Poetry Corner Whenever I Feel Like It

The singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile has a steel hold of the womenfolk in this house. We find ourselves cursing her song "That Wasn't Me" more often than it deserves to be cursed because any time one of us utters the commonly used phrase "Hang on," we are helpless to keep ourselves from adding, in perfect harmony, "Just hang on for a minute, I've got something to say." In honor of a three-day stretch in which this song has not left my head, I present to you this week's Poetry Corner Whenever I Feel Like It. When I feel like it is now.

(I chose this video because it was recorded at Bear Creek Studio in good ol' Woodinville and because I don't think there's anything more perfect in the world than Brandi Carlile going acoustic.)

That Wasn't Me
Brandi Carlile

Hang on, just hang on for a minute
I've got something to say
I'm not asking you to move on or forget it
But these are better days
To be wrong all along and admit it, is not amazing grace
But to be loved like a song you remember
Even when you've changed

Tell me
Did I go on a tangent?
Did I lie through my teeth?
Did I cause you to stumble on your feet?
Did I bring shame on my family?
Did it show when I was weak?
Whatever you see, that wasn't me
That wasn't me, oh that wasn't me

When you're lost you will toss every lucky coin you'll ever trust
And you'll hide from your God like he ever turns his back on us
And you'll fall all the way to the bottom and land on your own knife
But you'll learn who you are even if it doesn't take your life

Tell me
Did I go on a tangent?
Did I lie through my teeth?
Did I cause you to stumble on your feet?
Did I bring shame on my family?
Did it show when I was weak?
Whatever you see, that wasn't me
That wasn't me, oh that wasn't me

But I want you to know that you'll never be alone
I want to believe

Do I make myself a blessing to everyone I meet?
When you fall I will get you on your feet
Do I spend time with my family?
Does it show when I am weak?
When that's what you see, that will be me
That will be me, that will be me
That will be me.