Closer to Fine: The Song About Finding Peace in Uncertainty

The song “Closer to Fine” by Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile is about finding peace and acceptance in the midst of uncertainty. The lyrics explore the idea that there is no one answer to life’s questions, and that sometimes the best way to find peace is to simply let go of the need for certainty.

The song was written by Emily Saliers and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, and it was originally released in 1990 on their album “Rites of Passage”. The song has been covered by many artists, including Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile, who released their own version of the song in 2023 as part of the soundtrack for the Barbie movie.

The song begins with the singer expressing her frustration with the world’s complexities. She sings about how she’s “tryin’ to tell you somethin’ ’bout my life” and how she’s “looking for some insight between black and white.” However, she soon realizes that there are no easy answers to life’s questions. She sings, “Well, darkness has a hunger that’s insatiable / And lightness has a call that’s hard to hear.”

The singer then goes on to describe her journey to find peace in uncertainty. She sings about how she’s “gone to the doctor,” “gone to the mountains,” and “looked to the children.” She’s also “drank from the fountains” and “read up on revival.” However, she realizes that there is no one place to find peace. She sings, “There’s more than one answer to these questions / Pointing me in a crooked line.”

The song ends with the singer coming to terms with the uncertainty of life. She sings, “And the less I seek my source for some definitive / The closer I am to fine.” This line suggests that the singer has found peace by letting go of the need for certainty. She’s realized that it’s okay to not have all the answers.

“Closer to Fine” is a beautiful and powerful song about finding peace in uncertainty. The lyrics are honest and relatable, and the melody is both calming and uplifting. The song is a reminder that it’s okay to not have all the answers. Sometimes, the best way to find peace is to simply let go and trust that everything will be okay.


Closer to Fine Lyrics

[Verse 1: Brandi Carlile]
I’m tryin’ to tell you somethin’ ’bout my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously
‘Cause it’s only life after all, yeah
It’s only life after all

[Verse 2: Brandi Carlile & Catherine Carlile, Brandi Carlile]
Well, darkness has a hunger that’s insatiable
And lightness has a call that’s hard to hear
I wrap my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety until I sank it
I’m crawling on your shores

[Chorus: Brandi Carlile & Catherine Carlile, Brandi Carlile]
And I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There’s more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine, yeah
The closer I am to fine, yeah

[Verse 3: Brandi Carlile & Catherine Carlile]
And I went to see the doctor of philosophy
With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee
He never did marry or see a B-grade movie
He graded my performance, he said he could see through me
And I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind
Got my paper, and I was free

[Chorus: Brandi Carlile & Catherine Carlile, Brandi Carlile, Catherine Carlile]
I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There’s more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive
(The less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine, yeah
The closer I am to fine, yeah

[Bridge: Brandi Carlile]
I stopped by the bar at 3 a.m
To seek solace in a bottle, or possibly a friend
And I woke up with a headache like my head against the board
Twice as cloudy as I’d been the night before
I went in seeking clarity

[Chorus: Brandi Carlile & Catherine Carlile, Brandi Carlile, Catherine Carlile]
I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
Yeah, we go to the Bible, and we go through the workout
And we read up on revival, and we stand up for the lookout
And there’s more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine, yeah
The closer I am to fine,
The closer I am, the closer I am
The closer I am, the closer I am
The closer I am, the closer I am
To fine, to fine
The closer I am


Song credits:

  • Written by Emily Saliers and Amy Ray
  • Originally recorded by the Indigo Girls
  • Covered by Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile

here are some FAQs about the song “Closer to Fine” by Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile:

FAQs

Q: Who wrote the song “Closer to Fine”?

A: The song “Closer to Fine” was written by Emily Saliers and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls.

Q: When was the song “Closer to Fine” released?

A: The song “Closer to Fine” was originally released in 1990 on the Indigo Girls’ album “Rites of Passage”.

Q: Who has covered the song “Closer to Fine”?

A: The song “Closer to Fine” has been covered by many artists, including Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile, who released their own version of the song in 2023 as part of the soundtrack for the Barbie movie. Other artists who have covered the song include Joan Baez, Alison Krauss, and Sarah McLachlan.

Q: What is the meaning of the song “Closer to Fine”?

A: The song “Closer to Fine” is about finding peace and acceptance in the midst of uncertainty. The lyrics explore the idea that there is no one answer to life’s questions, and that sometimes the best way to find peace is to simply let go of the need for certainty.

Q: What is the significance of the title “Closer to Fine”?

A: The title “Closer to Fine” suggests that there is no such thing as a perfect answer to life’s questions. The more we seek certainty, the further away we get from finding peace. However, if we are willing to let go of the need for certainty, we can find peace in the journey itself.