2007 Highlights:
Finalist "A Prairie Home Companion" People In Their Twenties Talent Contest
2007 New Artist of the Year - WUMB 91.9FM Boston
Nominee, 2007 Boston Music Awards "Local Male Vocalist of the Year"
Grand Prize Winner WMVY radio "Fresh Produce" Sampler
Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Finalist Mountain Stage "New Song" Contest
Summer Concert appearances for ABC-TV "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", and Farm Aid 2007
"As a music fan, I live for those moments when I hear a performer for the first time and detect unmistakable magic. It happened with Shawn Colvin in 1989 and Patty Griffin in 1996. Last summer, O’Brien caught my ear he’’s an uncommonly talented lyricist, with a voice that feels comfortable and familiar at first listen."
-Michael Witthaus Eagle Times, Springfield, VT
"Lighthouse is full of beauty, optimism and, well, light."
-Performing Songwriter Magazine
Chris O’Brien’s debut CD, "Lighthouse", produced by O’Brien, Austin Nevins and Ethan Baird, was recorded at Glowdog studios in Georgetown, MA. It features some of the finest musicians in the Boston area. Guitarist Austin Nevins (Deb Talen, Edie Carey), Zack Hickman (Josh Ritter) on Bass, John Sands (Aimee Mann, Lori McKenna) on Drums, Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter) on piano and keyboards and Singer/Songwriters Antje Duvekot and Frank Marotta Jr providing backing vocals, bring this record to life and fully expose the depth of O’Brien’s songwriting.
Visit Chris’ website www.chrisobrienmusic.com for information on upcoming Performances and the latest news.
Hey Love
Chris O'Brien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I did not choose you
But you came to me anyway
So many words hold me down to the ground
But my thoughts move full speed ahead
Hey love
Once again you played me for a fool
Scattered dreams and expectations
We both knew were childish from the start
Hey I am on my way
And I am running hard but here it comes again
And oh this is my last hope
And I try to rise but you keep me back down again
Again
Hey love
You left as quickly as you come
Out the backend with all our plans
So dream on you silent fools of misfortune
It's time we get up and we make some noise
Hey I am on my way
And I am running hard but here it comes again
And oh this is my last hope
And I try to rise but you keep me back down again
Oh I try to rise but you keep me back down again
Hey love
Well I did not choose you
But you came to me anyway
The song Hey Love by Chris O'Brien explores the complicated emotions that come with a tumultuous relationship. The song starts off with the singer acknowledging the fact that he did not choose this love, yet it came to him anyway. He feels weighed down by the plethora of emotions that come with it, yet his thoughts are moving at full speed ahead. The chorus speaks of how love has played him for a fool once again, broken his heart, and shattered his dreams and expectations that were naive from the start. The singer expresses his resolve to escape this destructive cycle of love, yet every attempt he makes to rise above it is met with the force of love that keeps him back down again.
The first verse of the song is quite reflective and introspective, indicating a sense of resignation towards this love that he did not actively choose. However, the chorus reveals the anger and frustration that comes from being hurt and misled by this love once again. The song ends on a note of hope and defiance, with the singer claiming that it's time to make some noise and move on from the silent acceptance of love's misfortunes.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey love
Addressing the personified concept of love
Well I did not choose you
The singer didn't actively choose to fall in love with someone
But you came to me anyway
However, love happened to find the singer despite their lack of effort
So many words hold me down to the ground
The weight of words or emotions is heavy and stifling for the artist
But my thoughts move full speed ahead
Despite feeling weighed down, the artist's thoughts are constantly racing forward
Once again you played me for a fool
Love has hurt the singer before, and they feel foolish for letting it happen again
You broke my heart when you came along
The singer's heart was broken by the person they fell in love with
Scattered dreams and expectations
The artist had hopes and expectations for the relationship that were ultimately dashed
We both knew were childish from the start
Both parties involved in the relationship knew that their initial hopes and expectations were unrealistic or immature
You left as quickly as you come
The artist's love interest left just as suddenly as they appeared
Out the backend with all our plans
Their plans for the future were discarded or rendered useless with the end of the relationship
So dream on you silent fools of misfortune
The artist is telling those who let love pass them by to continue dreaming despite the hardships that come with it
It's time we get up and we make some noise
It's time for the singer to move on and take action towards their goals
Hey I am on my way
The singer is moving forward and progressing
And I am running hard but here it comes again
Despite their efforts to move on, love keeps finding its way back to the singer
And oh this is my last hope
The artist feels like their current chance at love is their final opportunity
And I try to rise but you keep me back down again
Love keeps holding the artist back, preventing them from fully moving on
Oh I try to rise but you keep me back down again
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.