Break Mirrors is Mills’ debut solo album and the latest step in a remarkable musical career that has seen everyone from Kid Rock to Cass McCombs solicit his services as a guitarist. Mills’ trip began with Simon Dawes, the young L.A. rock outfit he formed with his childhood pal Taylor Goldsmith. They made an album, Carnivore, and eventually shared stages with some of the biggest bands in America, cranking out a fresh yet classic sound the Los Angeles Times called “exhilarating.”
After his collaboration with Goldsmith ran its course, Mills moved into the next phase of his career, as sideman to the stars. He moved quickly, too: In only a few short years Mills has become one of the most in-demand session guitarists in all of Los Angeles, touring with Cass McCombs, Jenny Lewis, Band of Horses and Julian Casablancas and recording with Weezer, Kid Rock, Jakob Dylan , Andrew Bird, and Jesca Hoop, among others.
“When it comes to playing guitar for other people,” he says, “...a lot of my dreams have already come true.”
Now Mills is taking center stage with a set of tunes that reflect that extraordinary wealth of experience. Recorded in casual bursts between other gigs over the course of much of 2009, Break Mirrors strikes a perfect balance between talent and tastefulness: You won’t miss Mills’ impressive playing—check out the fuzzy slide guitar solo on “Hiroshima,” for starters—but what sticks with you is his songwriting, which hits a bittersweet coming-of-age note.
In “It’ll All Work Out” he analyzes his parents’ marriage and comes to some surprising conclusions, and “History of My Life” ponders the best way to celebrate one’s privileges. (“It’s about a humility that comes with the transition into adulthood,” Mills says with typical thoughtfulness.) Elsewhere, “Cheers” documents a painful breakup, while “Hey Lover” celebrates the healthy relationship Mills is in right now.
“I wrote that song while I was on a tour and showed it to her when I got back home,” he says. “And then we actually ended up singing it together on this record.” With a laugh Mills describes the track as “my first song of having someone after one too many songs of longing.”
“Hey Lover” may only be rivaled by the album's artwork, for which Mills sought the help of acclaimed artist Sage Vaughn; together, the two collaborated in creating a collage that represents each song.
The music on Break Mirrors comes out of a long tradition of mellow Southern California rock. Yet, perhaps thanks to Mills’ work for other artists, the songs also reveal traces of something entirely different.
There’s also a sly sense of humor in much of the material that Mills credits to his time with Ben Bridwell and Ryan Monroe (Band of Horses). “There's a humor in some people's music that is not kitschy,” he explains. “And in some of those cases it ends up uncovering a certain kind of despair.”
The result is a record that feels as expansive as it does intimate, as forward-looking as it is nostalgic. Blake Mills is much more than the session guy, the band member, or the solo artist. Break Mirrors is the proof.
Wintersong
Blake Mills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something has clearly gone today
Don't know what I can do
but I know, I know, I know -
that it's the worst way to put you in a song
and I knew it as the words came, all of this was wrong
Early in the year,
that you nearly heal
in the feeling that fades away
There's something clearly gone today
don't know what you wanna heal
but I know, I know, I know
that it's the worst way to put you in a song
and I knew that as the words came, all of this was wrong
Early in the year,
but I know, I know, I know
even when the love's gone,
and don't I show it
even when your love comes
baby, don't I know it
(repeat 3x)
even when the love's gone,
don't I show it
and even when the light's on,
there's something wrong, and don't I know it
and you don't have to tell me nothing
'cause you know that you've already shown it
and even when you're good and strong
the feeling's gone, and don't I know it
even when the love is gone,
the night turns, she can try to show it
oh why, why, oh, why, why, don't I know it?
oh why, why, oh, why, why, don't I show it?
Don't I know it?
Oh, why, why, don't I show it? Don't I show it?
The lyrics to Blake Mills's "Wintersong" describe the feeling of losing someone you love and struggling to put that feeling into words. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, evoking a sense of sadness and regret. The singer acknowledges that something has gone wrong but doesn't know how to fix it. When he tries to express his feelings through song, he realizes that his words will never do justice to the depth of his emotions.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the pain of losing someone and the difficulty of moving on. He wonders if he's doing enough to show his love and wonders if his partner feels the same way. Despite his efforts to hold on to his relationship, he knows that love can fade as easily as the feeling of winter. The lyrics reveal a complicated mix of emotions: love and loss, hope and despair, and the struggle to keep a connection alive.
