In the beginning, Columbia Records signed Carlile in late 2004 on the strength of songs she'd been recording periodically at home. Released in 2005, Brandi Carlile showcased those early songs along with several newly recorded tracks. Shortly after the release of Brandi Carlile, she left her home in Seattle and set out with the Hanseroth brothers, with whom she'd worked on her earliest recordings and independent regional tours. The tightly knit trio, which forms the core of her band today, spent the better part of two years on the road honing the songs that would later become part of her album "The Story".
In 2005, she was featured on Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch in 2005" list. By the end of 2006, Carlile had embarked on several headlining tours and supported a variety of artists including Ray LaMontagne, The Fray, Chris Isaak, Tori Amos, and Shawn Colvin.
Her second album, The Story, was released in April 2007. It was produced by T Bone Burnett and includes a collaboration with the Indigo Girls on "Cannonball." The album was recorded in an eleven-day-long session with Carlile , the twins (Tim and Phil Hanseroth) and drummer Matt Chamberlain to capture the raw intensity of Carlile's live performances. The crack in Carlile's vocals during the title track, "The Story", came out by accident and was a direct result of the way the album was recorded. Carlile herself describes the vocals as "technically wrong but emotionally right."
Carlile was exposed to a wider audience when ABC's Grey's Anatomy showcased three of her songs: "Tragedy," "What Can I Say," and "Throw It All Away". In April 2007, Grey's Anatomy debuted a version of the video for the single The Story interspersed with footage from the show. On May 3, 2007, a special two-hour episode of "Grey's Anatomy" featured Carlile's song "Turpentine" during footage of the "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off, "Private Practice".
I'll still be there
Brandi Carlile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see the light of day
If only just to lift you up
And rise above the grey
It breaks my heart, but now you know
That the broken binds are an open door
And if it all disappears
My growing pain, my darkest days
I owe them all to you
For every break I've got you to thank
For always pulling me through
If it breaks your heart, at least you know
That the broken binds are an open door
And if it all disappears
I promise you I'll still be there
But if the world should let you down
If the sky should fall and never make a sound
Oh, if it all disappears
I promise you I will be there
It breaks my heart, it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart, it breaks my heart
But now you know
That the broken binds are an open door
And if it all disappears
I promise you I will be there
But if the world should let you down
If the sky should fall and never make a sound
Oh, if it all disappears
I promise you I will be there
Oh, if it all disappears
You have my word I will be there
And if it all disappears
I promise you I will be there
In the song "I'll Still Be There" by Brandi Carlile, the lyrics express the depth of love and unwavering support that the singer has for someone special in their life. The singer acknowledges that there has never been a better love to see the light of day- a love that lifts them up and helps them rise above the grey. But while the broken binds of life may lead to disappointment or heartbreak, the singer is still promising to be there- to support and love the person even in their darkest days. The singer goes on to acknowledge that every trial and tribulation that they have faced, they owe to that person, for always being there to pull them through.
The singer is almost begging the person not to let the world let them down, not to be disheartened by failure or loss, because they will still always be there. Even in the case where everything seems to disappear, the singer is still promising to be there, to stay by that person's side in every moment. The repetition of "it breaks my heart" throughout the lyrics emphasizes the pain and the vulnerability that goes into making a promise like this- to always be there- and to always care.
Overall, "I'll Still Be There" is a beautiful and heartfelt song about steadfast love, commitment, and the importance of having someone in your life who will always be there for you.
Line by Line Meaning
There never was a better love
The love between the singer and the person she is addressing in the song is unmatched.
To see the light of day
This love is perfect and meant to be in the world.
If only just to lift you up
One of the purposes of this love is to bring happiness and empowerment to the person being loved.
And rise above the grey
This love also serves to bring light and positivity to moments that might otherwise be dull and gray.
It breaks my heart, but now you know
While the singer is sad to admit this, she wants the person she loves to know something important.
That the broken binds are an open door
Even though their relationship may be 'broken' or have issues, it still leaves opportunities open for growth and healing.
And if it all disappears
In the case that all of their relationship or love disappears entirely and falls apart,
I promise you I’ll still be there
the singer pledges to remain by the other's side, no matter what happens to their love.
My growing pain, my darkest days
The singer has experienced pain and hardship in her life.
I owe them all to you
But she credits the person she loves with helping her through those times and being a source of strength.
For every break I've got you to thank
The singer is grateful to the person she loves for being there to mend her broken spirit.
For always pulling me through
She acknowledges that they have been a constant source of support and encouragement for her.
But if the world should let you down
If everything beyond their relationship begins to break down,
If the sky should fall and never make a sound
if a great calamity happens, but it looks like nothing was done to stop it,
Oh if it all disappears
if everything goes to ruin,
I promise you I will be there
she will go out of her way to stay by the other's side, even if it means facing the disaster together.
It breaks my heart, it breaks my heart
the idea of losing the person she loves is a source of great sadness and pain.
But now you know
Despite everything, there's a sense that they are going to be okay together.
That the broken binds are an open door
again, their relationship has experienced setbacks, but it also has an opportunity for growth.
Oh if it all disappears
once again, if everything they've built together vanishes,
I promise you I will be there
the singer promises that she will stand by the other's side, even if it means facing difficult times together.
You have my word I will be there
one last time, she affirms her love and commitment to the other person.
And if it all disappears
if they experience a great loss and all of their relationship falls apart,
I promise you I will be there
she promises once again to stand with them and be there through the pain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile, Phillip John Hanseroth, Timothy Jay Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind