Raised in a musical family (her mother played harpsichords that her father built), Rogers has been living and breathing music since she was 6 years old. After earning a bachelors and masters degree in music composition from SUNY Purchase, she began a steady routine of recording and touring in support of her own music and as a back up singer and lead guitarist for indie-pop artist, Ingrid Michaelson.
During a rare few months off this winter, she decided to hibernate in her Brooklyn home and write a new record. In between working on the songs, she picked up a book called "Your Inner Fish" by Neil Shubin. "The book is about our evolution from life as far back as pre-historic fish and microbes and how that has affected our bodies and our lives now. It really grabbed me and I found myself a bit obsessed. I started to look at everything we do in life as a product of evolution, and many of the songs on this record were inspired by that idea," says Rogers.
Produced by Chris Kuffner (Ingrid Michaelson's Girls and Boys) and recorded partly in a Maine farmhouse studio owned by Sam Kassirer (producer of Josh Ritter and Erin McEown) and partly in Rogers’ home studio in Brooklyn, Out Of The Ocean features a host of talented friends including Ingrid Michaelson, Allie Moss, Ian Axel, Saul Simon-MacWilliams, Elliot Jacobson and Dave Eggar (Train, Beyonce). Like Rogers' live shows, the songs themselves have a huge dynamic range. From the haunting underwater mermaid ballad "In the Waves," to the synth-laden robot love song "Math and Science," to the driving pop-rock sing-along "Water and Dirt," Out Of The Ocean mirrors our understanding of life and love through time while maintaining a pop sensibility that Rogers is known for.
Like her previous releases, Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers (2010), Travel Back EP (2009) and Decisions Based On Information (2007), Out Of The Ocean was made and released independently. Knowing that this new record would require a more substantial budget, Rogers put out the call to her fans through Kickstarter. Within two days of launching the campaign, the initial goal of $10,000 was met; and by the end she had raised $26,000 with over 500 backers. "It was amazing." says Rogers. "The amount of support it got was mind-blowing and made me even more excited to make this record and get it out there into the world."
Bess' music has been featured on such television shows as One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars, Raising The Bar, and Switched At Birth, and a national Motts for Tots commercial. She has shared the stage with Ingrid Michaelson, Loudon Wainwright, Ari Hest, Ian Axel, Allie Moss and more. Out Of The Ocean was released on October 4, 2011, and was supported by a extensive tour in the US and the UK.
Brick By Brick
Bess Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You try and push harder, they push right back, I know,
The time moves fast and change moves painfully slow.
It's hard to see the shift when you're so close.
Brick by brick, we are building.
You won't see for the longest time,
We're building a new life.
You plant a seed and wait for it to grow.
They hate it now but they're too scared to know,
That their children's children will sit underneath it's shade,
And your children's children will bask in the love you made.
(x3)
Brick by brick, we are building.
You won't see for the longest time,
We're building a new life.
It won't show for the longest time.
The opening lines of Bess Rogers's song Brick By Brick present a recurring and relatable reflection on the nature of progress. We are making strides, falling back, and trying again, but it seems slow and difficult to observe the changes. The metaphor used to describe this process is building with bricks– one brick at a time, and we remain steadfast in making progress. This shows persistence and patience, and the frustrations we face as we strive for change. The line "It's hard to see the shift when you're so close" presents the predicament of the laborers who put in the continuous work to achieve a larger goal, but somehow cannot perceive the magnitude of their achievements when it is happening right in front of them.
The chorus, "Brick by brick, we are building. You won't see for the longest time, We're building a new life," reinforces the idea of patience and persistence. It highlights the incremental gains required in the journey to a much larger goal, and there will necessarily be battles to overcome before we get where we're going. The next verse spells out this sentiment a bit more, as Rogers speaks directly to the adversaries of progress, telling them that current action is still as meaningful even if it goes unrecognized in the present. The metaphorical seed will grow, and it will nourish future generations, even if it is currently being misunderstood or actively fought against.
Overall, Bess Rogers's song Brick By Brick tells the tale of the importance of persistence and incremental change in achieving a larger goal. Through the metaphor of building with bricks, Rogers captures the frustrations and small gains that come with continuously pushing for change. This song firmly encourages the listener to remain committed to success, even if it feels like it's taking forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Three steps forward, two steps back we go,
We keep making progress but also facing setbacks along the way, slowing us down.
You try and push harder, they push right back, I know,
Despite our efforts to move forward, we face opposition from others.
The time moves fast and change moves painfully slow.
Time goes by quickly but significant change takes a long time to happen.
It's hard to see the shift when you're so close.
When you're heavily invested in something, it's difficult to see the progress or changes happening.
Brick by brick, we are building.
We're making progress slowly but surely, one step at a time.
You won't see for the longest time,
The results of our efforts won't be immediately visible.
We're building a new life.
Our efforts are aimed at creating a new and better future for ourselves and those around us.
You plant a seed and wait for it to grow.
Sometimes we have to be patient and wait for our efforts to come to fruition.
They hate it now but they're too scared to know,
Others may not believe in our vision but they're too afraid to acknowledge its potential.
That their children's children will sit underneath it's shade,
The fruits of our labor will benefit future generations.
And your children's children will bask in the love you made.
Our love and efforts will create a lasting impact on future generations.
It won't show for the longest time.
The results of our hard work won't be immediately visible but will take time to come to fruition.
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chimbiepaladin4629
I think this is the greatest song ever written.
@aline190392
música muito linda... replays e mais repalys :)
@3Dartist247
This is a wonderful song...so true. "Two steps forward, and one step back." And there's the thought that always makes me pause..."time moves fast, and change moves painfully slow." It's the part of life that is most frustrating...but it's a sweet song, nonetheless. I have enjoyed the whole album, "Out Of The Ocean" since coming across it last summer. Enjoyed many times, I would have to add. But "Brick By Brick" is one of my favorites...a bit of sadness, but still hopeful. I'm not surprised that Bess serves as part of the backup band for indie rocker Ingrid Michaelson. Their voices are a great blend. On "Out Of The Ocean", a nice mix of sweet songs like this, introspective songs like "Second Chance" (Who wouldn't want one?), loving songs like "In The Waves", and good rocking sounds like "Math And Science" make for a good listening experience. And I think I'm due to add to my Bess Rogers collection.