Heal Me

Album: Wildness (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody had been a heavy drinker for far too long. He spent too much time getting drunk and creating chaos, which reached a peak in his mid 20s when totally inebriated, the singer fell down some stairs and knocked himself out. Booze remained a problem until Lightbody had a wake-up call before football's European Championship during the summer of 2016. This hymn-like track is an uplifting ode to the female acupuncturist friend who convinced Lightbody to quit drinking.

    "I had my tickets and flights booked for all the matches and was going to France with four friends," recalled Lightbody to The Sun. "I woke up one morning and wasn't feeling very well - physically unwell. I was doing my exercises and I bent down to touch my toes and when I came up, it was like it was an earthquake.
    "I was dizzy and everything was moving. I phoned a friend who lived nearby and went to see a doctor."

    Lightbody was referred to a specialist who told him his whole head, eyes, ears, nose and sinuses were infected and he needed an operation. There was no way Lightbody could get on a plane meaning he was forced to miss the football tournament.

    Lightbody's acupuncturist pal treated Lightbody for six weeks. She not only helped him get back on track, but also convinced him to quit the drinking. "Finally, after way too many years of smashing my body to bits with booze, I met someone who helped me find my way back to health and clarity," said Lightbody. "This song is about her, that journey and is dedicated to her."
  • Lightbody previously sung about his drinking problem on the 2008 track "Disaster Button."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.