Hoobastank: The Reason Meaning

Song Released: 2003

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The Reason Lyrics

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Feb 13th 2008 report

   One of my friends sent me this song. When I met him, he had a problem with depression. I didn't know it, though I could feel it. Through that time he hurt me a lot and it took a while for me to forgive him. I saved him from committing suicide even though I didn't know it. We were just friends. "Everyday," he said, "you gave me a reason to live and a reason to change." That is my interpretation.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Dec 11th 2021 report

   I believe this is about a man who was selfish and self-centered and put himself first in the relationship. He failed to put 100% into the relationship and meet her needs. He failed to treat the love of his life like a queen. She finally had enough and even though he realized the error of his ways it was too late and the relationship was over. When he says “ and so, I have to say before I go that I just want you to know I found a reason for me to change who I used to be a reason to start over new and the reason is you!” Meaning he finally learned from his mistakes but it was too late, the damage was done and the relationship is over, but he wanted her to know that she helped him realize the errors of his ways to be a better person for his next relationship. I should know…it was me who was that guy.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   Einstein

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   Sep 29th 2005 report

   This song is a melancholy mix of regret and rebirth.
   
   The lyrics demonstrate how people are often selfish during the course of a relationship only to have the relationship end as a result of their behavior. The lyrics stop short of revealing the extent of the hurtful behavior, but hint that the behavior merited an end of the relationship.
   
   The good that can come from the dissolution of a relationship have been the fodder of many artistic works. A painful ending of a cherished relationship (albeit cherished in retrospect) can often become the catalyst of change for a person. We see that our selfish behavior has driven one we love away, thus we are motivated to change.
   
   The question is whether or not we change for change sake, i.e., to do the right thing for ourselves; in other words to become better people because it serves a high order spiritual end. Or, do we change to gain the favor of the ones we have lost. In either case are we not still the selfish children we seeks to change? Sometimes people leave us. Sometimes they leave us for reasons that can be traced to our behavior. Sometimes they leave for their own selfish reasons. But for whatever reason, it is their choice to stay or go. If we are truly loving and unselfish, we can let them go with a loving heart and open arms.
4. anonymous

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   Aug 7th report

   I don’t really know right now. I do love coffee though and especially with a piece of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or coconut cream pie. Actually, I love coffee all the time.
5. anonymous

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   Jul 26th report

   This song i played for my mom bc ik I needed ti change and I didn't know how to say sorry that I hurt her mentally and I found this song and I sang it to her and her word were ik and I'm sorry too
6. anonymous

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   Jun 7th report

   I feel like it was just a bad relationship and he felt bad for whatever happened but in the end he found a better way to live and fortunatly it was because of her. But that doesnt mean that he wants to get back together i dont think.
7. anonymous

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   May 20th report

   The message I came across from listening to this song for the very first time is that I interpreted the fact that this guy needs his girlfriend even though he did things wrong. He feels guilty about it but he still needs her.
   
   Now that I listen to it more and more, I feel like I interpret the song in my own way. I’m struggling with self-harm and suicide and I’ve told people about it and they seem hurt to hear about it. I shut people out even when they try and help me and I feel so bad for putting them through that but I still need them and they are the reason why I keep going.
8. anonymous

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   Mar 7th 2023 report

   It could be a father singing to his daughter about he hurt her not physical but maybe not be there when she needed him. For running away without telling her and so on. But because if her he's changed himself to be a much better man, father and over all person. For his daughter help him with his addiction his loss if family and we'll everything she's the reason he still lives.
9. anonymous

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   Mar 4th 2023 report

   Someone was treated injust and unfairly but unfortunately they could never be any reconciliation no asking for forgiveness because one of the person has passed away and that person regrets the way they mistreated that individual and has to live with that pain for the rest of their life
10. anonymous

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    Sep 30th 2022 report

    He's singing to Jesus! He's regretful of the sins he's committed and how he's hurt Jesus so many times. He's telling Jesus he is the reason he has changed for the better.
11. anonymous

