The Ideal Husband

Album: I Love You, Honeybear (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds FJM listing all the bad things that he's done in his life, before concluding that despite his weaknesses, he's ready to settle down and be the "ideal husband." Asked by The Independent what he deems the worst thing on the list, FJM replied: "The big one in the song is telling people jokes to shut them up. That is my biggest and most misleading antisocial behavior. I struggle with contempt for people and I can keep them at arm's length by making them laugh."

    "I find the happier I become, the less funny I get. But at those Fleet Foxes shows you could not get me to shut up. I was talking between every song just because I was so unhappy."
  • Josh Tillman (aka Father John Misty) reveals the worst of himself in his songs. Here he's a self-hating wreck who confesses to "telling people jokes to shut them up" and "bringing on unearned attention."

    Tillman told Q magazine that he was inspired by the fearless honesty of the novelist Henry Miller. "There's a line in Tropic of Cancer, 'We're like two insane people trying to f--k through an iron gate.'" he said. "And I thought, 'That's my album.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

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.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.