Vai has been described as a "highly individualistic player" and part of a generation of "heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s". He released his first solo album Flex-Able in 1984, while his most successful release, Passion and Warfare (1990), was described as "the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the '80s". He was voted the "10th Greatest Guitarist" by Guitar World magazine, and has sold over 15 million records.
Discography
Flex-Able (1984)
Passion and Warfare (1990)
Sex & Religion (1993)
Fire Garden (1996)
Flex-Able Leftovers (1998)
The Ultra Zone (1999)
Real Illusions: Reflections (2005)
The Story of Light (2012)
Modern Primitive (2016)
Inviolate (2022)
Brother
Steve Vai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for I am drowning in disarray
And brother, it is on you I depend
to pull me out of this misery
Like a hero I've always seen you
even though I would never say
And through the years
it's you who were strong
in the right and the wrong
a tribute to the world that
blood is thicker than water
I'm tryin' to say that I love you
I'm tryin to say that I need you,
Brother
And father, I'm in need of your hand
so I can face the world bravely
and father, do you understand
what it is you mean to me
Like a warrior you always conquered
every battle you had to face
And through the hard times
when life was a bitter fight
it's you who would give
so unselfish you lived
A tribute to the world that blood
Is thicker than water
I'm tryin' to say that I love you
I'm tryin' to say that I miss you
Oh, father
The lyrics of Brother by Steve Vai tell a poignant story of a person in need of support from their loved ones, specifically their brother and father. The singer is drowning in disarray and calls out for their brother to pull them out of their misery. The singer sees their brother as a hero, even though they have never expressed it. Throughout the years, through laughter and tears, it is their brother who was strong, and a tribute to the idea that blood is thicker than water. The singer tries to express their love and need for their brother, asking for their help.
The singer then turns to their father, in need of his hand to face the world bravely. They see their father as a warrior who always conquered every battle he faced. Through hard times, their father was unselfish and gave so much, inspiring the singer to see blood as thicker than water. The singer tries to express their love for their father, conveying that he means the world to them.
Overall, the lyrics of Brother convey the idea that family is the foundation of support, and that through love and care, we can help each other in difficult times. It is a highly emotive and touching song that reminds us of the importance of family.
Line by Line Meaning
Brother, I'm in need of a friend
I am reaching out to you, my brother, because I am dealing with a lot of chaos in my life and I need someone close to me to help me through it.
for I am drowning in disarray
My life is a mess and I am struggling to keep my head above water.
And brother, it is on you I depend
I am counting on you to be there for me and to support me during this difficult time.
to pull me out of this misery
I am hoping that you can help me escape from the sadness and despair that I am experiencing.
Like a hero I've always seen you
I have always looked up to you like a hero, even if I've never said it out loud.
even though I would never say
I have kept those feelings to myself, but now I feel it's important to express them to you.
And through the years
Over time, as we have grown older together,
the laughter and the tears
we have shared moments of joy and of sadness.
it's you who were strong
When the going got tough, it was always you who stayed strong.
in the right and the wrong
You have always been there for me, no matter what.
a tribute to the world that
All of this is a testament to the fact that
blood is thicker than water
family bonds are stronger than anything else.
I'm tryin' to say that I love you
I am making an effort to tell you that I love you,
I'm tryin to say that I need you,
and that I need you in my life right now.
And father, I'm in need of your hand
Father, I am also reaching out to you, because I need your guidance and support.
so I can face the world bravely
I am hoping that your strength and wisdom will help me feel more confident and able to tackle life's challenges head-on.
and father, do you understand
I hope that you realize
what it is you mean to me
just how much you truly mean to me.
Like a warrior you always conquered
Just like I see my brother as a hero, I see you as a warrior who always wins the battle.
every battle you had to face
No matter what obstacles were in your path, you always found a way to overcome them.
And through the hard times
Even when life was really tough,
when life was a bitter fight
and everything seemed like a constant struggle,
it's you who would give
you were always the one who gave of yourself selflessly,
so unselfish you lived
and truly lived your life without thinking only of yourself.
A tribute to the world that blood
All of this is once again a testament to the fact that family ties are incredibly strong.
Is thicker than water
Blood is thicker than any other bond.
I'm tryin' to say that I love you
Once again, I want to emphasize that I love you,
I'm tryin' to say that I miss you
and that I miss having you in my life.
Oh, father
Addressing him more personally, I want to tell you how important you are to me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEVE VAI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MRBP
Brother, I'm in need of a friend
for I am drowning in disarray
And brother, it is on you I depend
to pull me out of this misery
Like a hero I've always seen you
even though I would never say
And through the years
the laughter and the tears
it's you who were strong
in the right and the wrong
a tribute to the world that
blood is thicker than water
I'm tryin' to say that I love you
I'm tryin to say that I need you,
Brother
And father, I'm in need of your hand
so I can face the world bravely
and father, do you understand
what it is you mean to me
Like a warrior you always conquered
every battle you had to face
And through the hard times
when life was a bitter fight
it's you who would give
so unselfish you lived
A tribute to the world that blood
Is thicker than water
I'm tryin' to say that I love you
I'm tryin' to say that I miss you
Oh, father
Finders Fee Band
Vai is a modern day Hendrix..n a great singer.. I miss my brother..he passed 5 months ago...vai is a genius 🙏
jerry porter
Yep...my brother and best friend passed 20 yrs. ago this coming October...and have tickets to see him in October Dallas 2022 at House of Blues...
margret dupont
This one leaves me longing to see my brothers/chill bumps on my arms and fighting back tears. Steve Vai is just what's so RIGHT with this world. Hard to explain, but love the man and I adore his music..........
Keifer Shaw
💚
Lady Jane
My sister died two years ago...Still miss her, still hurts like hell and this song helps me pass through these difficult moments. Thank Steve for this perfection, faithfully reflects what I feel and what has been hidden deep within me. God bless you
Melvin
I hope all is well with you I can't imagine what that's like stay strong!
Roberto Rodriguez Pino
I have been a fan for a very long time, have loved this song since it came out. In 2010 my father passed, found comfort in this song. In 2013, my brother passed, once again turned to this song. My mom just passed on New Year's Eve, I am dying inside, but finding comfort with this song yet again. I am determined to play this song in their honor . Don't have a band at the moment, but as God my witness, I will do this.
36hcupsizeandgrowing
one of the greatest albums
Keifer Shaw
💚
Vailover4ever
So profound and true.I have three brothers whom I love dearly and this song always makes me think of them.Thank you Steve for always writing song that touches us so deeply.