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".
Follow
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
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Don't let the world outside there break you
They know not who you are inside
They never felt your yell
Don't ever let them crack
Hold out, I know you feel it getting cold out
With all the blankets for your soul and
And you'll have to see this through
There's no one here but you
I feel the rain comin' down
It reminds me of who I used to be
But now there's nothing more than a memory
Don't go to sleep and try because
Tomorrow, hey, if you let it, it will swallow you up
And none of this will matter
Will matter anymore
Ooh, ooh
I feel the rain comin' down
It reminds me of who I used to be
But now there's nothing more than a memory
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I feel the rain comin' down
It reminds me of who I used to be
But now there's nothing more
Oh, now there's nothing more than a memory
Follow your heart and see where it might take you
Don't let the world outside there break you
They know not who you are inside
They never felt your yell
Don't ever let them crack your shell
The lyrics to Brandi Carlile’s song “Follow” urge listeners to follow their hearts, despite the obstacles they may face, and stay true to their inner selves. The song begins with Carlile encouraging listeners to trust in themselves and not allow outside forces to break them. She acknowledges that others may not understand who they truly are on the inside and, therefore, should not allow them to influence their decisions or weaken their resolve. This is further emphasized when she urges them not to crack and instead hold out against the cold that is encroaching upon them, indicating the struggle to stay true to oneself in the face of the hardships of life.
In the chorus, Carlile repeats the phrase “I feel the rain coming down,” which perfectly captures the moody, introspective feel of the song. The rain is a metaphor for how the hardships of life can weigh someone down, and how we can be reminded of previous versions of ourselves, before we were weathered and worn. The memories of the past are a reminder of who we once were, and what we could be again if we give up on ourselves.
The overarching theme of “Follow” is the importance of believing in oneself and not allowing the outside world to crush one's spirits. To do so, one must let their inner voice guide them, regardless of the tensions and hardships that they may face in their daily lives. Carlile assures listeners that they are not alone in this struggle, and the hardships they face will only make them stronger if they remain true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow your heart and see where it might take you
Trust your instincts and take a leap of faith into the unknown to explore new opportunities and possibilities.
Don't let the world outside there break you
Avoid allowing external circumstances and negative people to discourage you or bring you down.
They know not who you are inside
Others cannot judge or understand your innermost thoughts, feelings, and motivations without empathy and understanding.
They never felt your yell
Others cannot sense the power of your emotions and self-expression without experiencing them firsthand.
Don't ever let them crack
Refuse to allow others to undermine your confidence and self-worth with their criticism or insults.
Hold out, I know you feel it getting cold out
Persist and resist the temptation to give up or surrender to despair, even when the situation seems bleak and inhospitable.
With all the blankets for your soul and
Find comfort, warmth, and solace in the things that bring you joy, love, and fulfillment in life.
Before you know it you'll be frozen
Beware of the danger of stagnation, paralysis, or apathy that can prevent you from pursuing your goals and dreams.
And you'll have to see this through
Be determined, focused, and committed to finishing what you started, no matter how challenging or daunting it may seem.
There's no one here but you
Realize that you are ultimately responsible for your own destiny and that you have the power to shape your life according to your values and beliefs.
I feel the rain comin' down
Experience a sense of melancholy, nostalgia, or regret for the past that cannot be changed or undone.
And it reminds me of who I used to be
Reflect on your personal growth, maturation, and evolution as a person over time, and acknowledge both your strengths and weaknesses.
But now there's nothing more than a memory
Accept the fact that the past is gone and cannot be relived, and learn to let go of regrets, grudges, or expectations that hold you back from moving forward.
Don't go to sleep and try because
Avoid complacency, procrastination, or self-sabotage that can prevent you from taking action and making progress towards your goals.
Tomorrow baby if you let it, it will swallow you up
Beware of the danger of worrying too much about the future and becoming paralyzed by fear, uncertainty or doubt.
And none of this will matter, will matter anymore
Realize that life is fleeting and ephemeral, and that the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to live it, with courage, passion, and integrity.
Don't ever let them crack your shell
Reinforce the importance of staying true to yourself, regardless of external pressure, criticism or judgment, and guard your innermost thoughts and feelings with resilience and self-awareness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile, Timothy Jay Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind