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".
My Song
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That often change or maybe I've changed
Sometimes being happy can be self destructive
Even when you're sane
Or only insane
But don't bother waking me today
Here I am, I'm so young
I'm alone
Everyday, I bite my tongue
If you only knew my mind was full of razors
That cut you like a word if only sung
But this is my song
Yeah, this is my song
Now, I live everyday
Like they'll never be a last one
'Til they're gone and they're gone
And I'm too proud to beg for your attention
And your friendship and your time
So you can come and get it from now on
Here I am, I'm so young
I know I've been bitter, I've been jaded
I'm alone
Everyday, I bite my tongue
If you only knew my mind was full of razors
That cut you like a word if only sung
This is my song
It's my song
And it's you
It is you
Here I am, I'm so young
I know I've been bitter, I've been jaded
I'm alone
Everyday, I bite my tongue
If you only knew
My mind was full of razors
I'm not sure I can take it
I've nothing strong to hold to
I'm way too old to hate you
My mind is full of razors
That cut you like a word if only sung
But this is my song
In Brandi Carlile's song My Song, the singer explores the constant changes in her life, and how sometimes being happy can be a self-destructive behavior. She questions whether the changes in her life are a result of external factors or if she herself has changed. The lyrics "But don't bother waking me today" suggest that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and needs a break from the world around her.
In the second verse, the singer continues to explore the contradictions in her life, as she describes herself as young and bitter, yet also jaded. She acknowledges the struggle of keeping her thoughts and feelings to herself, as she bites her tongue every day. She reveals that her mind is full of razors, which could cut others out of her life like a worry from a song. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "This is my song," which can be interpreted as the singer claiming ownership over her experiences and emotions.
Overall, My Song is a contemplative and introspective song that explores the complexities of human emotions and the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything I do
All my actions are centered around certain aspects of my life.
Surrounds these pieces of my life
These aspects of my life that I focus on are constantly changing.
That always change
These changing aspects of my life contribute to the constant evolution of who I am as a person.
Or hey, maybe I've changed
It's also possible that I myself have undergone changes and grown as a person.
Sometimes being happy
Happiness isn't always as straightforward as it seems.
Can be self-destructive
In some cases, happiness can actually be harmful to oneself.
Even when you're sane
One can be perfectly mentally stable and still experience this challenge.
Yeah you're only insane
In this way, one can feel like they're going crazy even when they're not.
But don't bother waking me today
I don't want to be disturbed right now.
Here I am
I'm present and accounted for.
I'm so young
I'm still early on in my journey of self-discovery and growth.
Hey I am bitter
I harbor a lot of resentment and negativity.
I've been jaded
Past experiences have caused me to become cynical and distrustful.
'Cause everyday
These negative emotions affect me on a daily basis.
I bite my tongue
I constantly suppress my true thoughts and feelings in order to avoid conflict or negative reactions from others.
If you only knew
If you could only understand what's really going on inside my head.
My mind was full of razors
My thoughts and emotions are sharp and potentially dangerous.
To cut you like a worry from this song
I could use my words to hurt you and cast you out of my life.
This is my song
This track encapsulates my personal experiences and emotions.
I live everyday
I try to make the most of each day and live without regret or hesitation.
Like they'll never be a last one
I don't take a single moment of my life for granted.
Till they're gone
Until those moments have passed and are no longer accessible.
And they're gone
Once moments have been lost, they can't be regained.
I'm stick to make me your
I'm committed to being someone you can rely on.
Your attention and your friendship
I value your time and companionship.
And your time
I want to make the most of every moment spent with you.
So you could come and get it from now on
I want to be someone you can always turn to for support and companionship.
This is my song
This is my personal journey and experience captured in a single track.
This is my song
This track encapsulates my emotions and experiences in a profound and intimate way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind