Slide

Album: Electric Light (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This emotional ballad about losing the love of your life to another man closes James Bay's Electric Light record. He said:

    "'Slide' was the last song written for the new album and it felt like a natural closer. Although it's tone is sad and heavy, it's essentially about connection - a theme which, with hindsight, this album is really hinged on - and hope, despite the fact it doesn't always work out. I guess it goes back to the nature of why I love songwriting - because a song promises the possibility of connection with other people - so we chase those flashes of creativity even when they sometimes lead us astray."
  • The outro to "Slide" features a reading of one of James Bay's favorite Allen Ginsberg's poems, "Song" which begins with, "…the weight of the world is love." It is read by musician David Ryan Harris who Bay brought with him during his spring 2018 tour. The singer told Q magazine:

    "We just found the excerpt and it felt like a really moving thing to do, just to push the boundaries a little further. But we couldn't use the original recording, so I had to ask a friend of mine to do it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.