For those that don't understand the lyrics, she's singing about a friend who committed suicide when she was sixteen, and this song is an apology for being angry at them for committing suicide. That should help with understanding the song :)
Man, after knowing what it was about, couldn't help but cry while listening to it. So sad. Thanks for explaining it, I didn't listen carefully the first time, but it all made sense the second time. :( It's also sad to see the comments from some that are supposed to be Christians. A follower of Jesus should know that we are to love one another just as He loved all of us. John 4:20-21 "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." Some people enjoy spouting off about immorality and sinners. EVERYONE sins!!!! No one is above it. We are not saved by our actions, but by one act alone, Jesus dying on the cross. In my opinion, the most important lesson to take away from the Bible is that we need to love each other, everyone. Love everyone! Simple as that. You can't love others when you spout hatred, point fingers, judge others and call names. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. And to be perfectly honest, I'm not gay and I find the sexual act to be gross, and I don't mean that in a hurtful way, it's kind of like how I think Chocolate is disgusting. Maybe homosexuals find a man and woman engaging in sexual relations to be disgusting, the point is it's not our place to judge. We should love each other regardless of any of that. Even different religions. If someone else wants to believe something completely different than me, that is fine, love them anyway. Because if you truly believe in Jesus, He loves them, so you're supposed to love them too. So sorry to write so much, but it saddens me to see hate passed off as religion. Like Kenny Chesney's song says..."Spread the Love"
That's about as selfish as it gets. Maybe she should have been there for her friend instead of being angry when he killed himself because he had no one to turn to and no one to love him.
You can't help how you react. Sadness never numbness...all nornal. Many people who really do kill themselves don't tell anyone they want to...they just do it.
One of her close friends committed suicide when he was sixteen and it took her ten years to wake up from the shock of. So, when she woke up she wrote this song as an apology for hating him for so long. She is an amazing and compassionate individual.
"10 years I never spoke your name, now it feels good to say that, your my friend again, your my friend again." That line speaks to me more than anyone could know.
FULL LYRICS: I must have been sleeping I must have been drinking I haven't been dreaming about you for years There was a sharp turn and a sunburn I was too cool for high school that year It must have been New Years No one invited you You took things too far But I missed you And your antics You were lonesome And blue-eyed And so special to us You should have taken a long break Instead of a long drop from a high place Ten years I never spoke your name Now it feels good to say it You're my friend again He said he forgave you I said I hated you He was the bigger man I was sixteen All the innocence It took for you to finally make your yearbook That year That year You could have taken some time away Instead of a long drop Instead of a leap of faith Ten years I never spoke your name Now it feels good to say that You're my friend again You're my friend again I was angry I was a Baptist I was a daughter I was wrong Credits to: AZ Lyrics www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/brandicarlile/thatyear.html
Man... You ever encounter a song that just hits you on a level that feels like cold water drenching your heart? Today is a melancholy day. But here is to days to come...
This is absolutely gorgeous, and I find it both haunting and comforting at the same time. So meaningful. I love that it does not vilify either party in the situation - instead focusing on their humanity and the narrator's process of coming to peace. I love the truthfulness that people can be blinded by emotions and their personal context ... and they can also change their opinion as they mature and are exposed to more viewpoints and life experiences. These lyrics are so, so beautiful.
Never heard her music. This past Saturday, my GF asked me to go with her to watch her at the Wiltern. She told the story prior to performing this song. You know a song hits you when you tear up like I did prior to knowing nothing about this song. People around us were also in tears. One of the best performances live I have ever seen, btw
+Javier Escobar I saw her at wolf trap in June or July for the first time after being a fan of her music for a long time. I had the same reaction. God, this song really can hit you hard after that. She is truly amazing. And I agree. She is truly magical live. So vibrant the night I saw her.
I heard your song, "The Joke" today on the radio. It was the first song in years that made me think, WOW!. I live in Australia and I had never heard of you before, but now I know. Music pours out of you like the sun. Thank you and please never stop making music.
A few years back I heard "The Story" and I fell in love with this voice... So I was lucky to go to see Brandi perform.. I was sitting with a female friend (I'm Male) and after about 30 minutes I said to her.."You know this audience is mostly female, I don't get it"...My friend laughed and said she's gay...It meant nothing then and means nothing now...Brandi Carlile is a beautiful singer and a great song writer...And this song "That Year" is gorgeous....
Each Brandi Carlile song is beautiful, deep, and intellectually correct. This woman is definitely sensational not only as a singer but as a songwriter and as a human being. I hope that if there is life beyond this life, her lost friend can hear this song.
Brandi, I have been listening to you for 10 years now, you have become a friend of mine. I thought i heard every song youve made, until i stumbled on this one today. I also lost a friend to suicide when i was 15. It is something that has always been a big part of my life when it comes to me realizing who i want to be in this world and the kind of mark i want to make. I had been using drugs for nearly 8 years after it happened to supress what i was feeling. This month i am officially clean, and to hear this song i feel not so alone in the walk of vulnerability. Nick, I love and think about you all of the time. i promised i would do all of these amazing things in your name for those who struggle. I am sorry i have not shown up these past 8 years, but i am here now.
My wife and I hopped on the Harley late last summer and drove up north to the shore of Lake Superior and saw Brandi in concert. One of the best days of my life.
