Agatha Chang
by Eels

Album: The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett finds the Eels mainman ruminating about a lost love. Everett told Q magazine the album is, "about being an idiot in relationships. And I worked out a way of making a musical version of that. It's one of the reasons why I called it The Cautionary Tales of... The good people might be able to learn from my mistakes. Why do so much stupid stuff yourself when I can do it for you?"
  • The Sun asked Everett whether he harbors hopes of ever winning his estranged lover back? He replied: "It's probably a case of what happens in this song, 'Agatha Chang,' where I say, 'I know it's just a song and would probably long gone.'"
  • Everett's former lover is described in this song as, "beautiful, with long black hair and aching eyes." The Eels frontman confessed to The Sun: "That was the case of changing the name and their hair color to protect the innocent. The song is about a real person. About 20 years ago, I did actually meet someone named Agatha Chang."

    "I wrote it down, thinking, 'One day baby all write a rock song called Agatha Chang,' he continued. "Recently I discovered that piece of paper when I was looking to change someone's name."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

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.