years. Regionally heʼs definitely a staple of the Texas scene, but Brandon is different.
When you hear the voice you know itʼs unmistakably him. When he comes out with a
new single you never know what youʼre going to get. Brandon Rhyder loves to take you
to the top, then jerk the rug out from under you and start the process all over again.
Brandon Rhyder doesnʼt write for a genre, but rather for the inspiration he receives.
ʻI take pride in the songs that I write and want to be able to sing many of them for years
to come. I still have a lot to learn and as life presents itself, Iʼll continue to strive to get
better,ʼ says Brandon.
Brandonʼs unerring dedication continues with the release of the Don Williamʼs cover,
“Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good,” to radio earlier this year. The song struck a chord with
audiences and climbed the charts quickly, hitting No.1 on the Texas Regional Radio
Report and maintaining its position in the Top 5 for over 9 weeks on the Texas Music
Chart. The single will be featured as a bonus studio track on Brandonʼs upcoming Live at
Billy Bobʼs Texas album, scheduled for release in late summer.
Brandon made an effort to appreciate every second of the recording experience at the
historic honky tonk. ʻIt was an achievement to have had this opportunity, and we made it
a night that none of us will ever forget,ʼ he says.
Brandon Rhyderʼs live recording at Billy Bobʼs Texas follows the success of his last
album, Head Above Water. Produced by longtime friend and mentor, Walt Wilkins, Head
Above Water is Brandonʼs sixth full-length album and is the follow-up to Every Night. He
will tell you up front that this record was a special project, one that lacked any stress in
respect to the recording of it. ʻYou put this band, this producer, this engineer, and the
passion of each song together…you have magic!ʼ
by Lynne Margolis
One Step Closer
Brandon Rhyder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My tires are all flat just like my brain
My engine?s running rough, just like my soul
Don't know how much further we can go burning this much oil
So let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs
Put the hammer down, listen to her whine
I don't know where we went wrong
I gave you the tools but you broke every single rule
Every time I turn around, I'm running back straight to you
Well, I'm broken and twisted, tired of dancing around
Pick me up, throw me down, pull me in, throw me out again
So let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs
Put the hammer down, listen to her whine
I don't know where we went wrong
But it?s one step closer to you, being gone
Tell me which way to go
'Cause if I'm going down
I want to be the first to know
So let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs
Put the hammer down, listen to her whine
I don't know where we went wrong
Yeah, let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs
Put the hammer down, listen to her whine
I don't know where we went wrong
But it?s one step closer to you, oh, it?s one step closer to you
Oh, it?s one step closer to you, being gone
Bye, bye, bye, bye, my baby
Bye, bye
The lyrics to Brandon Rhyder's song "One Step Closer" convey a sense of desperation and frustration with a relationship that seems to be going nowhere. The singer compares his broken windshield and flat tires to his broken heart and tired mind, likening the state of his car to the state of his soul. He acknowledges that they have been burning through a lot of oil and don't have much further to go. It's clear that the relationship is on the rocks and the singer suggests that they should burn all the bridges and ignore all the signs, putting the hammer down and pushing forward towards an uncertain future. He doesn't know where they went wrong, but he sees each step as getting one step closer to the end of the relationship.
The chorus of the song repeats the sentiment of burning bridges and ignoring signs, but adds a twist of wanting to be the first to know if things are going to go south. The singer seems to be aware of the doomed nature of the relationship, but still can't help running back to his partner, even though he is tired of the back and forth.
In the final chorus, the singer is saying goodbye to his "baby," acknowledging that it's time to move on from the relationship. The repetition of "bye bye" drives home the finality of the situation, but the unresolved nature of the song leaves the listener wondering about the aftermath.
Line by Line Meaning
My windshields cracked just like my heart
The singer's emotional pain is causing him to feel vulnerable and broken, just like his car's windshield.
My tires are all flat just like my brain
The singer is feeling mentally drained, like the tires on his car that can't continue moving forward.
My engine's running rough, just like my soul
The singer's soul is troubled and in need of repair, just like the engine in his car that's running rough.
Don't know how much further we can go burning this much oil
The artist is unsure how much longer he can continue pushing himself through the pain and hardships of the relationship that's causing him so much distress.
So let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs
The artist is ready to cut ties with the person causing him pain and ignore any warning signs that may come up along the way.
Put the hammer down, listen to her whine
Despite the difficulties, the singer is ready to speed up and leave the problems behind, even if it means dealing with the other person's complaints and protests along the way.
I gave you the tools but you broke every single rule
The singer gave the other person what they needed to thrive in the relationship, but they constantly disregarded and broke the rules agreed upon.
Every time I turn around, I'm running back straight to you
The artist can't seem to escape the pull of the relationship despite his efforts to move on.
Well, I'm broken and twisted, tired of dancing around
The artist is emotionally wounded and tired of pretending that everything is okay when it clearly isn't.
Pick me up, throw me down, pull me in, throw me out again
The artist feels like he's caught in a cycle of ups and downs with the other person, being pulled in and thrown out repeatedly.
Tell me which way to go, 'Cause if I'm going down, I want to be the first to know
The singer is seeking direction and clarity, wanting to be the first to know if the relationship is doomed to fail so he can prepare accordingly.
But it's one step closer to you, being gone
Despite the pain, the artist recognizes that each step is taking him closer to being free of the toxic relationship.
Yeah, let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs
The singer is reinforcing his desire to cut ties with the other person and not let any obstacles get in his way.
Bye, bye, bye, bye, my baby
The singer is saying goodbye to the other person, ready to move forward without them in his life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brandon Rhyder, Wade Bowen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind