Pay No Mind (Snoozer)
by Beck

Album: Mellow Gold (1994)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about Beck's frustration with the record industry, which focuses on money and sales rather than creativity and talent.
  • According to Beck, this was originally a 10-verse song, that he cut down to three when he recorded it. He wrote the song in 1989 when he was still a teenager, and he spent years developing it live, often changing the lyrics. It was finally released on Mellow Gold, his first for Geffen Records.

    Is Beck a hypocrite for releasing a song decrying the music industry and then signing to a major label? Not at all: As part of his deal, he was allowed to release songs on indie labels as well, which he did.
  • Beck almost always plays this at live shows, but always improvises the lyrics, so the song is never the same twice. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bert - Pueblo, NM, for all above
  • This was released as the follow-up single to Beck's hit "Loser." Unsurprisingly, it didn't chart, but Beck wasn't exactly striving for a hit. Throughout his career, Beck stayed in a sweet spot where he made wildly eclectic music, some of which was just popular enough to garner him a substantial audience.

Comments: 1

  • Cornflakes from Bfe, TnThis is one of my favorites from 'Mellow Gold' because of how deeply he sings it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

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

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.