Walking After You by Foo Fighters

Album: The Colour And The Shape (1997)

Charted: 20

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Dave Grohl wrote this song after getting the divorce papers from his first wife, Jennifer Youngblood. The couple were married in 1994 a few months after Kurt Cobain died, but they divorced two years later. This was a very difficult time for Grohl, as he was looking for direction in both his personal and professional life. After he got the divorce papers, he wrote this song, which he later described as "an emotional, sappy song about getting dumped."

While he allowed himself to wallow on this track, he also wrote another much more hopeful song recalling his initial feelings for Jennifer. That was "Everlong," which became one of their most beloved songs.
On the album version of this song, Grohl is the only performer. The Foo Fighters also recorded a version for the X-Files soundtrack with the full band, which is the only song guitarist Franz Stahl, who was with the band for only a short time, appears on.
In 2006, Foo Fighters recorded an acoustic version for their album Skin And Bones. Pat Smear, who was a guitarist with both Foo Fighters and Nirvana, appears on this version along with Rami Jafee and Petra Haden.
In an interview on the MTV2 show 24 Hours Of Foo, Grohl said he hated the video for this song, which doesn't have the fun, quirky tone of many Foo Fighters videos. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bert - Pueblo, NM, for above 3
The Colour And The Shape is primarily inspired by Grohl's separation and divorce from Jennifer Youngblood. During a 1997 interview with Vox magazine, the Foo Fighters frontman explained the sequencing of the album is like a visit to a therapist, switching between uptempo tracks and ballads to reflect conflicting emotions.

"The first song, 'Doll,' is all about your fear of entering into something you weren't prepared for, which is the way I feel about mostly everything," he explained. "I go through this whole therapy session, and I end up at the last track, when I realize that it's OK, I can make my way through all of this, and I'm not that freaked out at the end. We were joking for a while when we were thinking about work for the album. I thought, why don't we put a picture of a therapist's couch on it? For the rest of my life, when I listen to this record, it will be the Fall of 1996, and my journal entries, which is a little strange."
A re-recorded version plays during the end credit sequence of the 1998 The X-Files movie.

Comments: 8

Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganWhen he says, "Weren't you adored?" it sounded like, "Weren't you a DORK?" I knew that couldn't be what he said but it made me chuckle.
Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnThis song makes me melt. I loved it from the first note. The only Foo song that I truly adore.
Tracy from Tulsa, OkNever seen the video.

I view this song as a commitment song. Like it or not, we're going to remain together. Not in a sick way. Love the gong crescendos.
Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesThe first time I heard this, I was driving in an unfamiliar town, late at night, on a back road, passing a beautiful cemetery. I was listening to a wonderful radio station I had never heard before, KSWD, which I had come upon by chance. The dreamy depths of the music and the dimly lit memories have combined in my thoughts as a strip of black and white 16mm film.
Heather from Cary, NcGlad to know Dave has such a deep understanding of the emotions you go through when you get dumped. My ex claims I dumped him but I am pretty sure I am the dumpee considering all the GD begging I've been doing for him to come back and to no avail. He's found someone else to act out his melodrama for and she is falling for it completely. My friends tell me to be happy - he is someone else's problem now. Well, I don't feel that way. He was the master at convincing me that we should be together, meant for each other, soulmates. Blah blah blah. Had two children with him and a life for 10 years with him until he met a girl from his old High School (Brenda) who he told me he would never fall in love with because he didn't see her that way. Well, today he told me he is moving 5 hours from here to be with her and her daughter Rachel and leaving his own two children in the dust. And this was after years of abuse and being told by him that I was "dingbat" and not in an affectionate Archie Bunker way, either. Anyway, I hate this song. Who walks after someone who breaks up with them. A loser, that's who.
Frank from Brampton, Ontario, CanadaThis is one of Foo's few great songs. It's very moving and serene.
Kevin from Albany, OrIt's a good song, but I agree with Dave, it's weird video.
Ben from Newcastle, EnglandI'd say this is one of the Foo's most emotional songs, along with Everlong. This is one of their best.

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