You Ain't Alone

Album: Boys & Girls (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Vocalist Brittany Howard told the story of this song to NME. She said: "I wrote that song to myself. It's meant to uplift. I was leaving my dad's house and I had this melody in my head and I was singing these words and by the time I got to the highway I knew how the song should be."
  • "You Ain't Alone" is one of the earliest Alabama Shakes songs, appearing on their independently released 2011 EP. At the end of that year, soon after they signed a record deal, the song was used in a Zales jewelry commercial.
  • "You Ain't Alone" is the song that got the attention of blogger Justin Gage, who posted it on his Aquarium Drunkard blog, leading to a record deal for Alabama Shakes. He came across the song on the band's ReverbNation page and reached out to Brittany Howard, who let him post the song on July 25, 2011. Gage called the band "a slice of the real; an unhinged, and as of yet unsigned, blues-based soul outfit fronted by a woman armed with a whole lotta voice and a Gibson SG."

    The blog had a lot of industry followers, and many looked to sign the band. They ended up signing to Dave Matthews' ATO Records and releasing the song on their 2012 debut album, Boys & Girls.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

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

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.