Wasting All These Tears

Album: Frame by Frame (2013)
Charted: 37
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Florida native Cassadee Pope discovered her love of singing at a young age and cultivated her talent as a member of St. Ann School Jazz Band while in middle school in West Palm Beach In 2008 she co-founded the pop punk band Hey Monday and became their lead vocalist. The band was discovered by Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz, and they released their first studio album, Hold on Tight, in October 2008 with Wentz's label Decaydance and Columbia Records.

    Pope embarked on her first solo acoustic tour across the east and west coast in 2012. She released her debut self-titled EP on May 22, 2012, before successfully auditioning for season 3 of the singing competition, The Voice in the summer. She advanced to finals, winning the title on the live finale results day in December 2012. Pope signed with country music label Republic Nashville, an imprint of Big Machine Records the following month.

    This was released as Pope's first single from her debut album on the Republic Nashville label. The song, co-written by Caitlyn Smith and Rollie Gaalswyk, was sung by Pope on The Voice on June 4, 2013.
  • Pope told Billboard magazine that she had a feeling about the song from the beginning. "It was one of the first songs I heard in publishing meetings," she said. "It was my first time doing those. I had always written my own music. I fell in love right from the first line. It reels you in, There's such a picture that it paints. I knew it was a song I wanted for the album. I didn't think it would be the first single. I thought it would be something we released a little further down the line. Then, we recorded it, and I started playing it for people, I started performing it live, and the reaction was just undeniable. It had so much emotion. I think it's a great first impression for people."
  • The song was certified Platinum after reaching over one million downloads. Taylor Swift was the previous solo female Country singer to reach Platinum certification on a debut single, with 2006's "Tim McGraw."
  • This was co-written by country singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith, whose resumé also includes Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's "You Can't Make Old Friends," Lady Antebellum's "747" and Rascal Flatts' "Let It Hurt."

    The other co-writer was Smith's husband, pop singer/songwriter Rollie Gaalswyk. The pair penned the tune together, over a bottle of red wine. Asked by Radio.com if it felt strange writing a break-up song with her husband, Smith replied: "We're both writers and we both have crazy ideas and crazy lines coming. I don't always write from, 'I have lived every word of this song.'"

    "Sometimes when you write you put on an actor hat and you can play a different character," she added, "which makes writing breakup songs with your husband a little easier."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?