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"Lead Me" is a song by American Christian rock band Sanctus Real from their 2010 album Pieces of a Real Heart. The song was written by Chris Rohman of Sanctus Real with Matt Hammitt and Jason Ingram. It was a big success staying nine consecutive weeks at the top of the US Billboard Christian Songs chart starting September 11, 2010, and until November 6, 2010, chart inclusive, staying a total of 52 weeks on the chart. The song is their highest-charting to date.

Background

"Lead Me" was released on March 5, 2010, as the second single off their fifth studio album, Pieces of a Real Heart.

Sanctus Real lead guitarist, Chris Rohman, told the story about the song in an interview with "NewReleaseTuesday": "Our lead singer, Matt Hammitt, had most of the song written. It was written after Matt and his wife had a pretty gut-wrenching conversation, where she told him that she needed him to be a better spiritual leader to her and their family. It rocked Matt's world. They're the ones that have been married the longest in the band. They've been married longer than I have. They already have two daughters and they're expecting their third child right now. Matt said that he found it humbling that his wife would have the courage to say something like that out of love. Secondly, he realized that he had to do something about it. There was no way around it. We don't believe in divorce. There were some things they had to work on to keep that open dialogue between the two of them, so that they could admit problems and work through them. That's where the song came from. The idea is actually at least a year and a half old. We had a rough idea of the song because he had a demo, but it got put in the pile. The president of our record label somehow found the song before we completely finished the record and said, 'Something is going on with that song. I think it could really be turned into something special if you guys finish it.' Until he said that, we hadn't even entertained the thought of putting the song on the record. When we went in the studio to finish the song with this writer from Nashville, the story came together perfectly. The song is kind of a father's prayer for his family and wife. It's an honest cry out to God saying, 'If I'm going to lead my family, I need You to lead me.' I can say this because I didn't have a lot to do with it. I hope that hearing the story behind the song, and what went into writing it, will touch a lot of lives. It's a powerful song!"

Music video

The music video for the single "Lead Me" was released on September 24, 2010. The video depicts a man who walks away from his family. Throughout the visual, he is motivated by God to return and look at his life. At the end, it shows the man returning to his home with his family there to welcome him.

Track listing

• Digital download

1. "Lead Me" – 3:47

• Digital download (acoustic)

1. "Lead Me" – 3:45

Charts

References

1. ^ "Lead Me". Retrieved June 4, 2018.
2. "Pieces of a Real Heart (Deluxe Edition) by Sanctus Real". July 2, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
3. Chart dates for "Lead Me":
   • September 11: "Christian Songs (September 11, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • September 18: "Christian Songs (September 18, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • September 25: "Christian Songs (September 25, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • October 2: "Christian Songs (October 2, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • October 9: "Christian Songs (October 9, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • October 16: "Christian Songs (October 16, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • October 23: "Christian Songs (October 23, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • October 30: "Christian Songs (October 30, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
   • November 6: "Christian Songs (November 6, 2010)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
4. "Sanctus Real Lead Me Chart History". Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
5. "Lead Me by Sanctus Real Songfacts". Retrieved June 4, 2018.
6. "Sanctus Real - Lead Me (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
7. "Lead Me - Sanctus Real TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
8. "Lead Me (Acoustic Version) TIDAL". iTunes. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
9. "Sanctus Real Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
10. "Sanctus Real- Christian AC History". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
11. "Sanctus Real Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
12. "Sanctus Real Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
13. "Christian AC Indicator". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. September 4, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
14. "Christian Soft AC". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 13, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
15. "Sanctus Real- Chart history - Billboard". Billboard. October 23, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
16. "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2010 - Billboard". Retrieved June 4, 2018.
17. "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2011 - Billboard". Retrieved June 4, 2018.
18. "Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.

• 2010 songs
• 2010 singles
• Sanctus Real songs
• Sparrow Records singles
• Songs written by Jason Ingram
• Songs written by Matt Hammitt