Brother

Album: Rivers In the Wasteland (2014)
Charted: 98
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the disputes and tension that the tracking of Rivers In The Wasteland record brought along. There was also a competitive spirit between Needtobreathe singer Bear Rinehart and his guitarist brother Bo that had been weighing them down since the very early stages of the band. Bo Rinehart explained during a Reddit AMA: "We felt like competition was a good thing. It pushed us, and thus, we mistakenly saw it as something that was driving us. Yet, in our darkest hours, instead of protecting one another, we saw someone else's mistakes as a way to have an edge over the other and place an easy blame."

    "It wasn't until we confessed to one another our own faults that we really saw the potential of what it is like to have a true brother by you're side," Bo continued. "This is a very special song to us and was likely a big part of the healing that we desperately needed."
  • Gavin DeGraw is a co-vocalist on the single version of this song – but not the one that appears on the album.

Comments: 2

  • Shirley from Cincinnati, Love this song. I am confused about the phrase "worn down in between". Please explain.
  • Koolest-ka-ever from OklahomaI don't understand the line "I found a way to drop my keys where my failures were" I'm so hung up on found a way...I love this song and I also think Hard Live us awesomeness!!! I love soma the faces Bear makes while singing{÷:
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.