Learn To Dance

Album: The Pop Underground (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the first song that Andrew McMahon recorded for his debut EP, The Pop Underground. The former Jack's Mannequin frontman explained to AOL Music that initially the writing process got off to a difficult start. "I had just finished a really inspiring two-day writing session for another artist and went out to celebrate with some friends," he said. "We ended up watching the sun come up despite the fact I was scheduled to meet a young producer in the morning to begin work on some of my own material. I spent the first half of the day hungover, hitting dead ends, working on a song I had written prior."

    Finally McMahon found the inspiration to pen a song that reflected the lessons he's learned from the past. "Mark, the producer I'd just met, finally said, 'I think we should write something brand new.' He put up a beat, and it brought me out of my fog," said McMahon. "I laid down the simple piano line you hear in the intro and this boozy, regretful lyric. It quickly turned into flashbacks from my childhood and glimpses into the future. In a lot of ways it's about finding forgiveness and learning how to acknowledge the past in a way that lets you live in the present."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."