Where I Belong

Album: Vice Verses (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless - like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT).

    The above Bible verse finds Solomon summarizing all his accomplishments as "chasing after the wind." The Earth isn't our permanent home so everything the philosopher king achieved was but temporary and in the eternal scheme of things meaningless.

    Switchfoot base many of their songs on the Book of Ecclesiastes, and here Jon Foreman reflects on how he feels like a refugee as this world is not really his home. Guitarist Drew Shirley explained to New Release Tuesday: "There are so many things that are not right - broken - and we know in our heart and soul that it should be right, and should be true, and it's not in this world. Things should be just, and it's not in this world. This life should be joyful, and it's corrupted. It should be pure, and it's twisted. We have a twisted generation. That sense of unrest is something we've sung about for a long time. I think it's an Ecclesiastical thread where 'everything is meaningless.' What's this all about? There must be something more than this. We were meant to live for more than this. It stems from what is says in that Bible verse, that this world is not our permanent home."
  • Keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas told New Release Tuesday: "This song connects to that C.S. Lewis quote about how when there are things in this world that don't satisfy, it means you were meant for things after this world. In a way, as a band that's where we are. We're never quite comfortable, we never fit in. It's always been like that for us."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

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.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.