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".
Heart's Content
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hung the moon
Maybe you thought
We were Johnny and June
Maybe we thought
It was just us two
Maybe we spoke too soon
And we don't tell tales
We bite our tongues
And our fingernails
We fall in love
And we don't fall out
Maybe we speak too soon
Here's you and me
And in between, we draw a line
But we can't see where it's been
We scratch our heads
And race against the heart's content
Oh-oh, whoa, whoa, oh, yeah
Maybe we hurt who we love the most
Maybe it's all we can stand
Maybe we walk through the world as ghosts
Break my own heart before you can
Here's you and me
And in between, we draw a line
But we can't see where it's been
We scratch our heads
And race against the heart's content
Oh-oh, whoa, whoa, oh, yeah
Maybe we know how the story ends
Maybe it's not even about us
We both retreat to opposing sands
And the love lives on without us
One thing I know for sure is
Love will find a way
Love will find a way
Here's you and me
And in between, we draw a line
But we can't see where it's been
We scratch our heads
And race against the heart's content
Oh-oh, whoa, whoa, oh
You and me
Oh-oh, whoa, whoa, oh
You and me
Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh
You and me
Whoa, oh-oh, whoa, oh, yeah
The song "Heart's Content" by Brandi Carlile is a reflection of a troubled relationship. The singer is thinking about the love they once had and wondering if it was real or just an illusion. The song highlights the fact that the singers thought they were perhaps invincible and were meant to be together forever. The first verse of the song is an indication of unwavering love where the singer is thinking that their significant other thinks that they hung the moon and they will end up like Johnny and June, but in the next line, the singer seems to have doubts as she says maybe they spoke too soon.
Although the relationship seems strong, there are underlying issues from the start of the song. The next verse brings this into focus. The singer says they never lie and bite their tongue and our fingernails instead, which is an indication of how hard things are in their relationship. But they fall in love and do not fall out, which is sung with hesitation, suggesting again that they might speak too soon. The song stresses the difficulty of communication in a relationship as they struggle to understand what they mean to each other. This is emphasized in the chorus, where they draw a line between them but cannot see where it has been or where it is going. This song is a reflection on how we can sometimes become so caught up in love and fail to see the flaws in our relationships until it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe you thought
This line suggests that perhaps someone had the impression that the singer was perfect in all regards.
I hung the moon
This figure of speech portrays someone as perfect or amazing in every conceivable way.
Maybe you thought
The lyricist repeats this phrase to emphasize the idea that people often make unfounded assumptions.
We were Johnny and June
This line refers to the famous country music couple, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, who were known for their strong bond and musical partnership.
Maybe we thought
The writer of these lyrics is saying that the relationship felt perfect in the moment.
It was just us two
This line suggests that the two people in the relationship felt like they were the only ones who mattered to each other.
Maybe we spoke too soon
This line implies that their feelings of love may have been too premature.
We never lie
This line suggests that trust is an important element in the relationship.
And we don't tell tales
This line refers to the idea that neither party in the relationship gossips or spreads rumors.
We bite our tongues
This line implies that sometimes they hold back on what they really want to say.
And our fingernails
This is likely a reference to the nervous habit of biting one's fingernails when feeling anxious.
We fall in love
This line confirms that the couple is in love with each other.
And we don't fall out
This line implies that they're committed to each other and have no intention of leaving the relationship.
Maybe we speak too soon
This line is repeated as a reminder that it's possible to rush into relationships without fully knowing oneself or the other person.
Here's you and me
This line is a reference to the two people in the relationship and their closeness.
And in between, we draw a line
This line implies that there is a separation between the two people in the relationship.
But we can't see where it's been
This line confirms that they're uncertain what caused the rift in their relationship.
We scratch our heads
This is an idiomatic expression that suggests confusion or frustration.
And race against the heart's content
This line implies that the couple is trying to reconcile or fix the issues in their relationship.
Maybe we hurt who we love the most
This line implies that sometimes we hurt the people closest to us.
Maybe it's all we can stand
This line is a reminder that everyone has their limits, and sometimes it's better to walk away from a relationship.
Maybe we walk through the world as ghosts
This line suggests that sometimes people in relationships can feel lost or invisible.
Break my own heart before you can
This line implies that it's better to end the relationship before the other person does.
Maybe we know how the story ends
This line suggests that they know how their relationship will eventually end.
Maybe it's not even about us
This line implies that the relationship may be insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
We both retreat to opposing sands
This line implies that the two people in the relationship are moving on in different directions.
And the love lives on without us
This line suggests that even though the relationship has ended, the love they shared will continue.
One thing I know for sure is
This line emphasizes the idea that there is one thing the lyricist is certain about.
Love will find a way
This line is a positive affirmation that love can overcome even the most difficult obstacles.
Here's you and me
This line repeats again as a reminder of their bond.
And in between, we draw a line
This line is repeated to emphasize the separation in their relationship.
But we can't see where it's been
This line repeats again as a confirmation that they don't understand what caused the rift.
We scratch our heads
The lyricist repeats this phrase to put emphasis on the confusion felt by the couple.
And race against the heart's content
This line repeats as a reminder that the couple is trying to fix their relationship.
Oh oh oh, oh yeah
This line is a repeated chorus that serves as a hook for the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile, Phillip John Hanseroth, Timothy Jay Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind