Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open” Lyrics Meaning
Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open” features lead singer, Scott Stapp vocalizing about his excitement and fear of being a new father when he heard the good news from his-then wife, Hillaree Burns. Burns was pregnant with a son that they named Jagger at the time this track was composed.
In early 1998, during the band’s “My Own Prison” tour, Stapp wrote the lyrics of this track upon hearing the good news from Burns. Reportedly, he acclaimed that he wrote the lyrics in 15 minutes during soundcheck. The double platinum track was later released as a single in 2000.
It is evident that this news was received with much happiness by Stapp, as much as any father-to-be would be. Stapp also expressed his emotions as naïve as a man who’s going to be a father for the first time.
Anxiousness and worry fill the song as Stapp writes “Well, I don’t know if I’m ready, to be the man I have to be” as it portrays the brutal honesty of Stapp’s emotions. Pertinent questions overflow his mind as to whether he can be the man he has to be for his child to lead a better life than him. One can safely assume a sense of self-doubt begins to creep in despite the happy and exciting news.
In an interview with The Ringer, 2020, Stapp exclaims that this song is still “relevant to his life with each one of his children”. This clearly showcases that he still strives to be the man he must be for his children regardless of if he’s ready.
Having grown up in a devout Catholic household, Stapp wanted his child to be different from him in ways of understanding himself, faith, and the world as he had battled those issues early on his life. It is also a universal belief that parents would want their child to lead better lives than them, to be more accepting and mindful to themselves and others.
Grammy Award
“With Arms Wide Open” beat won the 2000 Grammy award for Best Rock Song by beating nominations such as:
- “Bent” by Rob Thomas
- “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down
- “Californication” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Again” by Lenny Kravitz
Charts
“With Arms Wide Open” topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was #13 in the UK Singles chart.
The “Human Clay” Album
“Human Clay”, released September 28, 1999, is the album that “With Arms Wide Open” appears in. It is one of the album’s singles. Other singles include:
- “Higher”
- “What If”
- “Are You Ready?”
The album cumulatively has a different sound as compared to the featured song, which Stapp has identified as something “a little more pop” and “not really their sound”.
The track, however, changed Stapp’s life as he still receives positive letters by fans who are going through the same phase in life, and it also took the band from a successful rock band to an internationally acclaimed rock band that set the path for future rock bands.
Stapp’s Personal Life
Stapp was first married to Hillaree Burns from 1997-1998, with whom his son, Jagger was conceived. He later got married to Miss New York USA 2004, Jaclyn Nesheiwat in 2006. Nesheiwat filed for divorce in 2014 but was able to reconcile on VH1’s “Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn” in October 2015.
Prior to Neisheiwat’s filing for divorce, Stapp had a “psychotic episode” and later told People Magazine that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. They have three children together.
Stapp founded The Scott Stapp With Arms Wide Open Foundation with Neisheiwat as his executive director in 2000. Its impact statement is to “bring hope to children, families and veterans”.
