Don't Call Me Up

Album: High Expectations (2019)
Charted: 3 66
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Don't Call Me Up" finds Mabel giving her no-good boyfriend the boot.

    Don't call me up
    I'm going out tonight
    Feeling good now you're outta my life
    Don't wanna talk about us


    Mabel told The Sun: "It's about having that person in your life who doesn't appreciate you as much as you appreciate them and as soon as things end they start calling you again. It's about being strong and saying 'No you've had your chance.'"
  • Mabel wrote the song with Steve Mac (Ed Sheeran's "Shape Of You", Clean Bandit's "Symphony") and Camille Purcell (Little Mix's "Shout Out To My Ex", Jess Glynne's "I'll Be There"). It was written during Mabel's debut session with Steve Mac and was the first song they did together.

    Mabel told Genius that this collaboration with the two songwriters was the first time she'd "made something that was that kind of pop, but in a way that it was still me."
  • Lyrically, Mabel set out to write a feel-good breakup song. She explained it's about that moment when you realize you've got over your ex. It's when you think, "Hey, yesterday I spent all day thinking about this person and I woke up today and I just don't care anymore."
  • When Mabel penned the song, she was still getting over a breakup, feeling low and hung up on the situation. Writing "Don't Call Me Up" helped her start again.

Comments: 1

  • Mihle Maseti from South Africa I love, I love, I love. This song is amazing. It gave me goosebumps.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

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.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.