Back to Me

Album: Defy (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The second tune released by Of Mice and Men following the departure of frontman Austin Carlile, "Back to Me" was recorded like the first song "Unbreakable" with producer Howard Benson (In Flames, All That Remains).

    "'Back To Me' is a very meaningful song for us," said vocalist/bassist Aaron Pauley. "When going through major life changes, whether it's loss or growth, it's incredibly easy to feel like you've lost a part of yourself - and like you'll never be yourself again. I've come believe that we can never truly lose ourselves. I believe we persist through these changes, and that if you can discover, tap into, and ignite your true passions, you'll always be able light the way back to you."
  • Pauley told Alternative Press how Austin Carlile leaving the band played into the creation of this song.

    "For maybe a fan of the band this is an entry on our Wikipedia page about the chronology of the band, but for us Austin leaving the band was a life a event," he said. "That's a big thing, and I think in major life events, it's easy to feel like you lose yourself or to feel like a piece of you is gone or to feel like, 'How can I be the me that I've always known that this is different now?' If you can hold onto the passion - whether it's passion in art, or music, or, I don't know, video games, anything - if you can find what you love and work diligently towards it and remember that that's a huge part of you, then you will always be able to find a way back to yourself."
  • The song is accompanied by a live video which chronicles the band's past few weeks before the release of this song. It features footage of Of Mice & Men performing at the Welcome to Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Fort Rock, and Las Rageous festivals.
  • Aaron Pauley discussed the track's meaning in a Kerrang track-by-track interview: "That song's all about re-igniting passion within yourself. When you feel like you've lost your way, you need to find those passions and a way back to yourself."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

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."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."