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    Mar 16th 2022 report

    To me the song takes on a completely different meaning. My sister was struck by a vehicle in 2018 before she could even turn 18. Our entire family was struggling and our dad and stepmom were divorcing. I was depressed at the time and I think she knew that. To me, it's like I'm telling her that I found a reason for me to be someone different that what she knew. The due to her reason of death, the music video for this hit deep.
12. anonymous

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    Oct 23rd 2021 report

    Like a hit and run situation, running from hurt or pain only hurts yoyr own self more. Not the other person but you. Hoping that true love prevails at the end.
13. anonymous

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    Dec 10th 2020 report

    I feel like this song reflects the feeling of overwhelming guilt brought when you can't forgive yourself even if the other person has. It goes along with Coldplay's "Fix You". "When you lose something you can't replace...Tears stream down your face/When you lose something you cannot replace/Tears stream down your face
    I promise you I will learn from my mistakes/Lights will guide you home/
    And ignite your bones/And I will try to fix you".
14. anonymous

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    Dec 1st 2020 report

    Everyone interprets each song differently but the songwriter had a very specific reason for writing this song and it has nothing to do with a relationship. It is about drunk driving and accidentally killing a person. I believe this actually happened to the lead singer (he accidentally killed a person in a drunk driving crash), if I'm not mistaken. The song is about changing himself to be a better person so that person's death was not in vain. The song intentionally makes you think he's talking about a relationship but he's actually not. If you look up lists of 'Songs You Didn't Know Had a Dark Meaning' this song is usually on there. It's also on just about every list of 'Songs About Car Wrecks'. P
15. anonymous

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    Feb 28th 2020 report

    When this song came out my daughter & I were in a much much better place relationship wise, but the vert first time i heard it in the car while I was driving. By the time it was over I had pulled to the right shoulder of the hwy because I was crying so mournfully because every line in this song was exactly how i felt more often than not at some point during most days. Not the kind of sadness attributed to depression that just won't go away. The kind of feeling that overwhelming guilt brings when you can't forgive yourself even if the other person has. My daughter, from the ages 9-17,watched my deterioration from being a momma to being someone she couldn't count on, couldn't be sure i'd be home or awake, couldn't be sure if there'd be a home. All due my decent in the world of crack at age 30. She has always been so very special & amazing to me. God gave me the most well behaved, happy, smart, easy going child there has ever been. I promise. Because I did not want children. I never babysat when I was young. Ask my doctor when I was 17 to fix me so no babies. Didnt care for anyones child really. But along she came & was the best thing I ever did to this day. I was a single mom by the time she was 6 months old & I loved it. Other than when I was working we did & went everywhere together. I actually like my child. Always have. Enjoy her company. Now she's not crazy about it anymore now that she's 36. But I've never felt any worse than when I think back to those years & all the hell I put her through. And she still loves me!!! When i quit crying that day on the side of the hwy I called her & told her about the song & said she was my reason. Funny thing is from the time she got here until ? I had always told her she was the reason I was born...just to give birth to her. She was the reason I was. Needless to say the song is very special to us both & I still cry when I hear it. But it definitely helped me, unknowingly, forgive myself somewhat. Thank you Hoobastank!!!!
16. anonymous

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    Feb 11th 2020 report

    I have discovered the meaning and it’s Almost describes what I have just been through 100%. The only thinks is I am not sure how much I can reveal of my experience.
    
    This is a beautiful song, lots of beautiful descriptions from many people, I believe every artist would love this type of reaction and Responce from there song.
    
    More to follow, my story
17. anonymous

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    Jan 12th 2020 report

    I think this song is about someone finally admitting to themselves they have a problem and are now committing to their recovery on a much deeper level motivated by love.
18. anonymous

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    Aug 21st 2019 report

    I first heard this song whrn I found out i was pregnant with my oldest daughter. Im not a perfect person there's many things I wish I didn't do.. Im a recovering addict ... I fiundbavreason for me to change who i used to be a reason to start over new and the reason is you my daughter

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