High

Album: yet to be titled (2024)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This vibrant, house-influenced track celebrates self-love and discovering inner strength.

    "'High' is a song I wrote about finding a friend within myself," said Smith. "Even through the lows, you have to find the highs."
  • The song opens with a confessional tone as Smith reaches out to a friend going through a similar journey of self-reflection. Smith unpacks the complexities of the strained relationship, acknowledging both her and her friend's shortcomings.

    "The one thing that you'll need to know before you press play on it is that I actually wrote it about falling out with one of my friends," Smith told BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders.

    Smith and her pal reconciled and their friendship is now stronger than ever.
  • The chorus is a declaration of independence and optimism. Smith's newfound self-love is the ultimate high, a feeling that can't be replicated or replaced. She's found strength within, even when faced with challenges and setbacks.

    Smith admitted to Saunders that growing involves learning lessons. "I want to grow and grow as a person grow older, but I don't want to trip and get lost and things and stuff, but it's kind of inevitable," she said.
  • Smith wrote the song with singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre (real name Michael Stafford). Sabre is best known for his hit single "Let Me Go," which reached the UK Top 20 in 2011.
  • Smith and Sabre wrote the lyrics to a beat created by the production duo DAMEDAME.

    "It's amazing that I get to make music with my friends," Smith told Saunders. "So it's produced by DAMEDAME and then I wrote with Michael Stafford. I'm just having conversations with my friends and then ended up writing about what we're talking about. So I think that's how I just staying very in touch with just myself and doing it for me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."