It's so funny how just a couple of weeks ago, the principal from my high school was talking about how he always saw Brandi in the hallways, playing her guitar during passing period almost until the bell rang, and how now she's a star. She's a good singer.
Well said. I agree that Freddie is best singer of all time! I am so glad that there are artists like Brandi that carry on the legacy of pure, raw talent. She is a rare gem.
I love Brandi's style and words from the first time I ever heard her voice. She's earthy with a genuine touch to her tunes that goes right through me to my soul...Have You Ever is one of my most personal faves. I'm a woodsy woman who's been stuck all her adult life in the city and this song connects me with my place. Thanks Brandi. Keep On!
I am fortunate in life to be able to hear your words.. dear Brandi and Twins.. and all those who come together with you to complete the songs.. Thank you! XO
I lost my brother in 2008 to suicide, he was 22. I was angry. I was hurt. I hated him for doing it. It has taken years to work through it. This song...I can't even put into words how it makes me feel. Thank you Brandi, thank you!
I am so sorry to hear this and my heart goes out to you. My son's best friend also did this at 18 and its such a mixture of emotions all while still feeling love for them. This song brings me to tears every single time I hear it. I hope you can get to a place of love and forgiveness.
I miss my childhood best friend. We grew up together. He was 27. He was my best friend. I was so angry.. I didn’t go to funeral. I left town for 2 weeks.. I just recently went his grave for 1st time a year ago. His family was mine.. I miss you Dennis. You’re my friend again. I forgive you.
I have been listening to bits and pieces of her music since her Turpentine days but Turpentine has always been my favorite song... until I heard this a few years ago! Haunting and melancholic, it brings me to my knees every time. I have always enjoyed how she is able to tap into her adolescent memories and manifest them in song, unadulterated (pun unintended).
Was looking for of the songs she did for Starling the movie and I’ve fallen in love with just about every song I’ve listened to. Her songs are so healing
Tragedy often provides great insight and inspiration. Unfortunately it’s a high price to pay for the result. One of the most heartbreaking songs I’ve heard in some time.
I love all your songs and “Bear Creek” is played more than any other album but this is my favorite song. I remember you played it at Paste Magazine and said “it’s probably the saddest song on Earth” or something haha. Thank You Brandi!
This is my all-time favorite video of Brandi's - not song, although it is gorgeous, but video. She is a vision, and her voice moves parts of my soul that I didn't know were there. She's a breath of fresh air.
I just heard her and the twins for the first time today, on NPR's Prairie Home Companion. I must have been under a rock to miss this. They performed "The Eye". Really great song by a unique collection of voices. Thanks Brandi.
This song always crushes me and makes me cry, only takes first couple of notes and I'm already in tears.... especially after reading Brandi's memoir ...
Saw her live with one of my best friends. Gotta say, it was an AMAZING experience. Her voice is so beautiful, and combined with the acoustics in the concert hall... Hell, that was magical.
love her music was in college in ireland dublin and asked every american student did they know her anyone who knew her ended up being my friend the rest had ta prove something she is an unbelievable talent
There aren't many artists that can create something that hits you in the gut, heart and head so profoundly. Brandi and the twins put everything into every song and you can feel it.
Wish I could go back to that year when I first met you... I did try to win your heart back then. I fell in love with you that year.... Wish I could have found you again before it was too late..
After a lot of time, and thought, I've finally come to the conclusion that "That Year" is my favorite song of all time; maybe because I've had many of "those years," where one bad event is what you'll remember that year for, for the rest of your life. I don't give a crap about her sexuality. She's in my Heaven's Music Bar. I could sit in a smoke-filled room and listen to her sing for eternity.
Loveliest voice I've ever listened to. :) Why aren't you more famous? You can hear what she sings, and it has emotion. Not like most songs these days about partying sex, drugs and drinking. This has meaning to me.
+Clinton Pearson You do know this song is about how her religion caused her to hate someone after their suicide, until she moved past her religion, right?
+KokaKolaMusic you do know she still considers herself very religious, just now it's that she's defined it for herself instead of other people telling her what to believe, right?
I've been listening to this for the last half hour and looking at my old photos. Me and my brother as babies, me and my 1st boyfriend, my parents before I was born, my parents with my aunts and uncles, my grandparents. Life is good.
She's one of the rare singers who are even better live than they are on record. I just saw this live at the Borders music site, and her performance was stunning. I am madly in love, and this song touches me deeply.
you should have taken a long break instead of a long drop from a high place, 10 years I never spoke your name, now it feels good to say you're my friend again ! beautiful words!
I just listen to the song , the story I heard some Street musicians playing it with a violin and a guitar it sounded awesome I couldn't stop listening to it I had to find out who sing it somebody said it was Brandi Carlile but they didn't know what the name of the song was so I looked into the music of Brandi Carlile and I just looked through the names of her songs and out of all the songs it was the first one I picked I didn't have any lyrics to go by because it was just an instrumental I was listening to. when I heard the lyrics with the song I fell in love instantly you rock Brandi that is a very beautiful song you have a very beautiful voice and you are extremely beautiful as well, that song meant a lot to me thank you very much Eric
She has really grown on me over the past few months and I absolutely love her voice and music! Lol wish I was as talented as her.... If she ever tours around the Southeast I am definitely going to see her! She has the prettiest eyes :))
