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)
Heaven
Brett Dennen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cloth of conviction
Above all the competition
Where fact and fiction meet
There's no color lines or casts or classes
There is no fooling the masses
Whatever faith you practice
Heaven, heaven
What the hell is heaven?
Is there a home for the homeless?
Is there hope for the hopeless?
Throw away your misconceptions
There's no walls around heaven
There's no codes you got to know to get in
No minutemen or border patrol
You must lose all your earthly possession
Leave behind your weapon
You cannot buy your salvation
There is no pot of gold
Heaven, heaven
What the hell is heaven?
Is there a home for the homeless?
Is there hope for the hopeless?
Heaven ain't got no prisons
No government no business
No banks or politicians
No armies and no police
Castles and cathedrals crumble
Pyramids and pipelines tumble
The failure keeps you humble
Leads us closer to peace
Heaven, heaven
What the hell is heaven?
Is there a home for the homeless?
Is there hope for the hopeless?
The lyrics of Brett Dennen's song "Heaven" offer a thought-provoking reflection on the concept of the afterlife, inviting listeners to move beyond the rules of religion and consider the fundamental questions about what heaven really means. In the opening lines, Dennen acknowledges the pervasive influence of religion on our beliefs about heaven, but also emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the preset convictions and delving deeper. The song goes on to explore the idea that heaven is a place beyond the boundaries of class or race, where differences are respected, and people are accepted for who they are without discrimination or judgment.
As the song progresses, Dennen's musings upend some of the traditional assumptions that people have about heaven. He argues that there are no walls or codes to get into heaven. Instead, it is a place where all worldly possessions must be left behind, and acceptance comes from within. Dennen's idea of heaven is a world where there are no social constructs such as prisons, governments, businesses or banks, no armies or police, and no divides between people. These beliefs urge us to think outside the conventional and aspire to lead a peaceful coexistence.
The lyrics of "Heaven" provide a powerful commentary on how we think about life and our search for answers beyond our material existence. The song raises important questions about compassion, tolerance, love, and acceptance, and invites us to reflect on what these things mean to us.
Line by Line Meaning
Beyond the rules of religion
Heaven is a place that exists beyond the confines and laws of organized religion.
The cloth of conviction
The belief in heaven is strong and unwavering.
Above all the competition
Heaven is beyond any earthly competition or conflict.
Where fact and fiction meet
Heaven lies at the intersection of what we know to be true and what we imagine could be true.
There's no color lines or casts or classes
Heaven is a place without distinction or discrimination based on race, caste or class.
There is no fooling the masses
The people and their beliefs are subject to no deception in heaven.
Whatever faith you practice
All faiths are respected and considered in heaven.
Whatever you believe
Heaven acknowledges and accepts any belief system.
Throw away your misconceptions
Any preconceived ideas about heaven need to be discarded.
There's no walls around heaven
Heaven is a completely open and accessible place.
There's no codes you got to know to get in
There are no specific requirements or rules to enter heaven.
No minutemen or border patrol
Unlike the physical world, heaven has no oppressive border control mechanisms.
You must lose all your earthly possession
Any material possessions or worldly attachments must be relinquished to enter heaven.
Leave behind your weapon
Instances of violence have no place in heaven.
You cannot buy your salvation
Heaven is not for sale and cannot be obtained through wealth or power.
There is no pot of gold
There are no rewards or treasures to be sought in heaven.
Heaven ain't got no prisons
There is no concept of imprisonment in heaven.
No government no business
The political and corporate entities do not exist in heaven.
No banks or politicians
Heaven is free from the greed and corruption associated with the financial and political systems.
No armies and no police
There is no place for war or force in heaven.
Castles and cathedrals crumble
Even the most impressive and powerful physical structures become obsolete in heaven.
Pyramids and pipelines tumble
All human-made constructions are of no importance or use in heaven.
The failure keeps you humble
Despite the absence of the human notion of success, the people in heaven remain humble.
Leads us closer to peace
The concept of heaven is associated with making progress towards a peaceful and harmonious world.
Heaven, heaven
Repetition of the word signifies the power and significance of the place.
What the hell is heaven?
A rhetorical question pondering over the true nature of heaven.
Is there a home for the homeless?
Wondering if the concept of heaven extends to the most marginalized and neglected people.
Is there hope for the hopeless?
Questioning if the existence of heaven gives hope to the people who feel hopeless.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BRETT DENNEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DARTH NIHILUS
I am SOOOOO glad I finally discovered this guy!
Mariah Huizar
@Nelson Presley huh
Nelson Presley
Mariah Huizar free weed ? say giday !
Mariah Huizar
And I’m so glad he’s my uncle
terry campbell
The first time I heard this song it brought tears to my eyes. That hasn't happened to me in years. This is sheer beauty, a gorgeous classic that will never die. I am so grateful to the angel who created this, and the pair of angels singing it.
Opinions MoreOpinions
Here in 2021 I am listening for the very first time, Same.
Kristopher Geschnik
this song's one of the strongest i've ever heard. *_*
Cynthia Maria Kiyonaga Suenaga
This song is so underrated! It's so so beautiful!
hot rod 218 hotrod 218
Hell i love all his music.
Sydnie Johnson
This is amazing. I have his sister as a science teacher haha