“Ellis Paul is one of Boston’s best-ever songwriting exports...” – The Boston Globe. The Day After Everything Changed, the 2010 album from singer- songwriter Ellis Paul, was released on Ellis’ label, Black Wolf Records. Since emerging from the Boston music scene, Paul’s music has been consistently recognized and celebrated worldwide. The new record reinforces this acclaim and is sure to cement his place as one of America’s most talented songwriters.
Recorded in Nashville, the 15-song album was produced by Thad Beaty and Jason Collum and features five songs co-written by Paul’s longtime friend and collaborator, Kristian Bush, founder of the Grammy Award winning band Sugarland. Several of the Sugarland musicians served as Ellis’ backing band for the recording. Throughout 2011, to keep the collaboration alive, Paul will continue to open numerous sold-out arena dates for Sugarland on the current Incredible Machine Tour.
“Ellis has a voice that is so powerful that you know who it is the second he comes through your radio. His music and songs are a new birth in American sound that makes me want to go see concerts again.” -Kristian Bush / Sugarland
“The Day After Everything Changed” is Paul’s first studio album in five years and his 16th release to date. The project was 100% funded by his loyal fan base. The songs on the record reflect Paul’s commitment to storytelling, exemplified in the title track “The Day After Everything Changed.” Described by Paul himself, the songs on the album are about people who are at a crossroads in their life. “I like songs to be cultural events, little ones, that somehow tell me what it feels like to be living here on this planet, in this country, at this time. I want to hear about people’s joys and woes and apply them to my own. You can’t fake real life stories. When you’re faking it --it’s obvious. As long as the writing feels real -- it works in any genre.”
Movie director Peter Farrelly, of the Farrelly Brothers, praises Ellis Paul as “a national treasure”. Ellis’ songs have appeared in the soundtracks for three Farrelly Bothers movies, “Me Myself & Irene” with Jim Carey, “Shallow Hal” with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow, and in February 2011, the Farrelly Brothers latest project, "Hall Pass" starring Owen Wilson and Alyssa Milano will showcase up to 9 musical tracks off of Ellis' latest album The Day After Everything Changed as the score of this hit movie. This is Ellis’ third Hollywood blockbuster credit.
With “The Day After Everything Changed” we're struck more by the fact that Paul is still playing at the top of his game to such an extraordinary degree. It is, as always, the quality not the quantity but in this case we're rewarded with both. / Direct Current
Ellis celebrated his 20th anniversary of being a touring musician on July 2010 when the Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, declared July 9th 2010 “Ellis Paul Day” to honor one of Boston’s leading musical exports. Ellis will be anointing his 2 decades of song during his “20th Anniversary Tour” throughout 2011. Over the past two decades Paul has garnered numerous honors including 14 Boston Music Awards, second only to Aerosmith. He has performed with countless acclaimed musicians, including Patty Griffin, John Mayer, Ani Difranco, John Prine, Sugarland, and at the request of Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie and after several trips to the Woody Guthrie archives, Ellis even has a co-write with Woody, their song “God’s Promise”.
Woody Guthrie’s daughter Nora says of Ellis, “A singer songwriter is only as good as the times he reflects. Wise, tender, brilliant and biting, Ellis is one of our best human compasses, marking in melodies and poems where we’ve been and where we might go if we so choose to. Personally Ellis, I’m goin’ where you’re goin’!”
Don't Breathe
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're both fifteen years old.
Your parents are sleeping upstairs in their bedroom,
The house is quiet, but cold.
Did I tell you then?
These are moments whole lifetimes are built on.
You're my best friend,
Don't breathe out loud
It's like breaking glass,
And the walls must hold the moments fast
Picture my face in the space of your garage.
We're still fifteen years old.
Naked in blankets,
The angels would thank us
If they knew how the future was told.
Did I tell you then?
These are moments whole lifetimes are built on.
You're my best friend
And now we're skin to skin
Only sweat runs between us.
Don't breathe out loud
Don't breathe out loud
Don't breathe
Hold these pieces, pictures in tatters.
Fade the colors, still a fortune to hold.
Picture my face in frame in a picture
Of when we were fifteen years old.
Fumbling for answers,
Two out of step dancers
Content in darkness to hold.
Did I tell you then?
These are moments my whole life is built on.
You're my best friend.
Did I tell you then?
Did I tell you then?
Did I tell you?
Ellis Paul's song "Don't Breathe" revolves around the idea of treasuring and preserving the moments that define us as individuals. The first verse describes an intimate moment shared by two young lovers, who are both 15 years old, overwhelmed by the possibility of what is to come. They share an understanding, a connection, and a secret that propels them into something almost otherworldly. The walls of silence and secrecy are essential to holding onto these moments in time, and breaking them would be like shattering the moment.
The second verse delves deeper into the storybook idea of how these moments persist and remain a vital part of what makes us human. Time may pass, and people may grow apart, but these moments remain forever in our hearts and minds like pictures in a photo album. The couple is still only 15 years old, but now they are naked and wrapped up in a blanket in a garage. They are content with the present and are oblivious to what the future holds.
In the final verse, the singer reflects back on those moments, now faded and in tatters, but still valuable and priceless. The two lovers, fumbling for answers and hoping for a future, remain two out of step dancers content in darkness to hold onto what they’ve shared. The song concludes with the singer reaffirming the importance of those moments and how they have shaped his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Picture my face at your kitchen table,
Imagine my face being present at your kitchen table
We're both fifteen years old.
We were both fifteen years old at that time
Your parents are sleeping upstairs in their bedroom,
Your parents were sleeping in their bedroom upstairs
The house is quiet, but cold.
The house had a peaceful atmosphere, but it was cold
Did I tell you then?
Did I mention it to you at that time?
These are moments whole lifetimes are built on.
Those were the times that are responsible for building whole lifetimes
You're my best friend,
You are my closest and dearest friend
And if it's tonight will these walls hold our secret?
If we reveal our secret tonight, will these walls keep it hidden?
Don't breathe out loud
Don't exhale loudly
It's like breaking glass,
It's as if we're making a loud noise that can be heard like glass breaking
And the walls must hold the moments fast
The walls must keep the moments secret firmly
Picture my face in the space of your garage.
Imagine my face in your garage
We're still fifteen years old.
Even at that time, we were still fifteen years old
Naked in blankets,
We were covered only with blankets, naked
The angels would thank us
The angels would be grateful to us
If they knew how the future was told.
If they knew what was to come in the future
Hold these pieces, pictures in tatters.
Hold onto these pieces and pictures that are in worn and torn condition
Fade the colors, still a fortune to hold.
Even though their colors have faded, they are still a prized possession
Picture my face in frame in a picture of when we were fifteen years old.
Imagine my face framed in a picture from when we were fifteen
Fumbling for answers,
Struggling and stumbling to find answers
Two out of step dancers
Two dancers who are out of sync
Content in darkness to hold.
Holding each other in the dark, even though it's not ideal
Did I tell you then?
Did I mention it to you then?
These are moments my whole life is built on.
These are the moments that my entire life is built around
You're my best friend.
You are my closest and dearest friend
Did I tell you then?
Did I mention it to you then?
Did I tell you then?
Did I mention it to you then?
Did I tell you?
Did I mention it to you?
Lyrics © ELLIS PAUL PUBLISHING
Written by: ELLIS PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind