Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter whose music is ma… Read Full Bio ↴Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter whose music is marked by complex harmonies and poignant lyrics. Her career began while she was a student at Amherst College in the early 1980s when she and fellow student Jennifer Kimball formed Jonatha & Jennifer, releasing one tape under that name before renaming themselves to The Story (their tracks often had interesting back-stories, which they would share when playing live). They released two albums - Grace in Gravity (1991) and The Angel in the House (1993). Both featured close harmonies - you'd swear at times that a third voice emerges, and some tracks include a dissonance not often found in folk rock/pop.

After The Story broke up in 1994 Brooke went solo, first as Jonatha Brooke & The Story and then simply under her own name. Her first album, Plumb (1995) was followed by 10 Cent Wings (1997) and a harder-rocking album, Steady Pull (2001). In February of 2004 she released Back in the Circus, which marked a first collaboration with songwriter Eric Bazilian (from The Hooters), and a few creative covers. Back in the Circus was released in April 2005 in the UK combining tracks from Back in the Circus and Steady Pull.

2007 saw the release of Careful What You Wish For, on which she continued the collaborations, not only with Eric Bazilian, but also JC Chasez, Nick Lachey and Sally Dworsky (to whom she dedicated "Sally" on Back in the Circus). Her 2008 effort, The Works was a sort of collaborative effort with Woody Guthrie, returning to her folk roots by imbuing Guthrie's words with her own musical style, resulting in a whole that is infinitely greater than the sum of its parts.

She's also contributed to soundtracks (e.g. I'll Try and other tracks on Peter Pan: Return to Neverland), and released Emmanuel (a track that she and Kevin Gilbert were working on when he died), and has her own record label Bad Dog (presumably a reference to Dog Dreams).

Visit her website for current tour information.

www.jonathabrooke.com

Glass Half Empty
Jonatha Brooke Lyrics

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I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty,
Even though you got your share,

Kevin you remind me dot the i's don't drop the names of those who've Come before
Ear down to the ground don't compromise don't close your eyes until you
Get what you came looking for

Kevin you remind me don't look back, don't second guess

Have another go, have another drink, cause it won't be long
But I look down at my hands and see the violence, so I toss it back,
It's such a fine line between right and wrong

And when you've made your mark, they'll take you down
And when you've had enough -- that's when they'll come around
(Waiting at the pearly gates)

I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty
Even though you got your share

Day strains into day like so much water through the tea leaves
What a shame
And there's another call that's not for you
And Kevin there was a reason in the madness, there's a reason in these Lines and
Rhymes, a reason in the curve of time.

I say you made your mark, but you took yourself down
And I hope you got enough, 'cause we're still around
(trying til we get it right)

I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty
Even though you got your share

I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty
Even though you got your share....

Overall Meaning

The song "Glass Half Empty" by Jonatha Brooke is a melancholic reflection on the fleeting nature of success and the price one pays for achieving it. The opening lyrics speak to the paradoxical situation of someone who is happy with their achievements yet remains perpetually dissatisfied. The metaphor of the glass half-empty represents a person with a negative outlook on life regardless of what they have achieved.

The verses also contain two references to a "Kevin," who appears to be a mentor or friend offering advice on how to navigate the music industry. Kevin urges the singer to keep their eyes open and not compromise, reminding them of the violence that can lurk just beneath the surface. The line "It's such a fine line between right and wrong" could refer to the moral dilemmas that arise when pursuing fame and success.

The chorus repeats the hopeful wish that the subject of the song is content with what they have, despite the cost. The final verse acknowledges the passing of time and the missed opportunities that come with it. The lines "Day strains into day like so much water through the tea leaves / What a shame" suggest a sense of regret.

Overall, the song feels like a warning not to become too consumed with achieving success and to be aware of its inevitable consequences. It urges listeners to be mindful of the price and to find satisfaction in what they do have, rather than in what they don't.

Line by Line Meaning

I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty,
I wish you contentment even though you view life negatively and seem dissatisfied despite having what you need.

Even though you got your share,
Despite having received your portion of what life offers.

Kevin you remind me dot the i's don't drop the names of those who've Come before Ear down to the ground don't compromise don't close your eyes until you Get what you came looking for
Kevin, you remind me to pay attention to details, don't forget the important people who paved the way before you, stay aware and true to your values and keep searching until you find what you want.

Kevin you remind me don't look back, don't second guess Have another go, have another drink, cause it won't be long But I look down at my hands and see the violence, so I toss it back, It's such a fine line between right and wrong
Kevin, you remind me to move forward without regret or doubt, enjoy the fleeting moments because life is short, but I'm haunted by my own mistakes and struggle to find the balance between what's right and wrong.

And when you've made your mark, they'll take you down And when you've had enough -- that's when they'll come around (Waiting at the pearly gates)
People will try to bring you down when you succeed, and when you're at your breaking point, they'll come back around expecting something from you.

Day strains into day like so much water through the tea leaves What a shame And there's another call that's not for you And Kevin there was a reason in the madness, there's a reason in these Lines and Rhymes, a reason in the curve of time.
Time passes relentlessly, and opportunities slip away like leaves in a teapot, making me feel sad. Another missed opportunity arises, but Kevin, there is a reason for everything, even the chaos and the pattern in the unceasing movement of time.

I say you made your mark, but you took yourself down And I hope you got enough, 'cause we're still around (trying til we get it right)
Though you achieved something significant, you brought yourself down, and I hope you're satisfied with what you got because we're still here working to achieve our goals.

I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty Even though you got your share
Again, expressing the hope that you find happiness despite your negative outlook, even though you've received what you need from life.

I hope you're happy, I hope you're happy with your glass half empty Even though you got your share...
Repeating the sentiment that though you have what you need, I wish you well in finding contentment despite your negative perspective.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHA BROOKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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