She received a guitar from her parents for her 14th birthday. Three years later, after sending a demo tape to Hanson and opening for them on tour, had signed a deal with Maverick Records. She subsequently had four top ten hits. The inspiration for writing her own songs can be found by The Beatles and other bands. Songs like "Something To Sleep To" are musically inspired by The Beatles.
She made her debut in 2000 and released the platinum-selling albums The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper in later years.
The Spirit Room was released in 2001. The album, which was produced by John Shanks (Melissa Etheridge, Chris Isaak), was an immediate hit. The Spirit Room sold 2.5 million copies and earned Branch a Grammy and an MTV Viewer’s Choice Award. The album also spawned three top ten hits.
Michelle performed a duet with Carlos Santana on the album Shaman. The single “The Game of Love” became an international hit. On June 23, 2003, Branch released her second album, Hotel Paper.
In 2004 she formed the band The Wreckers with fellow musician Jessica Harp. Their album "Stand Still Look Pretty" was also released on Maverick Records, although the Wreckers' country sound shocked many of Branch's old fans.
Stand Still, Look Pretty spawned four singles, including “Leave the Pieces,” which reached #1 on the U.S. country chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Citing creative differences, the duo have since put the project on hold to work on their own solo projects. Branch's latest album, Everything Comes and Goes, has been released on August 30th 2010, it's a Six Pak mini album containing only 6 songs that she wrote and finished about 2-3 years ago. The first single from the album is “Sooner or Later.”
The Loud Music Songfacts reports that the first single from singer-songwriter Michelle Branch's third studio album, West Coast Time was titled "Loud Music." It finds her singing about a rocker beau and referencing Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. The song was released on June 14, 2011 via her own label, Sticks n' Stones Recordings Ltd.
After a long hiatus, in 2017 she released the album "Hopeless Romantic."
I'd Rather Be in Love
Michelle Branch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The same old heartbeat fills the emptiness I have inside
And I've heard that you can't fight love, so I won't complain
'Cause why would I stop the fire that keeps me going on?
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you I'm alone
Turn out the lights now
To see is to believe
I just want you near me
I just want you here with me
And I'd give up everything only for you
It's the least that I could do
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you I'm alone
And I'd rather be in love with you
And I feel you holding me
Why are we afraid to be in love?
To be loved
I can't explain it
I know it's tough to be loved
And I feel you holding me
Oh, oh
And when there's you, I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you I'm alone
And I'd rather be in love
Yes, I'd rather be in love
Oh, I'd rather be in love with you
And I feel you holding me, oh
The first verse in Michelle Branch's song "I'd Rather Be in Love" reveals the singer's helplessness towards the power of love that she feels. She admits that she cannot fight the feeling, and it fills the emptiness within her. Despite the common idea that love is something to be fought against, the singer chooses to embrace it and not complain. She appreciates the fire that keeps her going on and decides not to douse it. The chorus follows, where she expresses her wholeness and the incomparable feeling that accompanies the presence of her lover. She admits that without her lover, she feels alone, and her choice is always to be in love with him.
In the second verse, she requests the lights turned off, indicating that for her, only being close to her lover matters most. She emphasizes her commitment to her lover, stating that she is willing to give up everything only for him. As a result, it would be the least she could do. The singer raises a rhetorical question in the bridge asking why people are afraid to be in love and to be loved. She can't explain the difficulties associated with being in love, but the feeling is worth it. The final chorus reiterates her need to be with her lover, expressing that her desire is to be in love with him. The song ends with her admitting to feeling her lover's embrace.
Overall, "I'd Rather Be in Love" is an expression of the beauty, power, and effect of love, and how it can make people more fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
I cannot help it I couldn't stop it if I tried
I am hopelessly in love with you and it is beyond my control to resist or ignore my feelings.
The same old heartbeat fills the emptiness I have inside
My heart yearns for your love and affection as it is the only thing that can fill the void and emptiness within me.
And I've heard that you can't fight love, so I won't complain
Love is a force that cannot be ignored or resisted, so I accept and embrace my love for you and will not complain about its impact on me.
'Cause why would I stop the fire that keeps me going on?
My passionate love for you is what drives and inspires me to keep going on, so I see no reason to put out this fire.
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
Your presence in my life makes me complete and whole as a person.
And there's no better feeling in the world
The feeling of being with you and being loved by you is the best feeling I could ever experience in this world.
But without you I'm alone
When you are not with me, I feel lonely and incomplete.
And I'd rather be in love with you
I would choose to be in love with you over anything else as there is nothing more important to me than my love for you.
Turn out the lights now
I want to be in the darkness, as it would give me a chance to focus more on the feeling of being loved.
To see is to believe
I need to feel your love rather than seeing it as that’s what makes me believe in it fully.
I just want you near me
Your presence close to me is what I desire the most as it gives me the sense of comfort and protection.
And I'd give up everything only for you
I would sacrifice everything else in this world for the sake of your love and devotion as it is the most precious thing for me.
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
Your presence in my life makes me complete and whole as a person.
And there's no better feeling in the world
The feeling of being with you and being loved by you is the best feeling I could ever experience in this world.
But without you I'm alone
When you are not with me, I feel lonely and incomplete.
And I'd rather be in love with you
I would choose to be in love with you over anything else as there is nothing more important to me than my love for you.
Why are we afraid to be in love?
Why do we often avoid the concept of love, which is the most beautiful and powerful emotion in the world?
To be loved
To be loved is the ultimate gift one can receive as it offers comfort, joy, and support.
I can't explain it
I am unable to comprehend the complexity of human emotions and its impact on us.
I know it's tough to be loved
Being loved is not always easy, as it comes with vulnerability and can be challenged by negative emotions such as fear or jealousy.
And I feel you holding me
Your embrace and touch rekindles the feeling of love within me, making me feel comforted and reassured
And when there's you, I feel whole
Your presence in my life makes me complete and whole as a person.
And there's no better feeling in the world
The feeling of being with you and being loved by you is the best feeling I could ever experience in this world.
But without you I'm alone
When you are not with me, I feel lonely and incomplete.
And I'd rather be in love
I would choose to be in love with you over anything else as there is nothing more important to me than my love for you.
Yes, I'd rather be in love
There is no alternative for love, and I'd always choose to be in love no matter the challenges that come with it.
Oh, I'd rather be in love with you
There is no one else I would rather be in love with than you as you complete me.
And I feel you holding me, oh
Your love and affection make me feel complete, whole and fulfilled.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHELLE BRANCH, MICHELLE JACQUET BRANCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ADRIAN MENDOZA HILIS
on Everywhere
8/3/2023