Meaning of “All Around Me” by Flyleaf
Flyleaf is a Christian-leaning rock band from Texas who experienced their most notable success via the release of their first studio album, a self-titled effort, in 2005. For instance, it is from that LP that we get “All Around Me”, which as of this writing stands as Flyleaf’s biggest hit.
More specifically, this track was released, with the backing of Interscope Records, on 4 October 2005, being the third single from their aforenoted debut LP.
“All Around Me” was written by Flyleaf members Sameer Bhattacharya, James Culpepper, Jared Hartmann, Pat Seals and frontwoman Lacey Sturm, all of whom, to note, are still down with the band as of this writing.
The producer of the track is Howard Benson, who later down the line won a couple of Grammys for his work with Halestorm and Kelly Clarkson. Meanwhile, the director of the track’s music video is Paul Fedor.
“All Around Me” marks the only time to date that Flyleaf has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, where this song peaked at number 40. It also popped up on quite a few other US Billboard charts, including breaking the top 10 of the Alternative Airplay listing. Additionally, this track reached second place on the Venezuela Pop Rock chart, was named a BMI Pop Award Winning Song in 2009 and was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2010.
The Lyrics of “All Around Me”
Letting the cat out of the bag from the get-go, Lacey Strum has revealed that this song, as put in her own words, is “about meeting God”. She was inspired to pen this piece by MySpace, the original viral social-media platform and more specifically a poll that was present on the site, asking users who they would like to meet the most.
The number one answer to that question, according to Lacey, was God, so she and the rest of Flyleaf set about writing a tune based on such an encounter.
Besides for the word “holy” appearing up a couple of times in the bridge, there isn’t any other overt religious terminology in this song. So Strum also acknowledged that this piece can be interpreted in different ways, such as alluding to romance.
But again, Lacey clarified that as far as she’s personally concerned, it is about an encounter with the Most High. And as relayed in the lyrics, said experience is highlighted by a burning sensation, thickening of the air, the vocalist feeling as if she is fading, etc.
Or put otherwise, even though she’s obviously stationary, it’s as if Lacey is being transported to another place. Or as she goes on to explain it thesis-sentiment wise, she can “feel” the presence of the Most High “all around” her.
“I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I’m breathing
Holding on to what I’m feeling
Savoring this heart that’s healing”
And before concluding, it should be noted out that what’s being described here reads as if it may be based on the vocalist being imbued with the Holy Spirit, i.e. these lyrics being in congruence with how others have portrayed such a phenomenon. Yet at the same time, they can be taken as being very personal in nature.
Or let’s conclude by agreeing that yes, having an encounter with a spirit would most likely be a personal matter. And whereas, under normal circumstances, a person feeling as if they’re burning, floating or fading would not be a good thing, in this case such references are obviously meant to point to feelings of internal, and let’s also say holistic edification.
