In the beginning, Columbia Records signed Carlile in late 2004 on the strength of songs she'd been recording periodically at home. Released in 2005, Brandi Carlile showcased those early songs along with several newly recorded tracks. Shortly after the release of Brandi Carlile, she left her home in Seattle and set out with the Hanseroth brothers, with whom she'd worked on her earliest recordings and independent regional tours. The tightly knit trio, which forms the core of her band today, spent the better part of two years on the road honing the songs that would later become part of her album "The Story".
In 2005, she was featured on Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch in 2005" list. By the end of 2006, Carlile had embarked on several headlining tours and supported a variety of artists including Ray LaMontagne, The Fray, Chris Isaak, Tori Amos, and Shawn Colvin.
Her second album, The Story, was released in April 2007. It was produced by T Bone Burnett and includes a collaboration with the Indigo Girls on "Cannonball." The album was recorded in an eleven-day-long session with Carlile , the twins (Tim and Phil Hanseroth) and drummer Matt Chamberlain to capture the raw intensity of Carlile's live performances. The crack in Carlile's vocals during the title track, "The Story", came out by accident and was a direct result of the way the album was recorded. Carlile herself describes the vocals as "technically wrong but emotionally right."
Carlile was exposed to a wider audience when ABC's Grey's Anatomy showcased three of her songs: "Tragedy," "What Can I Say," and "Throw It All Away". In April 2007, Grey's Anatomy debuted a version of the video for the single The Story interspersed with footage from the show. On May 3, 2007, a special two-hour episode of "Grey's Anatomy" featured Carlile's song "Turpentine" during footage of the "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off, "Private Practice".
The Story
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines, and I broke all the rules
And, baby, I broke them all for you
Oh, because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
You do
I was made for you
You see the smile that's on my mouth
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of our friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what
I've been through like you do
And I was made for you
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
Oh, but these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
Oh yeah, well, it's true, that I was made for you
The lyrics of Brandi Carlile's song The Story are a powerful expression of the human desire for connection and the importance of finding someone to share your life experiences with. The lines on the singer's face represent the many stories of where she's been and how she got to where she is today. These stories are meaningless without someone to tell them to, and that's where the chorus comes in, with the singer proclaiming that she was made for the person she's addressing.
In the second verse, the singer continues to express her devotion to the person she's addressing, saying that she's gone to great lengths to be with them. She's climbed mountains and swam oceans, crossed lines and broken rules, all for this person. Even when she was broke, this person made her feel like a million bucks.
The final verse delves deeper into the idea that the singer is hiding her true self from everyone else except the person she's addressing. Her friends may think she's blessed, but they don't know the struggles and hardships she's gone through like this person does. The repeated declaration that the singer was made for this person emphasizes the bond and connection between them.
Overall, The Story is a beautiful and heartfelt ode to the importance of finding someone to share your life with and the power of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
All of these lines across my face
The wrinkles on my face reflect the experiences and hardships that have shaped who I am and made me who I am
Tell you the story of who I am
These lines are a physical manifestation of my personal history and character
So many stories of where I've been
I have lived through many experiences and journeys that have led me to where I am today
And how I got to where I am
These stories are not just about what I've done, but also about what I've overcome and what I've learned along the way to get here
But these stories don't mean anything
Without someone to share them with, these stories lose their significance and impact
When you've got no one to tell them to
Human beings crave connection and understanding, and without someone to relate to, life can feel empty and meaningless
It's true, I was made for you
The singer has found someone special who they believe they were destined to be with in order to share their experiences and stories
I climbed across the mountain tops
The artist has gone to great lengths to achieve their goals and pursue their passions
Swam all across the ocean blue
The artist has explored the world and experienced different cultures and ways of life
I crossed all the lines, and I broke all the rules
The artist has challenged convention and authority to follow their own path and do what they believe is right
And, baby, I broke them all for you
The singer is not just a free spirit, but also someone who is willing to sacrifice and take risks for their loved ones
Oh, because even when I was flat broke
The artist has faced financial struggles and times of poverty
You made me feel like a million bucks
Despite the hard times, the singer's partner has always made them feel valued and loved
You see the smile that's on my mouth
The singer is putting on a brave face and trying to hide their inner turmoil
It's hiding the words that don't come out
The singer is struggling to communicate their true feelings to others
And all of our friends who think that I'm blessed
The artist's external success and appearance may make others think their life is perfect and easy
They don't know my head is a mess
However, on the inside the artist is struggling with emotional and mental turmoil
No, they don't know who I really am
The singer's friends may not truly understand the depths of their personality and past
And they don't know what I've been through like you do
Only the singer's partner knows the full extent of their experiences and the impact they have had
Oh, but these stories don't mean anything
Once again, without someone to share them with, the artist's history and experiences hold little value
It's true, I was made for you
The artist believes that their partner is the one person with whom they can truly share their life story and feel understood and loved
Oh yeah, well it's true, that I was made for you
The artist reiterates their belief that they are meant to be with their partner and share their life together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Phillip John Hanseroth, Timothy Jay Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind