Blame Brett Lyrics

Understanding "Blame Brett" by The Beaches: Themes and Analysis

• Song: Blame Brett
• Artist: The Beaches
• Album: Blame My Ex
• Producers: Lowell & Gus Van Go
• Release Date: May 5, 2023

Annotations and Meaning

Blame Brett by The Beaches explores a familiar narrative of post-breakup emotional self-defense. The speaker, having been hurt in the past, adopts a defensive and non-committal attitude towards future relationships. This theme, often found in pop songs targeting teens and young adults, resonates deeply as it delves into the complexities of emotional healing and self-preservation following a difficult breakup. The lyrics build a narrative of emotional self-defense and detachment. The speaker is upfront about her intentions, acknowledging her inability to form a meaningful, committed relationship. The tone is unapologetic, suggesting a sense of resignation and readiness to take responsibility for her actions. By warning her current lover that he risks being hurt if they proceed, the speaker implicitly outlines the behavior she endured in her previous romance. The speaker's lines, such as "I'll become an asshole, Disguised as a bad girl," and "I'm sorry in advance, I'm only gonna treat you bad," reveal a protective facade modeled after her ex's personality and behavior. This reversal brings to mind a kind of revenge, as the speaker lays the blame for her actions on "Brett," her ex-partner. Brett is the cause of her current emotional state and approach to relationships. The song follows a standard verse-chorus structure, familiar and accessible to most listeners. The high-energy instrumental backdrop turns what could have been a sorrowful, self-indulgent piece into a defiant statement of freedom and fearlessness. However, underlying this defiance is a palpable sorrow, reflecting the speaker's inability to enjoy a relationship based on true intimacy and mutual trust due to emotional scarring. Songs like Blame Brett serve as cathartic outlets for listeners in similar situations. While not everyone would react as the speaker claims she intends to, listening and singing along to such a song provides a form of imaginary retaliation, aiding in moving on. Additionally, the song indirectly affirms women's right to explore less traditional sexual and romantic paths, a right long celebrated by male rock musicians in their songs. Jordan Miller, the lead singer of The Beaches, explained that the song is not actually about her breakup with Brett Emmons, frontman of The Glorious Sons. Instead, it was inspired by a weird date where a new partner professed his love too soon. Miller wanted to write a song apologizing to future partners for her defensive behavior, attributing it to her ex. The song's alliteration and catchy tag, "Blame Brett," were suggested by Lowell, leading Miller to get Emmons' consent to use his name. Ultimately, Blame Brett captures the complexity of post-breakup emotions and the defensive mechanisms people employ to protect themselves from further hurt, wrapped in a high-energy, defiant musical package.