Missed

Album: Chapter One (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the ballad that made Ella a breakout sensation on The X Factor. She sang it at her first audition, wowing the public and her performance subsequently received more than eight million hits on YouTube.
  • The song was inspired by Ella's late grandad, Bill, who died in the middle of the night from lung cancer when she was nine years old. She never went to visit him in hospital or attended his funeral, which the singer now regrets. "One day I was on the piano and was feeling very angry and emotional, I was having a down day," Ella told The Daily Record. "I started trying to write down lyrics and I got a melody in my head. Then I realised I was using this raw emotion from when I didn't get to say goodbye to my grandad."
  • Ella Henderson explained to Artist Direct how her grandfather influenced this tune. "Lyrically, the song is about hope, regret, and redemption," she said. "My grandfather is a massive influence on me in terms of music. He taught me so much. I respected so much."

    "When I was talking about him because I sang that song, and it was so emotional, they were drawn together," Henderson continued." It became the song I write about my granddad. I did think about it deeply. It can relate in one way because I did have a lot of resentment for never attending his funeral. It's about holding something and not letting go. I love him so much though it wasn't about that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

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.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.