There’s nothing quite like falling in love with a new song. The song I love right now is “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile. I haven’t heard much about her since my post in 2013 on her hit “That Wasn’t Me.” Recently, she sang “The Joke” on The Colbert Show.
There is something beautiful and haunting in the arrangement she did on Colbert. The string quartet is just brilliant. There is one note after the second chorus of the song that sounds like the violins are singing. Twin brothers, Phil & Tim Hanseroth, add their powerful voices to the song.
I got goosebumps watching it the first time. Many repeats later, it still gives me goosebumps. I will try to link the Colbert Show version here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJux02lrMeI
If it doesn’t load, go to YouTube and search Brandi Carlile The Joke on Colbert.
The lyrics are worth reading before hearing it so you can just feel the music.
You’re feeling nervous, aren’t you, boy?
With your quiet voice and impeccable style
Don’t ever let them steal your joy
And your gentle ways, to keep’em from running wild.
They can kick dirt in your face
Dress you down, and tell you that your place
Is in the middle, when they hate the way you shine
I see you tugging on your shirt
Trying to hide inside of it and hide how much it hurts
Let ’em laugh while they can
Let ’em spin, let ’em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I’ve seen how it ends
And the joke’s on them
You get discouraged, don’t you girl?
It’s your brother’s world for a while longer.
We gotta dance with the devil on a river
To beat the stream
Call it living the dream, call it kicking the ladder
They come to kick dirt in your face
To call you weak and then displace you
After carrying your baby on your back across the desert
I saw your eyes behind your hair
And you’re looking tired, but you don’t look scared
Let ’em laugh while they can
Let ’em spin, let ’em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I’ve seen how it ends
And the joke’s on them
