Breakin' At The Cracks

Album: Breakthrough (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Caillat told Artistdirect.com about this song: "A lot of people didn't want that one on the record because it's sad and very melancholy. I wanted that song on there because I think it's important. Yes, we have these fun, happy up-tempo songs, but I think every artist should have a song that you can cry to. I wrote that song about a family friend of mine who was going through two years of terrible things happening to her. Her two dogs died of cancer. Her parents both died in the two-year span, and her husband left her. She was going through the worst thing that anyone can go through in life. I put myself in her shoes and I wrote about it. I wrote about what was happening to her, and how she was "Breaking at the cracks, everything was going black and it's like a million heart attacks." On the next part of the song, I wanted to show that you can get through it—it's not the end of the world. There are ways you can get past these really difficult times in life."

Comments: 1

  • Linda from Oakland, CaWhat a gorgeous song. Colbie sounds so appropriately sad. Great to read about the background of the song here before I heard it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.