Baker's stark and soulful music is said to evoke names like Bon Iver, Daughter, and Natalie Prass. Her first album, Sprained Ankle, was released in 2015, followed by the 2017 release of Turn Out The Lights. Her third album, Little Oblivions, was released in 2021.
Baker honed her music skills while playing in her high school band, Forrister, with whom she continued to perform while attending college. After writing a batch of songs that didn't seem to fit the group's more rock-oriented vibe, Baker headed to Matthew E. White's Spacebomb Studios in Richmond, Virginia to begin recording what would eventually become her solo debut, 2015's Sprained Ankle. Originally released by Smith 7 in 2014, it was reissued by 6131 Records in 2015, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and led to an invitation to join the Matador Records roster. With a more expansive sound and equally intimate lyrics, the self-produced follow-up, 2017's Turn Out the Lights, was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis. It landed on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 78.
She then joined fellow indie singer/songwriters Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus in the trio Boygenius. Together they issued their eponymous EP in late 2018, also on Matador. Bridgers and Dacus appear on the track, "Favor," from Baker's third solo set, 2021's Little Oblivions that was self-produced and recorded in Memphis.
In 2023, boygenius announced their reformation and their upcoming debut album, ‘the record,’ which Baker and the band wrote and co-produced.
Good News
Julien Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My biggest fear and a slow watch
The thin air, my ribs creak
Like wooden dining chairs when you see me
Always scared
That every situation ends the same
With the blank stare me in the tap water
Because it's heavy
I'm trying really hard
To keep my nose clean
The blue out of my arms
But it's not easy
It's not easy
When what you think of me is important
And I know it shouldn't be so damn important
But it is to me
And I'm only ever screaming at myself in public
I know I shouldn't act this way in public
I know I shouldn't make my friends all worry
When I go out at night and grind my teeth like sutures
My mouth like a wound
When I stay up and throw my voice about you
Or less about you and more about how I ruined
Everything I think could be good news
The lyrics to Julien Baker's song Good News depict a person who is struggling with their own insecurities and trying hard to keep up appearances for others. The first verse describes the physical reactions that this person experiences when interacting with another, highlighting their fears and anxieties. The line "Always scared that every situation ends the same" suggests a possible pattern of negative experiences leading to a sense of hopelessness. The repetition of the line "It's not easy" emphasizes that this person is aware of the difficulty of their situation but cannot seem to change it.
The second verse reveals that the singer's perception of what others think of them is a significant source of stress. Despite knowing that their own opinion of themselves should be more important, they cannot help but feel that external validation is crucial. This is evidenced by the line "And I'm only ever screaming at myself in public", hinting that this person may be using external expressions of frustration to mask internal struggles. The song culminates with a confession of past mistakes and a sense of despair regarding opportunities for a better outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Your long hair, a short walk
Your physical appearance and actions gingerly displayed are as captivating as they are intimidating.
My biggest fear and a slow watch
My anxiety and nervousness can be made worse when trying to play it cool and calm.
The thin air, my ribs creak
The high altitude and stress can make it hard to breathe, making my anxiety feel even more suffocating.
Like wooden dining chairs when you see me
My nerves make me feel uneasy and uncomfortable, like sitting on a rickety chair that can give out at any moment.
Always scared
My fears and anxieties never leave me, always hovering in the back of my mind.
That every situation ends the same
I can't seem to shake off the feeling that every moment ends in disappointment or disaster, no matter how hard I try to avoid it.
With the blank stare me in the tap water
Seeing my reflection in water is a constant reminder of how I feel - empty and hollow, with nothing staring back at me.
Circling the sink drain
Watching my reflection go down the drain mirrors the feeling of my life slipping away from me.
Because it's heavy
The burden of my struggles is almost too much to bear.
I'm trying really hard
Despite the weight on my shoulders, I'm doing everything in my power to stay afloat and keep moving forward.
To keep my nose clean
I'm trying to avoid any actions or behaviors that could make the situation worse or put me in danger.
The blue out of my arms
I'm trying to overcome my struggles with addiction and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
But it's not easy
Despite my best efforts, things are still difficult and challenging.
When what you think of me is important
The opinions of others weigh heavily on me, especially those of people I care about and admire.
And I know it shouldn't be so damn important
I'm aware that I shouldn't rely on others for validation or let their opinions control me, but it's easier said than done.
But it is to me
Because of my struggles with self-esteem and self-worth, the opinions of others hold a lot of weight for me.
And I'm only ever screaming at myself in public
My inner turmoil and self-doubt can manifest in outward displays of frustration and self-directed anger, even in front of others.
I know I shouldn't act this way in public
I'm aware that my behavior can be inappropriate or alarming to others, especially in a public setting, but it's hard to control.
I know I shouldn't make my friends all worry
I don't want to burden others with my problems or cause them undue concern, but it's hard to hide my struggles.
When I go out at night and grind my teeth like sutures
My anxiety and nervousness can show physically, such as clenching my jaw or grinding my teeth, making me feel sewn up or tied together.
My mouth like a wound
The way I speak or express myself can feel raw or painful, like an exposed wound.
When I stay up and throw my voice about you
I can't seem to escape my thoughts and feelings about a certain person or situation, and I obsess over them, even when I know I shouldn't.
Or less about you and more about how I ruined
My thoughts can spiral and become self-critical and self-blaming, leading me to believe that I'm the cause of my problems and struggles.
Everything I think could be good news
Even when good things happen, I struggle to see them as positive or feel happiness or relief.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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