and she's a part of my everyday life at church. But her story was really the story I needed to hear, because I finally got to see somebody living out real life-and-death faith. She totally came to the place where all she wanted in life was the love of Jesus. That's it. She just needed to know Jesus was real. And that's where the song came from."
  • The choir on this song was provided by Jason Roy's church worship team, although the woman who inspired the song decided not to sing on it.
  • By holding the top spot for 15 consecutive weeks, this song set a new record on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart for most weeks at #1. It surpassed songs by TobyMac and Phillips, Craig & Dean, who both held the #1 spot for 11 straight weeks.
  • The song won Christian Song of the Year at BMI's 2013 Christian Awards.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.