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".
Before It Breaks
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waking up, the days are even gone
The collar of my coat
Lord help me, cannot help the cold
The raindrops sting my eyes
I keep them closed.
But I'm feelin' no pain
Have I the moonlight? Have I let you in?
Say it ain't so, say I'm happy again
Say it's over, say I'm dreaming,
Say I'm better than you left me
Say you're sorry, I can take it
Say you'll wait, say you won't
Say you love me, say you don't
I can make my own mistakes
Let it bend before it breaks
I'm all right. Don't I seem to be?
Aren't I swinging on the stars?
Don't I wear them on my sleeve?
When you're looking for a crossroads,
It happens every day
And whichever way you turn,
I'm gonna turn the other way
Say it's over, say I'm dreaming,
Say I'm better than you left me
Say you're sorry, I can take it
Say you'll wait, say you won't
Say you love me, say you don't
I can make my own mistakes
Learn to let it bend before it breaks
Say it's over say I'm dreaming,
Say I'm better than you left me
Say you're sorry, I can take it
Say you'll wait, say you won't
Say you love me, say you don't
I can make my own mistakes
Let it bend before it breaks
The lyrics of "Before It Breaks" describe a person trying to remain strong and optimistic during a difficult time in their life. The opening lines refer to the winter season, which is often associated with sadness and dreariness. The singer is feeling the weight of the cold and the rain, but is trying to stay positive and not let it get to them.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about their loneliness and their search for someone to confide in. They ask if they have the moonlight, which may symbolize comfort or guidance. They then ask for someone to tell them that things are going to be okay, that they can be happy again. The repetition of the phrase "say it's over" reinforces the desire for closure and resolution.
The line "let it bend before it breaks" is a metaphor for handling difficult situations. Instead of trying to resist and fight against them, it is better to be flexible and adapt in order to avoid a complete breakdown.
Overall, the song is about the human experience of struggling through tough times and trying to find hope and peace in the midst of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Around here, it's the hardest time of year
Winter is always tough for me and it's hard to get through the day.
Waking up, the days are even gone
I can't really enjoy the day as it seems to drift away quickly.
The collar of my coat
I wrap myself up in my coat, trying to keep warm both physically and emotionally.
Lord help me, cannot help the cold
I'm struggling with the cold and the sadness that comes with this season.
The raindrops sting my eyes
The rain feels like needles piercing me and it's hard to keep my eyes open.
I keep them closed.
I close my eyes trying to avoid the pain.
But I'm feelin' no pain
I am numb to everything and don't feel much at all.
I'm a little lonely and my quietest friend
I am alone and the only company I have is my own thoughts.
Have I the moonlight? Have I let you in?
I wonder if I have the light inside me or if I've let someone else in to shine their light on me.
Say it ain't so, say I'm happy again
I want someone to tell me that I'm happy, to give me hope that I can feel better.
Say it's over, say I'm dreaming,
I want to wake up from this bad dream and forget everything.
Say I'm better than you left me
I hope I am stronger and better than I was when you left me.
Say you're sorry, I can take it
I need an apology to heal and move on, and I am strong enough to handle it.
Say you'll wait, say you won't
I don't know if I want you to stay or go, but I need to hear your decision.
Say you love me, say you don't
I need to know if you still love me or if it's over for good.
I can make my own mistakes
I know that I may make mistakes, but they will be my own to learn from.
Let it bend before it breaks
Instead of breaking, I will allow myself to bend and be flexible in tough times.
I'm all right. Don't I seem to be?
I'm trying to maintain a brave face and appear okay, but inside it's a different story.
Aren't I swinging on the stars?
Despite everything, I'm still hopeful and dreaming big.
Don't I wear them on my sleeve?
I am open about my emotions and wear them for all to see.
When you're looking for a crossroads,
Sometimes in life you come to a crossroads where you have to decide which way to go.
It happens every day
These crossroads are a frequent occurrence in life and we must learn to navigate them.
And whichever way you turn,
No matter which path we choose at the crossroads, there will be challenges and hardships.
I'm gonna turn the other way
I will choose to take a different path and face life's challenges in my own way.
Learn to let it bend before it breaks
I will learn to be flexible and adjust to life's challenges instead of breaking under the pressure.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile, Timothy Jay Hanseroth, Phillip John Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind