When looking for a song for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday prompt, there was intent to find something brand new to me. It also had to have meaningful lyrics. So the scroll at lyrics.com commenced. Many page turns later my eyeballs screeched to a halt at a collaboration between Brandi Carlile and Pearl Jam. Reading the lyrics I knew “Again Today” was the one.
Wiki tells us that Brandi Marie Carlile (b. 6/1/81) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Her music spans different genres, including folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock. During her career, she has received 11 Grammy Awards and 2 Emmy Awards, in addition to being nominated for an Academy Award.
“Again Today” was first on, “The Story,” Brandi’s second album, released on 4/3/07. It was produced by T Bone Burnett and features guitarists and songwriters Phil and Tim Hanseroth, drummer Matt Chamberlain, cellist Josh Neumann, and backing vocals by the Indigo Girls. You can hear the original here.
above image from Brandi’s website
The album was re-recorded as “Cover Stories,” released in 2017. It features various artists covering the songs such as Dolly Parton, Pearl Jam and Adele in aid of the charity War Child.
This is a David and Goliath story. Since becoming a mother, the reality of a child’s beautiful life being torn apart by war felt like too big of a problem for me. So I asked my heroes and friends to help me launch a rock at the giant that is our refugee crisis and help in the only way we know how: through the power of music… This album defined our band and welded the Twins and me to one another forever. It’s been a transformative experience to revisit it 10 years later and watch it become something bigger than me. To hear the songs through the voices of my heroes is both surreal and humbling. – Brandi Carlile on Cover Stories
Former POTUS Barack Obama wrote a foreword for the album. He said:
As an artist, Brandi Carlile is using her talent on behalf of the most vulnerable among us, children living in areas of conflict. She reminds us that, together, we can build for our children a more just, peaceful world.
I was going to share the studio collaboration between Brandi and PJ, but I found the live version from a couple of years ago and thought it was so good I’d choose it instead.
Again Today
Broken sticks and broken stones
Will turn to dust just like our bones
It's words that hurt the most now isn't it
Are you sad inside, are you home alone
If I could just pick up the phone
Maybe you could see a better day
And you won't waste away
Under my watchful eye
Because I'm your hero and you're my weakness
Who's gonna break my fall
When the spinning starts
The colors bleed together and fade
Was it ever there at all
Or have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today
I'm broken down, not good enough
The broken promises add up
To twice their weight in tears which I have caused
I'm afraid to sink, I'm afraid to swim
I'm sad to say I miss my friends
I know that I'm supposed to step away
But they need me to stay and keep a watchful eye
On all my heroes and all their demons
But who's gonna break my fall
When the spinning starts
The colors bleed together and fade
Was it ever there at all
Or have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again
Not today
Not today
Was it ever there at all
And have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today
Broken sticks and broken stones
Will turn to dust just like our bones again today
I'm broken down
Not good enough
The broken promises add up again today
Was it ever there at all
And have I lost my way
The path of least resistance
Is catching up with me again today
Again today
Songwriter: Brandi Carlile
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. Jim says:
This week the theme is to find a song that includes the words Yesterday, Today or Tomorrow.
Tao Talk 
Thanks so much for introducing me to this talent Lisa, sorry to say I’d never heard of her before- the song choice has great lyrics and the live track is brilliant- got me moving this morning 🙌
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You are very welcome. It was a lucky find :)
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I know of Brandi Carlile and have a couple of her albums, but this was a new one for me. It’s fantastic!
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Clive, glad you know her and that it’s a new one for you. I learned a lot about her writing up the post.
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She’s a very good songwriter and performer. Her most recent claim to fame is in her friendship with Joni Mitchell, and getting her to play at the Newport Folk Festival a couple of years ago.
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What a great choice for today. Definitely a new one on me, but your narration made me want to love it before I even turned on the music. Whay a great collaboration! and I love her ‘jammies’!
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V, happy the post and the musical selection was to your liking.
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V, just watched it again and yes, those jammies are rockin!
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An interesting post. I enjoy her music! She had a great night on Austin City Limits a while back.
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Glad you know and like her, Dwight. Will look for that episode. I have some kind of “passport” for PBS shows and may be able to find it in their archives.
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Her Austin City Limits performance was very well done!
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I loved your pick today Li. Belinda is such a talent and what a great cause to champion with this album. I especially loved the foreward by Barack Obama.
She has such a beautiful classic look and, with that bob haircut back then, she never looked like a musician let alone a rock star! ☺️❤️
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Christine, happy you are familiar with Brandi, and I love the reissue to raise funds for children caught in the hell of war.
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When I heard the opening like of this song, I thought it would be perfect for an upcoming theme on October 19, 2025, where we need to find a song that mentions bones, sticks, stones or words, but it worked for what we have today, and the collaboration was a dream come true for Carlile. Thanks for sharing your music again, Lisa.
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Jim, you come up with some good prompts for us and I appreciate it. That’s one to look forward to. Yes, I could see how thrilled Brandi was to be on the stage with Eddie and Crew. You are welcome.
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Both singer and song are new to me Lisa. It’s a good one though
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Glad you like her and the song.
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Brandi Carlile is great but this combo with Pearl Jam is amazing!
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Nancy, I agree. I like how they “enlivened” the song with hope. I do like the original also.
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I love the energy flowing between them. Eddie emanates sacred energy imo.
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What a great pick for today! Even though I never heard it before :-)
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So happy you like it, it was a good find.
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Well, Pearl Jam is a given winner in my book – always, but I’d never known of Brandi Carlisle. Any relation to Belinda? … I really like the song and the video. :)
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I knew you were a PJ fan, Barbara. I don’t know if they are related. Didn’t see anything about it. That video rocks yes!
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That’s a great collaboration. Their voices and energy work well together. (K)
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Totally agree.
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That is a great live cut Lisa… I’ve heard of her because when I heard her name I thought of the Go Go…but yea I’ve heard of Brandi before but I don’t know anything by her….except now!
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Max, I actually thought this was Belinda at first until I started writing it up.
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Ok…the first time I heard her name I thought so as well. I think I heard from her on Christian’s site with his Saturday new music.
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Cool. Another one to add to my “learn more about” list.
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What a song, and a great rockin’ duet! Love Brandi Carlile’s music and her way with the world.
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Steve, she’s new to me, and I’m liking what I’m hearing.
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