Follow You Down

Album: Congratulations... I'm Sorry (1996)
Charted: 30 9
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a very conditional love song. The guy will follow her down, but not that far. Many Gin Blossoms songs deal with relationships where one partner isn't ready to go all in. "Until I Fall Away" is another example.
  • A band composition, this was the first single from their second major-label album, Congratulations... I'm Sorry, and it was a big hit, spending 10 weeks in the US Top 10 and getting loads of airplay. It was also a last-minute addition.

    "We were working on the record, and I'd come home at night to my hotel room, and I had those chords, and finished writing by the time we got home," guitarist Jesse Valenzuela said in a Songfacts interview. "We'd already finished the record, but I had this great song, so I demoed it up and I sent it to my main A&R man, David Andaly, the great David Andaly, and he said, 'Why are you hiding this thing? Let's put it on the record.' So we went and recorded it right away."
  • After running off a string of hits from their 1992 album New Miserable Experience, Gin Blossoms got burned out from the contant touring. They took some time off, then returned in 1995 with "Til I Hear It From You" for the Empire Records soundtrack, then with the album Congratulations... I'm Sorry in 1996. Apparently, the time off wasn't enough: In 1997 they broke up, amicably. Ironically, in the final days before the breakup, they were invited by ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers) to receive two awards for having the most-played songs the previous year, for "Til I Hear It From You" and "Follow You Down."

    They got back together in 2001, but had to record for an indie label and never had another hit.
  • The Congratulations... I'm Sorry album was named for what people would say to them after they landed hits with "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You" after years of struggle. Those songs were written by their guitarist, Doug Hopkins, whom they had to kick out of the band in 1992 because he became capricious and unreliable, a byproduct of his alcoholism. Hopkins died by suicide in 1993, tormented by hearing his hits from the band he was no longer part of. In the aftermath, the band often heard, "Congratulations on all your success... sorry to hear about your friend."

Comments: 3

  • Jake B from MissouriGreat band then and now. Best guitar interplay ever. Rode elevator with Robin at Kansas S tar. He was deep in thought before show. Great concert though small crowd. Thanks guys!!
  • Brian from Boston, MaMike from Bradenville pa I agree 100%.Great song Gin blossoms had alot of great songs.
  • Mike from Bradenville, PaI'm surprised that no one has commented on this song..I think it's a great pop/rock song
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