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.
Worn Me Down
Rachael Yamagata Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you feel about it?
That's what I thought.
You're real torn up about it.
And I wish you the best
I could do without it
And I will because you've worn me down
Oh, I will because you've worn me down
Worn me down like a road.
I did everything you told.
Worn me down to my knees.
I did everything to please you.
But you can't stop thinking about her.
No, you can't stop thinking about her.
And you're wrong. You're wrong.
I'm not overreacting.
Something is off.
Why don't we ever believe ourselves?
And I, oh I, I feel it more for you.
And I will because you've worn me down.
And I will because you have worn me down.
Worn me down like a road.
I did everything you told.
Worn me down to my knees.
I did everything to please.
But you can't stop thinking about her.
No, you can't stop thinking about her.
She's so pretty.
She's so damn right.
But I'm so tired of thinking about her, again, tonight.
Worn me down like a road.
I did everything you told.
Worn me down to my knees.
I did everything to please you.
Worn me down like a road.
I did everything you told me to do.
But you, you can't stop thinking about her.
No, you can't stop thinking about her.
No, you can't stop thinking about her.
No, you can't stop thinking of her.
The song "Worn Me Down" by Rachael Yamagata is a ballad about a person in a relationship who is worn out and tired of their partner pining over their ex-lover. The singer begins the song by acknowledging their partner's distress and offers their support, but they cannot continue to deal with the situation. They have been drained and depleted by their partner's inability to move on and let go.
The lyrics "Worn me down like a road" suggest that the singer has been through a lot and feels exhausted, just like a road that has been heavily traveled on. The imagery of being on one's knees represents the amount of effort and desperation put into trying to please their partner, but it has not been enough to distract them from their ex-lover. The repeated phrase "But you can't stop thinking about her" is a heartbreaking realization that the singer has faced and cannot ignore any longer.
Yamagata's emotional delivery of the lyrics adds to the melancholy tone of the song, evoking a sense of helplessness and despair. It's a relatable song for anyone who has felt worn down and unappreciated in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Gone, she's gone.
Someone has left, and the singer is acknowledging their absence.
How do you feel about it?
The singer is asking the listener how they feel about the person who has left.
That's what I thought.
The singer has an idea of how the listener is feeling and their response confirms it.
You're real torn up about it.
The listener is very upset by the person who has left, which the artist can tell.
And I wish you the best
The artist wants good things for the listener despite their current situation.
I could do without it
The singer could live without dealing with the listener's sadness and heartbreak.
And I will because you've worn me down
The singer has dealt with the listener's emotions for so long that they are exhausted and need a break.
Worn me down like a road.
The listener's emotions and situation have been a long and difficult journey for the artist.
I did everything you told.
The artist has followed the listener's advice or instructions in an attempt to help them through their heartbreak.
Worn me down to my knees.
The listener's emotional burden has become too much for the artist to handle.
I did everything to please you.
The singer has gone above and beyond to try and make the listener feel better.
But you can't stop thinking about her.
The listener is still fixated on the person who has left, making it difficult to move on.
No, you can't stop thinking about her.
The listener's thoughts are consumed by the person who has left.
And you're wrong. You're wrong.
The singer disagrees with the listener's perspective or behavior.
I'm not overreacting.
The singer believes their concern is warranted and not an overreaction.
Something is off.
The artist senses that there is something wrong or unresolved in the listener's situation.
Why don't we ever believe ourselves?
The artist is questioning why people don't trust their gut instincts or intuition.
And I, oh I, I feel it more for you.
The singer cares deeply for the listener and is emotionally invested in their well-being.
She's so pretty.
The person who has left is physically attractive.
She's so damn right.
The artist feels inferior to the person who has left, perhaps in terms of personality or compatibility with the listener.
But I'm so tired of thinking about her, again, tonight.
The artist is exhausted from constantly thinking about the person who has left and doesn't want to do it anymore.
No, you can't stop thinking of her.
The listener is still unable to move on from the person who has left.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RACHAEL AMANDA YAMAGATA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jennifer L R
This was my favorite song in 2004, when I was going through my first bad ‘relationship’ as a teen. The CD wasn’t in the stores where i lived, so I’d listen to those blank screened music channels every morning waiting for it to play. Thanks for making this song. <3
Paul Kapow 🔻
Thanks for sharing your story.
YR
This song is perfection, from the beautiful and soothing intro, the heartbreaking lyrics , to how emotional Rachel's voice is...
7th AngelAD
I love this song! I don’t remember it getting the airplay it deserved.
Jackson Teller
I heard it in an episode of Everwood
Welmyr Del Rosario
First heard this awesome music in a T.V. show called, “The O.C.” and am still listening to it until now August 2021 💕🎶
Olivia, MedStudent [MS2]
It was in The OC?! Which episode?
Welmyr Del Rosario
@Olivia, MedStudent [MS2] Season 2 Episode 3 scene: Seth sees Zach and Summer having dinner and then finds Marissa alone on the pier.
Olivia, MedStudent [MS2]
@Welmyr Del Rosario I just looked up that scene. So true!! Seems like they used a more upbeat version of the song though. Still love it. Thanks!
Welmyr Del Rosario
@Olivia, MedStudent [MS2] They used the 2003 version of that song not the song from 1990 “Happenstance” album.