Album: 2 (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This track from Anglo/American rock supergroup Black Country Communion's sophomore album, 2, has connections to Led Zeppelin. The song began as an idea worked out between BCC drummer Jason Bonham with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, when they considering the possibility of Zeppelin carrying on after their celebrated show at London's O2 Arena in December 2007. When their plans fell though, Bonham finished the song with his BCC bandmates Glenn Hughes (bass/vocals), Joe Bonamassa (guitar/vocals) and Derek Sherinian (keyboards)."
  • Hughes told Musicradar.com about the song's lyrical content: "Jason had played me the demo of this track. This was from when he was working with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones and the various singers that might have been part of something. Anyway, he played me this riff, and I said, 'Give it to me.' And he said, 'Give it to you?' And I said very emphatically, 'Yes, give it to me!' And he said, 'OK, then go write something that'll make me cry.'

    And that's what I proceeded to do. This album is very dark lyrically. It's all about my death and what happens before it – it's super heavy. Jason is a very fine musician, and he understands that darkness. When he gave me the track and said, 'Go write something that'll make me cry,' he was saying, 'Write something that matters.'

    When I hear something like that, I know I have to be fearless. I'm not singing about puppy love anymore, you know? I'm getting to the core. I'm singing about real s--t. I'm not writing lyrics to try to convince people I'm cool; I'm writing to f---ing tell them what the hell's going on. So let's not be frightened of it, let's embrace it, and let's just tell the truth."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Shawn Mullins

Shawn MullinsSongwriter Interviews

"Lullaby" singer Shawn Mullins on "Beautiful Wreck," beating the Devil, and his writing credit on the Zac Brown Band song "Toes."

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.