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.
Rejoice
Julien Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking around, jumping the train tracks
It's over the fence, veins all black
Sleep on a bench in the park on my birthday
Call the blue lights
Cursed your name
When I find I'm still awake
I'll throw it away
I wish I could quit but I can't stand the shakes
Choking smoke, singing your praise
But I think there's a god and he hears either way
I rejoice, and complain
I never know what to say
But I think there's a god and he hears either way
And I rejoice, and complain
Lift my voice, that I was made
Somebody's listening at night
The ghosts of my price when I pray
Asking, "why did you let them leave
And then make me stay?"
Know my name and all of my hideous mistakes
I rejoice, I rejoice
I rejoice, I rejoice
In Julien Baker's song "Rejoice", the lyrics appear to reflect the struggles of addiction and the internal conflict that comes with trying to overcome it. The opening lines describe walking around aimlessly with friends, trying to escape reality and cope with their pain, which suggests that they are trying to numb themselves from the world that surrounds them. The line "give me everything good, I'll throw it away" hints at an attitude of self-sabotage, where the singer is unable to hold on to the good things in their life and is instead drawn to destructive behavior.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of spiritual conflict, as the singer expresses resentment towards a higher power but still seemingly seeks solace in prayer. The line "I think there's a god and he hears either way" suggests a belief in a higher power even though it appears that the singer is struggling with the concept. This dichotomy continues throughout the song, as the singer shifts between complaining and rejoicing, unsure what to say or do.
The closing lines, "know my name and all of my hideous mistakes, I rejoice, I rejoice" hint at the possibility of redemption and forgiveness, but also suggest a greater sense of self-awareness and acceptance of one's imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
All of my friends, a plastic bag
I don't have any real friends, they're like disposable plastic baggies
Walking around, jumping the train tracks
I'm aimlessly wandering and doing dangerous things like hopping trains, trying to escape from my thoughts
It's over the fence, veins all black
I'm addicted to drugs and the darkness is overwhelming
Sleep on a bench in the park on my birthday
I have nowhere to go and no one to celebrate my birthday with except for a lonely park bench
Call the blue lights
I want to reach out for help from the police, but I don't know how
Cursed your name
I'm feeling resentful towards someone
When I find I'm still awake
I can't sleep, my mind is racing
Give me everything good
I want all the good things in life, but I feel like I'll just waste them
I'll throw it away
I have a tendency to self-destruct and sabotage my own happiness
I wish I could quit but I can't stand the shakes
I know I need to quit my addiction, but the withdrawal symptoms are too painful to bear
Choking smoke, singing your praise
I'm harming myself with drugs while also thinking about someone I admire
But I think there's a god and he hears either way
I have faith in God and believe that He is listening to me, even when I'm at my darkest
I rejoice, and complain
I have conflicting emotions and don't know how to articulate them
I never know what to say
I struggle with expressing myself and communicating my feelings
Lift my voice, that I was made
I want to use my voice to celebrate the gift of life and existence
Somebody's listening at night
I believe that someone, whether it's God or another higher power, is listening to me when I'm alone and vulnerable
The ghosts of my price when I pray
When I pray, I'm haunted by the memories of my past mistakes and their consequences
Asking, 'why did you let them leave
I'm questioning God's plan and why some people leave my life while I'm still here struggling
And then make me stay?'
I'm feeling the weight of my struggles and wondering why I'm still alive
Know my name and all of my hideous mistakes
God knows me and all of my flaws and sins, and yet He still loves me
I rejoice, I rejoice
Despite my struggles and pain, I find reasons to celebrate and be grateful
I rejoice, I rejoice
Even though life is hard, I choose to find joy wherever I can
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Julien Baker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Warlock™
REJOICE
All of my friends, a plastic bag
Walking around, jumping the train tracks
It's over the fence, veins all black
Sleep on a bench in the park on my birthday
Call the blue lights
Cursed your name
When I find I'm still awake
Give me everything good
I'll throw it away
I wish I could quit but I can't stand the shakes
Choking smoke, singing your praise
But I think there's a god and he hears either way
I rejoice, and complain
I never know what to say...
But I think there's a god and he hears either way
And I rejoice, and complain
Lift my voice, that I was made
Somebody's listening at night
With the ghosts of my friends when I pray
Asking, "why did you let them leave and then make me stay?"
When you know my name and all of my hideous mistakes
But I rejoice, I rejoice
I rejoice, I rejoice
Songwriters: Julien Baker
Rejoice lyrics (c) Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
msfattytroll
All of my friends live in a plastic bag walking around
Jumping the train tracks, over the fence, veins all black
Sleep on a bench in the park on my birthday
Call the blue lights
Cursed your name when I find I'm still awake
Give me everything good, and I'll throw it away
I wish that I could quit but I can't stand the shakes
Choking to smoke, or singing your praise
But I think there's a god and he hears either way when I rejoice and complain
I never know what to say
But I think there's a god and he hears either way when I rejoice and complain
Lift my voice that I was made
And somebody's listening at night with the ghosts of my friends when I pray
Asking "Why did you let them leave and then make me stay?"
And you know my name and all of my hideous mistakes
But I rejoice.
1987Magnus
I wish I could get this as a tatoo:
But I think there's a god and he hears either way when I rejoice and complain
Lift my voice that I was made
And somebody's listening at night with the ghosts of my friends when I pray
Asking "Why did you let them leave and then make me stay?"
And you know my name and all of my hideous mistakes
But I rejoice.
bl00sub
Really love that little pat she does on the strings when she sings "hideous mistakes". Every version, every time.
Samuel Torres
Wow. Great catch. I owe you one.
jmanz79
It’s my favorite little thing.
Michael
Heard this version at least 1000 times and haven't catched that. Thank you 😊
no
Most people find it difficult to give a presentation in front of a class... how this tiny woman just steps into a quiet space and bares her soul to a room full of people blows my mind
Slinky
I find myself coming back to this song during the late nights, where I feel like I’m simply just yelling into the void and nothing hears me, I feel like God is going to help me sort everything out one day, thank you Ms Baker
A Doberman a day...
This track is mesmerizing!
Chuck Kaslow
It's near impossible to listen to her full album and not cry at least once or twice. Her, her voice, and her lyrics are all beautiful. And the single guitar makes the lonely/sadness of her music all the more punctuated.
Zach Jollimore
even with the looping riffs, just that repeated tone says all it needs to say. I get you
Samuel Beckett
She should win a Grammy for this