Be My Escape

"Be My Escape"
Single by Relient K
from the album Mmhmm
ReleasedNovember 2, 2004 (2004-11-02)
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)Matthew Thiessen
Producer(s)
Relient K singles chronology
"I Celebrate the Day"
(2003) 		"Be My Escape"
(2004) 		"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"
(2005)
Music video
"Be My Escape" on YouTube

"Be My Escape" is a song by American Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on November 2, 2004, as the lead single from their fourth full-length studio album, Mmhmm. The song was their first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 82. It is one of Relient K's most successful songs, along with "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been". The song was certified Gold in the US on October 5, 2005.

"Be My Escape" was featured in the 2006 Men's U.S. Open Tennis Championship, with the song's opening guitar solo playing as the event headed into a commercial.

Background

"Be My Escape" is the singer Matt Thiessen's plea for "escape" from his past mistakes.[4] Although the lyrics avoid directly mentioning God, given the band's Christian background and some of the themes in the song, it is usually taken to refer to Him.[3] "Be My Escape" uses guitars, drums, and keyboards, and the pace is varied effectively to give a sense of longing and desperation.[4] The last forty seconds or so are a slow epilogue, with no instruments other than the drums, vibraphone and piano.

An acoustic version of the song was released in November 2005 on the Apathetic EP.[5] It included the addition of a mandolin.[6]

Composition and arrangement

"Be My Escape" was written by Matt Thiessen and was produced by Mark Lee Townsend.[7] The song was mixed at South Beach Studios in Miami by Tom Lord-Alge and was mastered by Jim DeMain and Ted Jensen.[7] The song was written shortly after the release of their third studio album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. Although he had not written the lyrics for the song yet, he had a piano riff, which he would play "over and over again."[4] The song's arrangement is considered to be "unorthodox," which Thiessen said was the idea going into this song, avoiding to write something predictable and rather something formulaic.[4]

The opening lines, "I've given up on giving up slowly, I'm blending in so you won't even know me, Apart from this whole world that shares my fate, This one last bullet you mention is my one last shot at redemption, Because I know to live you must give your life away" is a Christian lyric, which Thiessen wrote from his perspective of being in a bad place and how he was unhappy with himself at the time.[4]

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing, the track runs at 200 BPM and is in the key of A major.[8] Thiessen's range in the song spans from the notes A3 to F#6.[8]

Live performances

From the release of Mmhmm until October 2005, the song was mainly played a little past the halfway point of the band's set.[9] For the Panic With A K Tour in October 2005, it and "I So Hate Consequences" were the encore songs in that order. From the Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour in February 2006, through the 2006 festival season, it was the opening song.[10] The band moved it to the second song for the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour.[11]

During 2007, it was included in a three-song encore of "Sadie Hawkins Dance", "Be My Escape", and "I So Hate Consequences".[12] While band was on The Appetite for Construction Tour, the song was performed as the third song from the set list.[13] In 2008, it was performed during the middle of their set for their Uncle Fest tour.[14] The song was moved to second in the set list for the November and December 2008 Winter Wonder Slam Tour with TobyMac.[15] For the 2009 Winter Wonder Slam Tour, it was performed at the end of their set.[16]

The song was performed on their Um Yeah tour in 2022, which Thiessen said "That song ['Be My Escape'] has existed for a long time for us, so I can play it with my eyes closed sort of thing. That's half the fun, that I can just play it and kind of look at everyone singing along and just kind of vibe off of that."[17] As of 2025, the song continues to be a part of their set list.[18]

Music video

The music video was released on March 28, 2005, and was directed by Charles Jensen and produced by Rachel Curl.[19] The video shows Relient K playing in a room where the walls are slowly closing in on them. At the end, a burst of light appears and the walls of the room fall down, but away from the band. The band then plays in an open field with the album cover's sunflowers in it, with the background shot on a blue screen. This video was the first Relient K music video to feature bassist John Warne and guitarist Jon Schneck.

