Leader of the Broken Hearts

Album: The Connection (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was released as the fourth single from The Connection. The song came about when co-producer James Michael told the band they needed a song for the album like the epic The Paramour Sessions track "Forever."
  • Vocalist Jacoby Shaddix' lyrics were inspired by the breakdown of his marriage to his high-school sweetheart, Kelly. Bass guitarist and programmer Tobin Esperance recalled to Altsounds: "The lyrics on that one just came together as soon as Jacoby started singing, 'Leader of the broken hearts.' I think lyrically he was kind of at this point that not only was his heart broken because of what he was going through with his wife during the process of making the record but being on the road and having all of our fans coming up to him and saying, 'This song saved me, your lyrics mean so much to me!' I think his sentiment with that song was that he was just grabbing all of those people and just taking them in and speaking for them."
  • Shaddix told Alternative Addiction how recording The Connection helped him through his issues back home. "Everything was in the studio," he explained on the writing of the record. "I had zero lyrics written for this record before we stepped in. For me personally, it was 'write the music, listen to it and find out how it makes me feel and then go from there.' That really helped push me along in the writing process because it just spoke to me. Plus, those hellish life events went on in the process of making the record. For me, lyrically that had a big impact on where I was going with the music."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.