Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight

Album: Electric Arguments (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Paul McCartney, who together with producer Youth are the experimental duo The Fireman, explained the origins of this tune to The Sun November 28, 2008: "In the '60s, I used to hang out with a black singer called Jimmy Scott, the guy who said 'ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on.' He also used to say 'Nothing too much just outta sight.' Youth said it was a good start for a song so I got in that persona."
  • It has been suggested by some tabloids that the album title, Electric Arguments, is a reference to the texts, emails and alleged phone-bugging which took place between McCartney and Mills as their marriage slipped into bitter recriminations between both sides.
  • The 13 songs of Electric Arguments were each written and recorded in a day, with McCartney playing the instruments and Youth manning the recording desk. Macca told The Daily Telegraph October 10, 2008 that the idea of singing vocal lines was a spontaneous one, and as a consequence he had to make up the lyrics on the spot. He explained: "It was sort of a William Burroughs, cut-up approach. I'd get out poetry books and just kind of scour them and find phrases, then stick them to a phrase from another book, so I wasn't nicking somebody's whole poem. And I'd go on like that until I had enough to sing. I still don't know the lyrics myself."
  • This featured in the 2008-09 season finale of the television drama Crash.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?