Warm Foothills

Album: This Is All Yours (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song's imagery about an idyllic swimming trip are from John Bayley's memoir of his wife Iris Murdoch, Elegy for Iris. The passage recounts a happy time together before the late author's sad slide into dementia.

    Iris Murdoch (1909-1999) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1997 and died two years later in Oxford.
  • The sunrise ballad came from the writing sessions Alt-J did for British indie film Leave To Remain.
  • Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Lianne La Havas, Marika Hackman and Sivu were recruited to add vocals and whistling which were then spliced to fit between those sung by Joe Newman.

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousThis is an incredible song that I have used on my annual Black Friday radio show in Chattanooga 2 or 3 times. I absolutely love the harmonies and had no idea what the lyrics were about. Now I know; f--king incredible!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.