Yamagata became the vocalist for the Chicago funk-fusion band Bumpus, spending six years with them while writing and recording three albums and touring the country. However, she began to write songs which took on a style that conflicted with the funk vision of the band. In 2001, Yamagata decided to take those songs and pursue a solo career. In September 2002, she landed a two-record deal with Arista's Private Music label, and her EP was released in October.
She also made an appearance in Jason Mraz's second album, singing a song with him called Did You Get My Message?
She also teamed with with Toots & the Maytals to sing Blame On Me.
She also worked with Ryan Adams & The Cardinals on their first album Cold Roses. On that album, where she is credited as: "Our little sis", she did some vocals and played "listenable" piano on the tracks 'Let It Ride', 'Cold Roses' and 'Friends'.
Yamagata sang with Rhett Miller on Fireflies from his 2006 release The Believer.
Her songs have featured on several TV shows, including How I Met Your Mother, ER , Nip/Tuck, Men in Trees, Alias, One Tree Hill, Brothers & Sisters and The O.C., to which she made a guest performance in season 2. Yamagata also contributed a song to Mandy Moore's 2007 album, Wild Hope. She also toured with Moore, opening many of her shows around the country.
Yamagata's second studio album is Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart. That album was released on October 7, 2008.
On October 9th, 2008, a two-song live acoustic video performance premiered on LiveDaily Sessions, featuring the songs "Faster" and "Sunday Afternoon".
Her highly acclaimed CD Chesapeake premiered on October 11, 2011, and was followed by an extensive tour.
On April 23, 2016, Yamagata released an acoustic version of Happenstance, Acoustic Happenstance. Later that year, she released her fourth studio album, Tightrope Walker on September 23.
Known for Years
Rachael Yamagata Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'd think I'd grown up on a train
And you're so good at leading them on
Who am I to bring you down?
I wonder why I'm still hanging around
Was it the sound?
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
And I've known for years that we'd get here
And it'd be a shame to make believe, it's better to leave
And it's so cruel, the way I recall
I ran out of lies to take it all
My questions tell whether I am just afraid
But who are they to stand in my way?
I wonder if I just soldier the crown
Was it the sound?
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
And I can't make believe that we're not seeing the same thing
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
And it'd be a shame to make believe...
It'd be a shame to make believe it's better to leave
It'd be a shame to make believe it's better to leave
It'd be a shame to make believe its better, better, better, better to leave
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
And I can't make believe that we're not seeing the same thing
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
And it'd be a shame
It'd be a shame, shame
It'd be a shame to make believe
It'd be a shame to make believe
Oh it's better to leave
In Rachael Yamagata's song "Known for Years," she confronts the reality of a long-running, unspoken attraction between herself and someone else who is "so good at leading them on." The lyrics suggest that both parties are aware of their feelings for each other, but have chosen to ignore them and carry on as if nothing is happening. The singer is conflicted about their own role in this, wondering if their hesitance to act is simply due to fear or if they are deliberately holding back for some other reason.
The chorus sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the repeated line "I've known for years that we'd get here." This line implies a sense of inevitability, as though the singer has always suspected that their relationship would eventually come to a head. However, there is a sense of resignation in the way this line is delivered - the singer has accepted that things are moving in a certain direction, but is reluctant to take any kind of action.
The final lines of the song ("It'd be a shame to make believe / Oh it's better to leave") suggest that the singer has ultimately decided that it is better to walk away from this situation than to continue pretending that everything is fine. There is a hint of regret in these lines, though - the decision to leave is presented as a difficult one, and it's clear that the singer is still struggling to come to terms with their feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so good at running away
I tend to flee from situations when they become difficult or uncomfortable.
You'd think I'd grown up on a train
People might assume that I'm always on the move, like someone who grew up traveling by train.
And you're so good at leading them on
You have a talent for enticing people and making them believe in something that may not be true.
Who am I to bring you down?
I don't have the right to question your behavior or intentions.
I wonder why I'm still hanging around
I'm unsure why I'm still involved in this situation or relationship.
Was it the sound?
Perhaps it was a moment that we shared, or something that was said, that keeps me here.
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
I've had a sense for a long time that this situation would arise.
And I can't make believe that we're not seeing the same thing
I can't pretend that we don't both know what's happening or what's at stake.
And it'd be a shame to make believe, it's better to leave
It would be a disservice to ourselves to pretend that everything is okay when it's not--it's better to walk away from this situation.
And it's so cruel, the way I recall
The memories that come to mind are painful and difficult to accept.
I ran out of lies to take it all
It's no longer possible for me to deceive myself or others about the situation we're in.
My questions tell whether I am just afraid
The questions I ask myself reveal whether I'm simply scared or if there's a deeper issue at play.
But who are they to stand in my way?
Others should not prevent me from making a decision about what's best for me.
I wonder if I just soldier the crown
I question whether I'm capable of handling the responsibility that comes with the decision to leave.
'Cause I've known for years that we'd get here
Once again, I've sensed that this moment was coming for a long time.
And it'd be a shame to make believe...
It's better to be honest with ourselves and take action, even if it's difficult.
It'd be a shame to make believe it's better to leave
It would be wrong to pretend that staying in this situation is the best choice--leaving is the better option.
It'd be a shame to make believe it's better, better, better, better to leave
It's necessary to acknowledge that leaving is the best course of action in this situation.
And it'd be a shame
It's unfortunate that things have turned out this way, but pretending they aren't would be worse.
It'd be a shame, shame
Denying the truth of the situation would be a disservice to ourselves and each other.
It'd be a shame to make believe
Pretending everything is okay when it's not would be regrettable.
It'd be a shame to make believe
It's important to be honest with ourselves about what we need and want out of a situation.
Oh it's better to leave
Ultimately, choosing to leave this situation is the best decision for me and for everyone involved.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RACHAEL AMANDA YAMAGATA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind