Graveyard Boyfriend

Album: It's A Beautiful Day And I Love You (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Released a few days before Halloween in 2020, "Graveyard Boyfriend" is about an ex who keeps coming back, like he's risen from the dead. Jillette Johnson wants nothing to do with him, making it clear she'll never go back to him.
  • Jillette Johnson does her own songwriting, and on this track she had a little fun with it. "I had just gotten my Hammond organ in my studio and I needed to justify having it," she said on the Songfacts Podcast. "I had been listening to Diana Ross' Surrender album, which gave me some inspiration. A producer friend of mine was also trying to get me to write a 'dumb song' and 'Graveyard Boyfriend' is the result of me playing around with all of these factors."
  • Johnson recorded this with producer Joe Pisapia for her third album, It's A Beautiful Day And I Love You. By this time, she had re-located from New York City to Nashville, which gave her access to the top talent in Music City. Augmenting her organ and vocals were Pisapia and Dan Knobler on guitars, Owen Biddle on bass, and Jamie Dick on drums.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."