Songfacts®:

• The origins of American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird's sixth solo studio album, Break It Yourself, were a casual recording session during August 2011 in his West Illinois barn with drummer/percussionist Martin Dosh and guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker that went well. "It was about as low pressure a recording situation as I've ever experienced," Bird told Billboard magazine of the sessions. "It was the band in the barn, just playing live to an 8-track tape. That's exactly what you hear. There are no studio checks, no overdubbing. The album is the sound of the room."
• This song was released as the first single from the album. Said Bird to Paste Magazine regarding the song's meaning: "'Tis noble to be strong and self-reliant, but if you're too proficient who's going to break your heart? Doing it yourself is as easy as seeing your own eyeball."
• Bird told About.com the song, "is about if it's possible to break your own heart if you can't find anyone else to do it, just for the life experience."