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)
So Long Sweet Misery
Brett Dennen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need you, you've only caused me grief
Forgive me if I fall asleep
I haven't slept in centuries
Daylight lives like a burden for me
So I escape the sins strewn about the streets
Beyond the ruins of my ancestry
I rose from my moat like a ghost from a grave
Sunken in the salty eyes of the wandering into space
I was heading though the mists across the Golden Gate
All of my rebellions fall in to the falling fate
So long my misery
I don't need you, you have only caused me grief
Forgive me if I fall asleep
I haven't slept in centuries
Springtime came and Icarus fell
I flew past the numb lib nuns who never tell
The secrets of the sailors and their seven years spell
I will not fall, nor will my wings ever melt
If I could, I would wash all these wounds away
I would surround your room with a sinner mans grace
I would paint your portrait over everything mundane
More colorful than Easter Sunday
So long my misery
I don't need you, you have only caused me grief
Forgive me if I fall asleep
I haven't slept in centuries
Put me on a boat and lead my inhibitions at bay
My mind is spinning but I haven't much to say
I was running through the canyons
The echoes of your name
You were laughing at me like the sun laughs at the flames
Put me on a page in a book of beginnings
Let me scroll through old volumes of age and teachings
Let me revel all of these forgotten feelings
Lay me with the wretches in the arms of my queen
So long sweet misery
I don't need you, you've only caused me grief
Forgive me if I fall asleep
I haven't slept in centuries
So long sweet misery
I don't need you, you've only caused me grief
Forgive me if I fall asleep
I haven't slept in centuries
No, I haven't slept in centuries
I haven't slept in centuries
The song "So Long Sweet Misery" by Brett Dennen is about letting go of the past, pain, and grief. The singer is addressing his misery and telling it that he no longer needs it in his life. He apologizes for sleeping because he has not slept in a long time, probably because he has been battling with his pain, something that has been eating at him for centuries. The daylight is a burden to the singer, and he escapes sins on the streets, going beyond the ruins of his ancestry. He has five pairs of pages that showcase his disbelief and doubts.
The song shows that the singer has risen from the dead, and now he is ready to embark on a new journey. He does not want his rebellions to fall into his falling fate, which implies that he wants to make amends in his life. He refers to his misery as sweet misery, which could mean that he has found comfort in his pain but is now ready to let it go. He hopes that he can leave his pain behind and find a new beginning, free from pain and grief.
Overall, the song "So Long Sweet Misery" is about growth and moving on from pain and grief. The singer is talking to his pain, telling it that he is ready to let it go and start anew. He is tired of being burdened by his misery and wants to sleep after a long time of not sleeping.
Line by Line Meaning
So long my misery
I'm saying goodbye to my misery.
I don't need you, you've only caused me grief
My misery has only brought me grief, and I don't need it anymore.
Forgive me if I fall asleep
If I fall asleep, please forgive me. I'm exhausted.
I haven't slept in centuries
I'm emphasizing how long it's been since I've had a good night's sleep.
Daylight lives like a burden for me
I find it difficult and heavy to deal with daylight hours.
So I escape the sins strewn about the streets
I try to avoid the temptations and sins I see around me on the streets.
Beyond the ruins of my ancestry
I come from a troubled lineage and have to move on from that.
Five pairs of pages of my disbelief
My disbelief about life and its troubles is evident in every page of my journal, which has five pairs of pages.
I rose from my moat like a ghost from a grave
I emerged from my depression as if rising from a moat, like a ghost rising from a grave.
Sunken in the salty eyes of the wandering into space
My eyes, filled with sadness and tears, reflect the emptiness of space and the wandering of my thoughts.
I was heading though the mists across the Golden Gate
I was escaping my troubles by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge through the misty fog.
All of my rebellions fall in to the falling fate
All of my attempts at rebellion are fruitless and I am falling into a predetermined fate.
Springtime came and Icarus fell
The arrival of spring brings to mind the myth of Icarus, who flew too high and fell.
I flew past the numb lib nuns who never tell
I overcame the negativity of the people who never share any positive thoughts, the so-called 'numb lib nuns.'
The secrets of the sailors and their seven years spell
The sailors and their mysterious spells and secrets add to the air of mystery and intrigue.
I will not fall, nor will my wings ever melt
I am determined to not repeat the mistakes of Icarus and will not fall or fail in my endeavors.
If I could, I would wash all these wounds away
If I could, I would get rid of all my emotional pain and wounds.
I would surround your room with a sinner mans grace
I would bring a sense of beauty and grace to your otherwise sinful surroundings.
I would paint your portrait over everything mundane
I would make everything mundane go away by surrounding myself with beauty.
More colorful than Easter Sunday
My life would be much more colorful and joyful than an Easter Sunday.
Put me on a boat and lead my inhibitions at bay
Let me be free of my inhibitions and take me away on a boat.
My mind is spinning but I haven't much to say
I'm feeling overwhelmed mentally, but I don't have the words to describe it.
I was running through the canyons
I was running quickly and freely through the canyons.
The echoes of your name
I could hear your name echoing through the canyons.
You were laughing at me like the sun laughs at the flames
You were mocking me and my struggles, like the sun's heat can be a cruel reminder to a flame.
Put me on a page in a book of beginnings
Let me start anew and give me a fresh start in life.
Let me scroll through old volumes of age and teachings
Let me look back at life's lessons and teachings we often forget as we age.
Let me revel all of these forgotten feelings
Let me rediscover old feelings and experiences I once forgot.
Lay me with the wretches in the arms of my queen
Let me be in the arms of my loved one while surrounded by the less fortunate.
So long sweet misery
I'm saying goodbye to my misery, but with a hint of fondness.
No, I haven't slept in centuries
I reiterate how long it's been since I've had some good, restful sleep.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Brett Dennen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind