Higher (Creed song)

Lore & Background

The song originated from the band's early live improvisations. According to Mark Tremonti, during early shows the band had few songs, and to placate frustrated audiences, Scott Stapp would urge the band to create a song on the spot. Drummer Scott Phillips began the drum part, and Tremonti entered the chord progression. Reviewing tapes of these performances, the band decided a proper song could be assembled from the improvisations. Scott Stapp and Steven Harang wrote the lyrics about the power of lucid dreaming, inspired by a recurring nightmare in which Stapp was hunted and killed by a gunman; after studying lucid dreaming, he was able to escape the assailant in the dream.

Musically, the song is in the key of D major, with Tremonti playing in drop D tuning and Stapp singing in baritone. It has been described as anthemic and uplifting, often compared to the band's later single "My Sacrifice." The music video, directed by Ramaa Mosley, was shot at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando, Florida, using over 300 extras. It features slow-motion and pause scenes, with Stapp hovering over the audience via cables, and ends with a 360-degree photography spin technique. Stapp later expressed embarrassment about the video, particularly his leather pants.

The song spent 57 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest stay of any Creed song, and finished at number 11 on the Hot 100 year-end chart for 2000. It topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for a then-record 17 weeks. In 2009, VH1 ranked it number 95 on its "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" list. It won Song of the Year at the 2000 My VH1 Music Awards and was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

Reader's Guide

"Higher" marked a turning point for Creed, elevating them from a developing act to a mainstream rock force. Its commercial success—peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominating rock radio for months—established the band's signature sound and set the stage for their subsequent hits. The song's anthemic quality and themes of overcoming fear through lucid dreaming resonated with a wide audience, making it a staple of post-grunge radio. Its longevity on the charts and enduring presence in popular culture, from film appearances in The Skulls and 22 Jump Street to its adoption by the Texas Rangers during their 2023 World Series run, demonstrate its lasting impact. The song's use by the Rangers, who played it before games and celebrated with it in the locker room, sparked a broader revival, with other sports teams like the Minnesota Vikings adopting it as a motivational anthem. "Higher" remains one of Creed's most recognizable songs, a touchstone of late-1990s rock that continues to find new audiences through sports, media, and nostalgia.

Did You Know?

• The song was inspired by Scott Stapp's recurring nightmare of being hunted by a gunman, which he overcame through lucid dreaming.
• The Texas Rangers celebrated their 2023 World Series victory by singing 'Higher' in the locker room.