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.
Lighthouse
Chris O'Brien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are a lighthouse, baby
You will burn out, someday
You gave me love
Never hope
I am a raging fire
You are smoke
My eyes
My eyes
Good bye
Good bye
Good bye
You gave me reasons
Reasons to doubt myself
Reasons to hold on
Reasons to stick it out
This is the last time
I'm gonna call you
When I've been drinkin', it's the last time I'm gonna say
How I tried
I tried
I tried
So good bye
Good bye
Good bye
It's my own fault
Got no right
To fall apart, to fall apart
Just like I have been thinking
With my lonely little drunk, my lonely little drunk heart
(Humming)
You are oceans, oceans away
You are a lighthouse, baby, you will burn out someday
So go on and move on
Go on and act all strong
Go ahead and fall for the next ship that comes along
I'll be fine
I'm fine
I'm fine
Good bye
Good bye
Good bye
I tried
I tried
I tried
Good bye
Good bye
Good bye
Good bye
Good bye
Good bye
The lyrics of Chris O'Brien's song Lighthouse metaphorically describe the end of a relationship. The persona sings to his lover who is oceans away, calling them a 'lighthouse' that will ultimately burn out someday. The lover gave him love, but in retrospect, it was never enough to fill his desires. The persona's feelings of inadequacy are apparent when he sings, "you gave me reasons to doubt myself, reasons to hold on, reasons to stick it out." Despite his best efforts to make it work, he ultimately recognizes that it is time to say goodbye, "this is the last time I'm gonna call you when I've been drinking."
The repeated phrase "goodbye" throughout the song, coupled with the humming at the end, reinforces the strong sense of finality that characterizes the end of the relationship. The persona recognizes that it is his own fault, and he has no right to fall apart, but the loneliness and pain of separation have left him feeling shattered. The song's overall theme is one of letting go and moving forward, even though it is challenging.
Line by Line Meaning
You are oceans, oceans away
You are far away from me
You are a lighthouse, baby
You were always there for me when I needed guidance
You will burn out, someday
You won't be there for me forever
You gave me love
You loved me deeply
Never hope
But now there's no hope left for us
I am a raging fire
I am full of passion and intensity
You are smoke
But you are slowly disappearing from my life
My eyes
I'm looking at you
Good bye
But now it's time to say farewell
You gave me reasons
You gave me reasons to doubt myself and question why we were together
Reasons to hold on
But you also gave me reasons to stick it out and fight for us
This is the last time
I'm tired of this cycle
I'm gonna call you
I won't be reaching out to you again
When I've been drinkin', it's the last time I'm gonna say
Even when I'm drunk, I won't be telling you I miss you anymore
How I tried
I did everything I could to make us work
So good bye
But now it's time to say goodbye for good
It's my own fault
I take full responsibility for the downfall of our relationship
Got no right
I have no right to fall apart
To fall apart, to fall apart
Even though it hurts, I can't let this break me
Just like I have been thinking
As I suspected
With my lonely little drunk, my lonely little drunk heart
I'm feeling a lot of pain and loneliness
You are oceans, oceans away
No matter how much I wish for your presence, you're still far away
So go on and move on
It's time for you to move on
Go on and act all strong
And act like you don't need me anymore
Go ahead and fall for the next ship that comes along
It's time for you to open yourself up to new possibilities
I'll be fine
As for me, I'll pick up the pieces and move on
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.