Reflecting on the music video, Thiessen was "less than thrilled" stating, "The video didn't come out exactly like we wanted to. I mean, I like the concept, and it might just be because we were so involved with the video that it didn't turn out the way we wanted. We wanted a lot of animation, and all we got was a bit of animated clouds on a green screen. And then there were the moving walls, which we wanted to be a little smoother, but it was just a bunch of stagehands pushing on the walls."[20]

Awards

The song was nominated for two Dove Awards at the 37th GMA Dove Awards: Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year and Short Form Music Video of the Year.[21]

Track listing

US promo CD[22]

  1. "Be My Escape" (radio mix) – 3:12

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Be My Escape" adapted from album's liner notes.[7]

Charts

Chart performance for "Be My Escape"
Chart (2004–2005) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 82
US CHR/Pop Top 50 (Radio & Records)[24] 44
US Christian CHR Songs (Radio & Records)[25] 3
US Christian Rock Songs (Radio & Records)[26] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[27] Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States November 2, 2004 Digital download
[27]
February 22, 2005
[28][29]

References

  1. ^ Rose, Ethan. "Best Early 2000s Pop Punk Songs". Rant Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ^ "various artists, "GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection" Review". Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "The 40 Best Emo Love Songs". SPIN. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Matt Thiessen discusses Relient K's 'Be My Escape'". Apple Podcasts. June 20, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  5. ^ Josh Taylor (November 9, 2005). "Relient K, "Apathetic EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  6. ^ Apathetic EP (booklet). Relient K. Gotee Records. 2005. GTD42009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ a b c Mmhmm (booklet). Relient K. Gotee Records. 2004. GTD72953.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ a b "Relient K "Be My Escape" Sheet Music". musicnotes.com. Alfred Music Publishing. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Josh Taylor (March 17, 2005). "Aaron Marrs Benefit 2005: Relient K, Bleach, John Reuben, & more - 3/13/05, Rocketown, Nashville, TN". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Bobby Gorman (February 22, 2006). "Relient K, Rocket Summer, Maxeen - Live (Feb. 22nd, 2006)". The Punk Site. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  11. ^ John DiBiase (October 16, 2006). "Audio Adrenaline, Phil Wickham // Relient K - 10/8/06, at Nokia Theater // Roseland Ballroom, Times Square, New York". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  12. ^ John DiBiase (September 12, 2007). "Relient K, TobyMac, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Skillet, & more: 9/7 - 9/8/07, at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  13. ^ John DiBiase (November 19, 2007). "Switchfoot, Relient K, Ruth: 11/16/07, at Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  14. ^ John DiBiase (October 18, 2008). "The Uncle Fest Tour: Relient K, Ludo, This Providence, House Of Heroes - 10/14/08, at Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  15. ^ Scott Fryberger (November 30, 2008). "Winter Wonder Slam: TobyMac, Relient K, Family Force 5, B. Reith - 11/22/08, at the Kansas City Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, KS". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  16. ^ John DiBiase (November 30, 2009). "TobyMac, Relient K, Stephanie Smith, B. Reith - 11/20/09, at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, NY". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  17. ^ Balint, Ed. "Canton's Relient K reflects on fame: 'The story got crazier and crazier'". The Repository. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  18. ^ Jason Tate (June 2, 2025). "Relient K Perform New Song at Surprise Show". Chorus.fm. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "Relient K - "Be My Escape"". MTV. March 28, 2005. Archived from the original on January 19, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  20. ^ James Montgomery (August 16, 2005). "Relient K Kind Of Like Getting Flipped The Bird". MTV. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  21. ^ 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards Nominations & Winners Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine on About.com; Jones, Kim
  22. ^ Be My Escape (US promo CD liner notes). Relient K. Capitol Records. 2004. DPRO708761903126.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  24. ^ "CHR/Pop Top 50: May 27, 2005" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 27, 2005. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  25. ^ "Christian CHR Top 30: February 18, 2005" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 18, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  26. ^ "Christian Rock Top 30: December 10, 2004" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 10, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "American single certifications – Relient K – Be My Escape". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  28. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1594. February 18, 2005. p. 23.
  29. ^ "FMQB: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
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