Big Little Lions - “Why Won’t My Brain Stop”

We last heard from Cincinnati-based Big Little Lions last month, when they hit us with “Worth The Time,” but they’ve decided to grace our blog with another new song, entitled “Why Won’t My Brain Stop.” Anyone who’s ever suffered from anxiety will likely find their interest immediately piqued by simply reading the title… That’s exactly why we pressed play.

As the track begins, you will find that, beneath the soft and lonely sound of the keys, the lyrics delve into the hell that is insomnia– and if you’re one of the people who showed because we mentioned anxiety, you’re already in good company. Fans of Big Little Lions will know that the duo are known to trade off vocal duties atop sparsely populated instrumentals and with “Why Won’t My Brain Stop,” that is exactly the kind of sweet, folksy goodness that you will find: Helen takes the lead on the verses, joined by Paul’s harmonies shortly before (and on) the refrain, which is simply the title of the song. Its repetition is both catchy and symbolic of the mantras many of us often use to try and turn off our thoughts.

A kick drum is added to propel the song forward, causing the the second chorus to double– nay– triple in size before hitting us with the nearly a cappella: “the moment I drift away… Is the moment I recall what I screwed up today.” This is the sweet sound of empathy… Misery loves company, and all that… But the last third of “Why Won’t My Brain Stop” is a magnificent crescendo, complete with swelling vocals, some call and response, as well as a few more elements added to the music, such as louder drums and some strings– all of which can be interpreted as the giant f’ing whirlpool of thoughts that can flood and spin and swallow us whole… but can also lead songwriters to craft a song about this terrible affliction.

-TM