Best known as founding members of the spirited and unpredictable rock trio The Slip, brothers Andrew and Brad Barr had spent most of the 90s criss-crossing North America. In the spring of 2004, the band was playing a small club in Montreal, QC when a fire broke out in the venue. They grabbed a few guitars/drums and rushed out onto the rainy street with the rest of the concert goers. As the club's mezzanine was swallowed by flames, Andrew offered his coat to one of the waitresses from the bar. One year later, Brad and Andrew Barr were living in Montreal. That waitress is now one of their managers.
In his first apartment in the new city, Brad shared an adjoining wall with Sarah Page, a classically-trained harpist from Montreal, whose melodies would seep through the cracks of the wall and into the music Brad was writing. From this nebulous relationship, a friendship developed and the brothers, with Sarah, began recording and performing around Montreal. Soon, their friend and multi-instrumentalist Andres Vial was brought in to lend his wide array of expertise to the outfit, playing keyboards, bass, vibes, percussion, and singing. In 2006 they began to call themselves The Barr Brothers.
It Came to Me
The Barr Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breaking bottles on the Berlin Wall
I been shaking all the bushes on the Champs Élysées
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall
Then it came to me
Yeah it came to me
Then it came to me
I was looking for your face
On a three dollar bill
Marking my bible in red
Drinking ripple with my daily bread
I been asking all the ladies in the March of Dimes
I should have been home instead
Cause it came to me
Yeah it came to me
It came to me
It came to me
I was looking for the nose
At the end of my face
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard, yes I heard
Yes I heard it right
Tugging at the tiger′s tail
Bobbing apples with the humpback whale
I been knocking all the jockeys off the rich folks lawns
Raising anchor and setting sail
Then it came to me
Yeah it came to me
It came to me
It came to me
I was looking for the truth
Til it kicked in my door
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard you right
I was wrong and I heard, yes I heard
Yes I heard it right
Then it came to me
Yeah it came to me
It came to me
Oh, it came to me
Oh, it came to me
Oh, it came to me
Oh, it came to me
The lyrics to "It Came to Me" by The Barr Brothers are poetic and thought-provoking. The song seems to be about a journey of self-discovery and realization. The singer describes moments when they were searching for something, whether it be a face on a three-dollar bill, the nose at the end of their face, or the truth. Each verse depicts various situations where they were looking for answers or validation.
The first verse describes being thrown out of a company ball and breaking bottles on the Berlin Wall, implying a sense of rebellion and chaos. The mention of shaking bushes on the Champs Élysées suggests a relentless pursuit of something, perhaps happiness or meaning, throughout different seasons. However, the chorus reveals that the answer or realization finally came to them, bringing a sense of relief and clarity.
The second verse continues with a similar theme of searching, marked by the singer's actions such as marking their bible in red and drinking ripple with their daily bread. The mention of asking all the ladies in the March of Dimes implies a desperate attempt to find something or someone. The line "I should have been home instead" suggests that the singer should have focused on themselves rather than seeking validation from others. Once again, the chorus reassures that the answer eventually came to them, reinforcing the idea that the journey of self-discovery is ultimately fulfilling.
The third verse portrays the singer's adventurous spirit as they tug at the tiger's tail and bob apples with the humpback whale. The act of knocking jockeys off rich folks' lawns and setting sail signifies a break from societal norms and expectations. Ultimately, the truth kicks in their door, perhaps indicating a revelation that brings about a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Overall, "It Came to Me" by The Barr Brothers speaks to the universal experience of searching for meaning and self-discovery, with the realization that the answers we seek often come to us when we least expect it.
Line by Line Meaning
Thrown out of the company ball
I was kicked out of the corporate event
Breaking bottles on the Berlin Wall
I was smashing bottles against the famous Berlin Wall
I been shaking all the bushes on the Champs Élysées
I've been searching everywhere on the famous Champs Élysées avenue
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall
Throughout all seasons
Then it came to me
Suddenly, I had a realization
Yeah it came to me
Yes, the realization struck me
I was looking for your face
I was searching for your presence
On a three dollar bill
In an unlikely or impossible place
Marking my bible in red
Highlighting important passages in my bible with red ink
Drinking ripple with my daily bread
Enjoying cheap wine with my meager meal
I been asking all the ladies in the March of Dimes
I've been inquiring with women associated with the charitable organization March of Dimes
I should have been home instead
I realize now that I should have been at home
I was looking for the nose
I was searching for something obvious
At the end of my face
Right in front of me
I was wrong and I heard you right
I admit my mistake and acknowledge that I understood you correctly
Tugging at the tiger′s tail
Engaging with something dangerous or unpredictable
Bobbing apples with the humpback whale
Interacting playfully with something unexpected
I been knocking all the jockeys off the rich folks lawns
I've been causing trouble for the wealthy residents by disturbing their property
Raising anchor and setting sail
Embarking on a new journey or adventure
I was looking for the truth
I was searching for the ultimate reality or answer
Til it kicked in my door
Until the truth forcefully revealed itself to me
Oh, it came to me
Ah, I finally understood
Writer(s): Philip Bradford Barr, Andrew Gilmore Barr, Sarah Paga
Contributed by Amelia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@joseaugustodossantos6488
"É MUITO, MUITO BOM; É ÓTIMO"
@moarl5296
Amazing Sound!! Please more !! :D
@sassulusmagnus
Great track. Must get the album.
@wendygoodall6647
One of my favourite tunes these days! Come tour China
@pablosoriaochoa4836
Fabulous song guys
@Mythic2827
Amazing piece! :D
@ManOnMars5
Awesome song, see you in Vancouver!
@girlstar3578
🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💜💜💜
@rand0m104
One Question
WILL THIIS SONG BE IN THE TOUR AT THE HORNETS STADIUM
bc I'm going to it :P
@yousra134
JustARand0mGuy I