Precious Declaration

"Precious Declaration"
Single by Collective Soul
from the album Disciplined Breakdown
Released	February 1997
Length	3:41
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter	Ed Roland
Producers	Ed Roland Anthony J. Resta
Collective Soul singles chronology
"Where the River Flows" (1996) "Precious Declaration" (1997) "Listen" (1997)
Music video
"Precious Declaration" on YouTube

"Precious Declaration" a song by American rock band Collective Soul, released as the lead single from their third studio album, Disciplined Breakdown . The song became the band's third consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number six on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. In Canada, the song reached number six on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number one on the RPM Alternative 30.

Composition

In a December 2017 interview with Songfacts, lead singer Ed Roland explained the inspiration behind "Precious Declaration":

That's after we did go through a breakup with the manager with "December." So, that was basically about going through a lawsuit. "Precious Declaration" is when they signed the release that we could continue being a band and continue on with our career. He got what he thought was his, and I got what I thought was mine. Hence, "Precious Declaration" means yours is yours, and mine you leave alone now. ^[1]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [2]	81
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [3]	5
Canada Rock/Alternative ( RPM ) [4]	1
Quebec Airplay (ADISQ) [5]	13
US Billboard Hot 100 [6]	65
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [7]	6
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [8]	1
US Adult Alternative Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [9]	16
US Pop/Alternative Top 20 ( Radio & Records ) [10]	12

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM) [11]	43
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM) [12]	30
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard) [13]	5
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [14]	46

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	February 1997	Rock radio	Atlantic
	March 4, 1997	Contemporary hit radio		[15]

References

1. "Ed Roland of Collective Soul". Songfacts. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
2. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 63.
3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3183". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
4. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3175". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
5. "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (PDF) (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
6. "Collective Soul Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved September 2, 2022.
7. "Collective Soul Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved September 2, 2022.
8. "Collective Soul Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard . Retrieved September 2, 2022.
9. "Adult Alternative Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1573. March 7, 1997. p. 38. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
10. "Pop/Alternative Top 20" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1573. February 28, 1997. p. 38. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
11. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM . Retrieved January 22, 2026– via Library and Archives Canada.
12. "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Retrieved January 22, 2026– via Library and Archives Canada.
13. "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-73. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
14. "Best of '97: Modern Rock Track". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 30.
15. "New Releases". Radio & Records . No. 1186. February 28, 1997. p. 47.