A Knife In The Ocean

Album: What Went Down (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The closing track of What Went Down, this was a last-minute addition to the album. The song came out of a jam when producer James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, Mumford & Sons) had popped out of the studio. Guitarist Jimmy Smith told NME: "James had gone out to get a sandwich or something and then he came back and we'd written it. He was like: 'What's that?'. And then: 'That's definitely going on.'"

    "There's elements of jazz. It swings. It's got a Purdie Shuffle [drum solo made famous by session drummer Bernard Purdie] as the drumbeat."

    Vocalist Yannis Philippakis added: "The vocal line isn't a normal vocal line for me. I've never done anything like that before. Musically, I think it's the perfect closer to the record. It captures the essence of what the band is trying to do."
  • Foals unveiled the song during a special live session at London's Maida Vale studios for BBC Radio 1 on July 21, 2015.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?