Overall, "Wintersong" is a poignant meditation on the human experience of love and loss, and the difficulty of expressing those feelings through words.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the year feeling, fade away
At the start of the year, feelings start to fade away
Something has clearly gone today
Something is clearly wrong today
Don't know what I can do
I am unsure of what I can do
but I know, I know, I know -
However, there is one thing I am sure of
that it's the worst way to put you in a song
Expressing emotions in a song is not the best way to communicate them
and I knew it as the words came, all of this was wrong
I realized this mistake as I was writing the song
that you nearly heal
You almost recover from the fading feeling
in the feeling that fades away
The feeling gradually disappears
don't know what you wanna heal
I'm not sure what exactly needs to be healed
even when the love's gone,
Even if love disappears,
and don't I show it
And yet, it's evident in my behavior
baby, don't I know it
I'm well aware of it, even though it may not be obvious
and even when the light's on,
Even under bright circumstances,
there's something wrong, and don't I know it
I'm aware that something is not right
and you don't have to tell me nothing
You don't have to explain anything to me
'cause you know that you've already shown it
I can already sense what's going on
and even when you're good and strong
Even if you're in a good state of mind and feeling powerful,
the feeling's gone, and don't I know it
I'm well aware that the feeling is no longer there
the night turns, she can try to show it
At night, the signs become more apparent
oh why, why, oh, why, why, don't I know it?
I wonder why I'm so aware of it
oh why, why, oh, why, why, don't I show it?
I wonder why others can't see how I feel
Don't I know it?
Am I not aware of this?
Oh, why, why, don't I show it?
Why can't I express how I truly feel?
Don't I show it?
Am I not giving any signs of how I feel?
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AsyrafAfif Ariff
Early in the year feeling, fade away
Something has clearly gone today
Don't know what I can do
But I know, I know, I know -
That it's the worst way to put you in a song
And I knew it as the words came, all of this was wrong
Early in the year
But I know, I know, I know
That you nearly heal
In the feeling that fades away
There's something clearly gone today
Don't know what you wanna heal
But I know, I know, I know
That it's the worst way to put you in a song
And I knew that as the words came, all of this was wrong
Early in the year
But I know, I know, I know
Even when the love's gone
And don't I show it
Even when your love comes
Baby, don't I know it
(repeat 3x)
macdonald
...Even when the love’s gone
Don’t I show it
And even when the light’s on
There’s something wrong and don’t I know it
And you don’t have to tell me nothing
Cause you know that you’ve already shown it
And even when you’re good and strong
The feeling’s gone and don’t I know it
Even when the love is gone
The night turns, she can try to show it
Oh, why, why, oh, why, why don’t I know it?
Oh, why, why, oh, why, why don’t I show it?
Don’t I know it?
Oh, why, why don’t I show it?
Don’t I show it?
RnBing2
I keep coming back to Wintersong. It is excellent... despite the wandering tempo and ragged production. That does not matter. its the feeling, melody, lyrics and performance make this the gem that it is.. Thank you Blake.
Philine
Actually the production on this is absolutley stunning. Just listen to all the layers that are in the song. The hard panned distorted parts left and right sitting nicely at the sides and building a tight wall surrounding the thinner inner layers consisting of heavenly guitars and all the right vocals inbetween. There's a lot going on here and Blake is a master at making evertyhing sit at the right place and building a dense and complete sound scenery.
Zak Kelly
Ragged production? It's all intentional. Blake is one of the best producers alive
AsyrafAfif Ariff
Early in the year feeling, fade away
Something has clearly gone today
Don't know what I can do
But I know, I know, I know -
That it's the worst way to put you in a song
And I knew it as the words came, all of this was wrong
Early in the year
But I know, I know, I know
That you nearly heal
In the feeling that fades away
There's something clearly gone today
Don't know what you wanna heal
But I know, I know, I know
That it's the worst way to put you in a song
And I knew that as the words came, all of this was wrong
Early in the year
But I know, I know, I know
Even when the love's gone
And don't I show it
Even when your love comes
Baby, don't I know it
(repeat 3x)
macdonald
...Even when the love’s gone
Don’t I show it
And even when the light’s on
There’s something wrong and don’t I know it
And you don’t have to tell me nothing
Cause you know that you’ve already shown it
And even when you’re good and strong
The feeling’s gone and don’t I know it
Even when the love is gone
The night turns, she can try to show it
Oh, why, why, oh, why, why don’t I know it?
Oh, why, why, oh, why, why don’t I show it?
Don’t I know it?
Oh, why, why don’t I show it?
Don’t I show it?
Craig Sisak
Really picks up midway and turns into something else. I love it. That cover art... makes me feel vulnerable.
Tommaso Anceschi
the guitar riff in the middle of the refrain is clearly a God gift!
losteyesight
This is incredible, start to finish!
Jonathan S.
Freakin' love it!!!!
Ruairi Lynch
Amen!!!!