Brycie

Album: How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Big Red Machine is a duo comprising The National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. This was one of the first songs Dessner wrote for their second album, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?
  • "Brycie" is Bryce Dessner, the twin brother and the National bandmate of Aaron Dessner. He penned this song to express gratitude to his sibling for supporting him through mental illness. "I was hospitalized for depression when I was in high school and my brother covered for me and literally prevented me from doing anything bad to myself," Aaron Dessner explained to Uncut magazine. "But having that relationship, as close as we are, it's also hard sometimes. We've had major family trauma, but talking about it and writing about it, even though I've had to cloak some things, helped me stay above the ground."
  • Aaron Dessner wrote the music first, composing it backstage in Washington, D.C. It was clear even then he would pen the lyrics about his brother. "I think even the way that I was playing the guitar was how he and I play the guitar together," he told Apple Music. "These interlocking, twin, mirrored guitar parts."
  • Aaron and Bryce Dessner are actually playing their guitars together in the song. Bryce also did the orchestration.
  • The song finds Dessner providing lead vocals for the first time in his career. He also sings lead on two other How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? tracks: "Magnolia" and "The Ghost of Cincinnati."
  • The album title comes from a line from the opening song, "Latter Days," which Anaïs Mitchell wrote after hearing "Brycie."

    "How long?" Is what you asked
    "How long do you think it's gonna last?"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.