What Was It Like

Album: Damned Devotion (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Joan Wasser, AKA Joan as Police Woman, was adopted at birth by her parents, Pauline and Dick. Her research chemist adoptive father was one of the kindest men she's ever known, and here she pays tribute to his calm and generous spirit.

    You said, I could never see what passing judgment
    On anybody else would ever do for me


    Wasser told Uncut magazine: "My father had passed a couple of years before, and I got a quote of his in there, in the chorus, because I wanted to remember it - 'I could never see what passing judgment. On anybody else would ever do for me.' That song is 100 percent about him and how gentle he was as a person."
  • Wasser's crooning of her devotion to a parental figure ties in with Damned Devotion's theme of devoting herself to things obsessively. She told Uncut the record is "about the creative process and also that idea of devotion in general, the fact that when your devoted to something all of your peripheral vision disappears."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?