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".
Oh Dear
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody stumbles on fear
Who cares if we're scared?
Everyone is on their own
It's only you that my heart desires (only you)
Only you alone can know my pain
All alone you were sitting there
Now you can cut me free (now you can cut me free)
Forever say goodbye (forever say goodbye)
Or we'll be holding hands and go on
Together you and I forever
Heartbreaks, mistakes
Catching up to me in all the ways
I've known of hard days
And my share of lonely nights
It's only you that my heart desires
Only you alone can break my fall
I pace the floor and I wish for more
While you were dreaming with your paper dolls
Now you can cut me free (now you can cut me free)
To when it all unfolds (to when it all unfolds)
We'll be holding hands and go on
Together you and I forever
Poor dear, out here
Everybody stumbles on fear
Who cares if you're scared?
Everyone is on their own
Oh dear
In the song "Oh Dear" by Brandi Carlile, the lyrics explore the universal human experiences of fear, heartbreak, and the desire for love and companionship. The artist begins by acknowledging that everyone experiences fear in their lives, and no one is exempt from stumbling. However, despite this shared experience, each person ultimately has to face their fears alone. The lyrics then shift to express the depth of feeling the artist has for a specific person: "Only you that my heart desires / Only you alone can know my pain." This person seems to provide solace and comfort in times of uncertainty.
The lyrics continue to describe the challenges the artist has faced, including heartbreak and mistakes, but also the hope they feel in finding a partner who can "break [their] fall." The contrasting image of the artist " pacing the floor" while the other is " dreaming with your paper dolls" highlights the differences in their personalities and experiences. Nevertheless, the artist is willing to be vulnerable and let themselves be "cut free" in order to build a life together, even in the face of uncertainty.
Overall, the song paints a portrait of the human experience, acknowledging that we all face fear and hardship, but ultimately seek love and companionship as a source of comfort and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh dear, out here
The singer is expressing concern about being outside in a place where they feel vulnerable.
Everybody stumbles on fear
Fear is a common experience that everyone encounters and struggles with in their lives.
Who cares if we're scared?
The singer is questioning the idea that being scared is something to be ashamed of or that should be hidden from others.
Everyone is on their own
Despite the fact that fear is a shared experience, everyone ultimately has to face their fears on their own.
It's only you that my heart desires
The artist is expressing a deep longing for a particular person.
Only you alone can know my pain
The singer believes that the person they desire is the only one who can truly understand and empathize with their pain.
All alone you were sitting there
The person the singer desires was isolated and alone when the singer first noticed them.
Folding pages for your paper chain
The person the artist desires was engaging in a solitary and childlike activity, perhaps as a way to cope with their isolation.
Now you can cut me free
The artist is expressing a willingness to let go of their desire for the other person if that is what is necessary.
Forever say goodbye
The artist is acknowledging that letting go of their desire for the other person might be a permanent state.
Or we'll be holding hands and go on
The singer is expressing a hope that they and the person they desire can stay connected and overcome their struggles together.
Together you and I forever
The artist is expressing a desire for a deep and lasting connection with the person they desire.
Heartbreaks, mistakes
The singer is acknowledging that they have experienced pain and made errors in their life.
Catching up to me in all the ways
These past pains and mistakes continue to affect the singer in the present.
I've known of hard days
The singer has experienced difficult times in the past.
And my share of lonely nights
The artist has also experienced nights where they felt isolated and disconnected.
Only you that my heart desires
Repetition of earlier sentiment about the artist's longing for the other person.
Only you alone can break my fall
The singer sees the other person as someone who can support and catch them in times of need.
I pace the floor and I wish for more
The singer is restless and dissatisfied with their current circumstances and wants something more from life.
While you were dreaming with your paper dolls
The other person was in a childlike state, dreaming and playing rather than facing the harsh realities of life.
Now you can cut me free
Repetition of earlier sentiment about the artist's willingness to let go of their desire for the other person if necessary.
To when it all unfolds
The artist is looking forward to a time when their situation will become clearer or easier to understand.
We'll be holding hands and go on
Repetition of earlier sentiment about the singer's hope for a deep and lasting connection with the other person.
Together you and I forever
Repetition of earlier sentiment about the artist's desire for a deep and lasting connection with the other person.
Poor dear out here
The singer is expressing compassion for themselves or for others who are in a difficult or vulnerable situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile, Phillip John Hanseroth, Timothy Jay Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind