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.
Look Before It Changes
The Barr Brothers Lyrics
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And felt the sea in front of me
I let my guard down
The ocean spoke these words to me
She said "I've been trying
About a million centuries.
Just to get up on that shore
And not get blown back anymore.
Look, before it changes
Cause, when it changes,
It changes for good
When you were screaming
And I was to in debt for you
When you were breathing
I said "I don't need you here."
You said "I've been trying
To see what's going on behind it all.
Cause mostly i'm just breathing."
The opening lines of The Barr Brothers' song Look Before It Changes describe a moment of vulnerability, with the singer immersing themselves in the ocean and feeling its power in front of them. They take down their guard and suddenly the ocean speaks to them, sharing its own struggles to get to the shore and stay there, to keep from being blown back. The ocean speaks of its tireless effort over millions of centuries, and its words echo a sense of resilience and determination. But the ocean also acknowledges that its efforts are not always successful, as it mainly focuses on breathing, just trying to survive.
The chorus, "Look, before it changes. Cause when it changes, it changes for good," serves as a warning to the listener to pay attention and be aware of when things are about to shift. Change is inevitable and can sometimes be for the better, but it is important to take notice of what is happening before it is too late. There is a sense of urgency in the repetition of the word "changes," emphasizing the idea that it is a powerful and often irreversible force.
The second verse shifts to a more personal and intimate tone, with the singer describing a moment of conflict with someone they were once close to. They allude to a situation where the other person was in a state of distress, but the singer was too wrapped up in their own life and problems to help. The other person tries to explain their perspective, how they have been trying to make sense of everything, but they are only "breathing." The song ends with uncertainty and introspection, leaving the listener to ponder the meaning of the lyrics and the larger message about change.
Line by Line Meaning
I put my arms in
I immersed myself in the ocean.
And felt the sea in front of me
I felt the vastness of the sea in front of me.
I let my guard down
I became vulnerable and open to the experience.
The ocean spoke these words to me
I felt a powerful connection and communication with the ocean.
She said "I've been trying
The ocean expressed its struggle over the centuries.
About a million centuries.
The ocean has struggled for an unfathomably long time.
Just to get up on that shore
The ocean has been striving to reach the shore.
And not get blown back anymore.
The ocean has been facing strong resistance.
Mostly i'm just breathing..."
Despite the struggles, the ocean remains alive.
Look, before it changes
Take notice of the present moment before it's gone.
Cause, when it changes,
Because when things change,
It changes for good
The change is permanent and irreversible.
When you were screaming
At a past moment, when you were shouting or protesting.
And I was too in debt for you
And I was too consumed with my own problems to help you.
When you were breathing
When you were simply alive and present.
I said "I don't need you here."
I rejected your presence or help.
You said "I've been trying
You expressed your own struggles and efforts.
To see what's going on behind it all.
To gain understanding of the bigger picture.
Cause mostly i'm just breathing."
Despite the struggles, you remain alive and present.
Writer(s): Philip Bradford Barr, Andrew Gilmore Barr, Sarah Paga
Contributed by Lila N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dirthimself3265
Epic tune, nice and mellow
@suddenliee1879
so peaceful and nostalgic at the same time <3
@hemzakherici2427
My favorite band ever