Leif Erikson

Album: Turn On The Bright Lights (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lyrics have no connection to the Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson. Interpol's lead singer and guitarist, Paul Banks, revealed to Pitchfork in 2003 how the music inspired the title of the song. "That was one of those things where, if you were to be able to isolate the keyboard part to that song - which you probably can't - but if you were in the studio, or if you just heard us doing a soundcheck, there's a quality to it which someone commented was kind of Viking-esque. Like if you were watching a film, you could see the galleon approaching the coast, the f--king Vikings peering over the edge or whatever, and then I just said, you know, 'Oh, Leif Erikson,' and I was really happy that everyone could live with it, because for me, it's like absurdist. Absurdism is great, 'cause why not? It seems more arbitrary to take a lyric and make it your title than to take something completely out of left field."
  • Turn on the Bright Lights was recorded with producer Peter Katis at his home studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The experience was nerve-wracking for the band because they had an extremely tight budget and little time to complete the album (they also weren't thrilled about being in Bridgeport). The frustration caused some friction among members. Guitarist Daniel Kessler and bass player Carlos Dengler were often butting heads over the smallest tasks.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.