How Does It Happen

Album: Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time (1996)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Running to 3 minutes 5 seconds, this track can be found on the limited edition CD seemed like a good idea at the time... a collection of demos and outtakes on which the title has no questionmark. Together with Al's liner notes, that desideratum suggests this is a rhetorical question: "A song that I used to do to cheer myself up during the dark casino nights of the late eighties. Probably never performed outside of Reno or Lake Tahoe."

    Uptempo and saxophone dominated, this is a passably good song to which any listener can affix his or her own meaning.

    Not all the Reno nights were dark, because at the age of 42, Al met his future wife there at one of his shows. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.