In 2004, Dennen released his first self-titled album, Brett Dennen. His second album was So Much More, which includes the singles "Ain't No Reason", "She's Mine", and "Darlin' Do Not Fear". A few songs charted as iTunes top downloads in the days following the album's release in November 2006. [1] Dennen also contributed a cover of "Private Life" to the 2006 tribute album Drink To Bones That Turn To Dust: A Toast To Oingo Boingo.
Dennen's music has been featured in several television shows, including"Roadtrip Nation" on PBS, Grey's Anatomy, the House episode "Family", The Unit episode "Freefall", and the Scrubs episode "My No Good Reason". In addition to television series, Dennen's music has also been used in national advertising campaigns for companies such as Hilton Hotels.
He has toured extensively across the U.S. with his band (including drummer Randy Schwartz), supporting such musicians as John Mayer and guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. As of fall 2007, he is currently touring with Guster and singer-songwriters Meiko and Joshua James.
Dennen has been a part of The Mosaic Project, San Francisco Bay Area based nonprofit, since its inception. The Mosaic Project works towards a peaceful future by uniting young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace. As The Mosaic Project's Resident Rock Star, Dennen created an original musical curriculum for the program, which they released as an album called Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World, in 2003. It won a Children's Music Web 2004 Award and a Parent's Choice 2004 Approved Award.
In November, 2007, Dennen was named as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's "10 Artists To Watch."
Discography
* Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World (2003)
* Brett Dennen (2004)
* So Much More (2006)
* Hope for the Hopeless (2008)
Closer To You
Brett Dennen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Played around but not for keeps
I never been knocked off my feet
Till you came along
In the room surrounding me
Are angels I cannot see
I know they come to carry me to
Where I belong
Closer to you, closer to you
I'm singing like a sailor strutting up your avenue
Like a clown in a costume shop
With a pocket full of jewels
All the knocks upon your door
Footsteps fallen on your floor
All the shipwrecks on your shore
Mean nothing to me
All the crooks on Capitol Hill
Criminals on the dollar bills
All the money on Wall Street still
Couldn't keep me from getting
Closer to you. Closer to you
Like a priest on a pulpit preaching to an empty room
Like a drunk in a dive bar in the early afternoon
Closer to you.
Poets could not pronounce your name
Gamblers couldn't play the game
Matchstick statues set to flame
Couldn't hold a candle to you
Swindlers on the Sunset strip
Hypnotists and hypocrites
Ventriloquists and Pickpockets
Wish that they could get
Well I've tasted love so sweet
Played around but not for keeps
I never been knocked off my feet till you came along
I sit through the trickery
The jealousy and vanity
The potency of your prophesy
Because I long to be
Closer to you. Closer to you
Like a hound dog in a junkyard honey
I'm howling at the moon
Like a Pirate in a pawnshop with a pocket full of jewels
Closer to you [Repeat: x3]
I'll get through
Oh baby I'll get through
Closer to you
In "Closer to You," Brett Dennen describes how he is willing to go to great lengths and overcome various obstacles just to be closer to the person he loves. He talks about how he has never experienced such a deep connection with someone until he met this person. He feels like he has a purpose, a sense of belonging, and a direction because of them. Even though he accepts the world's vices and temptations, he knows that nothing could keep him from being closer to the one he loves. Brett Dennen makes various allusions to present-day issues such as politics, economy, and social unrest. Despite these crucial problems, he believes that all that he's been searching for in life is finding solace in love and being closer to his beloved. The chorus creates an image of Brett as someone who is constantly on the move, but love is the only thing that pulls him back and closer to his partner.
The lyrics represent a quest for true love, something that goes beyond materialism, status, and societal pressures. The song articulates the longing and desire of experiencing love in its purest form, and the sacrifices that come with it. It is a love letter to a soulmate that echoes Brett's willingness to overcome anything that comes in the way of being with them. Additionally, through the lyrics, the artist encourages the listener to find that kind of companionship that makes them complete, search for connection, and not settle for anything less.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've tasted love so sweet
I have experienced love in the past that was enjoyable
Played around but not for keeps
I have had relationships in the past that were not serious
I never been knocked off my feet
I have not been completely infatuated with someone before
Till you came along
Until I met you
In the room surrounding me
I am currently in a space with an unknown atmosphere
Are angels I cannot see
There are entities present that have a positive influence on me
I know they come to carry me to
I believe they are guiding me towards
Where I belong
The place where I feel most comfortable and content
Closer to you, closer to you
My desire is to be close to you
I'm singing like a sailor strutting up your avenue
I am expressing my feelings and displaying confidence in my approach
Like a clown in a costume shop
I am dressed to impress and maybe slightly comical
With a pocket full of jewels
I have valuable offerings to give
All the knocks upon your door
Challenges that come your way
Footsteps fallen on your floor
People who have been in your life and left their mark
All the shipwrecks on your shore
Past events that may have caused damage or pain
Mean nothing to me
Those things are insignificant compared to my desire to be close to you
All the crooks on Capitol Hill
Politicians who may be corrupt
Criminals on the dollar bills
People who are historically associated with making money illegally
All the money on Wall Street still
Even with all the wealth in the world
Couldn't keep me from getting
I am determined to reach my goal of being closer to you
Like a priest on a pulpit preaching to an empty room
I am speaking earnestly to you, regardless of whether or not you are listening
Like a drunk in a dive bar in the early afternoon
I am expressing my feelings in a setting that may not be ideal
Closer to you.
My ultimate goal is to be close to you
Poets could not pronounce your name
You are so unique and special that even great wordsmiths could not adequately describe you
Gamblers couldn't play the game
Even those who are good at taking risks could not successfully navigate your complexities
Matchstick statues set to flame
Even the most fragile things would not be able to withstand your power
Couldn't hold a candle to you
All of these things pale in comparison to your significance
Swindlers on the Sunset strip
People who are good at deception and trickery
Hypnotists and hypocrites
Those who are able to influence others without being genuine themselves
Ventriloquists and Pickpockets
Those who have the ability to manipulate people
Wish that they could get
These people would like to be able to be close to you as well
I sit through the trickery
I am willing to endure deception or manipulation in order to be closer to you
The jealousy and vanity
I am willing to withstand emotions like envy and self-importance in order to be close to you
The potency of your prophesy
I believe in and am affected by the things you say about my future
Because I long to be
I desire with all my being to be close to you
I'll get through
I will persevere and make it through any obstacles
Oh baby I'll get through
I promise to overcome anything that stands between us and being closer to each other
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BRETT DENNEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeannie3500
This song is genius. It's perfect!
@aidensnyder3708
Brett Dennen is one of my favorite musicians.
@pinksparkle258
Like a drunk in a dive bar in the early afternoon...pure poetry!!
Clink ๐ป
@aumkar2
Brett Dennen is a true genius.
@bernardo13311
Muito bom!!!
@rafaelnegrin4844
Muy bien me alegro de escuchar estas mรบsica.
@reujack
The best
@LotteResortWaterPark
๋ ธ๋ ๊ฐ์ข์๋ฐ ์ ๋จ์ง๋ชปํ ๊น ใ
@LotteResortWaterPark
์ด์ ๋๋ง ์๊ณ ์ถ์ ๊ณก์ด ๋๋ค
@anonymousconflict2881
Brett is slept on so hard ๐ iykyk