Hard Way Home

This is the opening track from American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile's fourth studio album, Bear Creek. The record was named after Bear Creek Studios where most of it was recorded, which is housed in a converted early 20th century barn outside of Carlile's hometown of Maple Valley, Washington.

Brandi decided that she wanted to get in touch with her country roots when she recorded this song. She asked her mother Teresa Carlile, a local Country and Western singer herself, to accompany her to the studio. Brandi told Spinner that having her mom watching over her from the control room inspired her to give the song the amount of soul it needed. "I loved working at Bear Creek on this record. It was almost like working at home," she said. "We had such a great familial atmosphere, and for me it was one of our best recording experiences to date."

Bear Creek debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200, giving Carlile her first top 10 album. Her previous highest chart placing came with 2009's Give Up The Ghost, which debuted and peaked at #26.