Amen

Album: iTunes Single (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The idea for this song came to frontman Aswan North when he was walking around Manhattan and constantly hearing New Yorkers use the old phrase "Amen." "So I'm in a room with a writer and we get this little beat going and I get this idea," he recalled to Alternative Addiction. "I'm sitting there and I'm like 'huh, I'm hearing lots of people on this trip who keep going, amen, amen.' I thought that was weird. Were they trying to bring back old school slang? I even heard one dude say, 'that's so righteous.' They were saying all of these cool, uplifting, hopeful spiritual words that were really attached to scripture but served as slang. Amen means - if I looked it up - the definition is "let it be so, or let it be.' A new way of saying it - it is what it is - so I thought, instead I'm just going to say amen. That's a cool word in Manhattan and everybody liked it and thought I was on the right track."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

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."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.