Out Of My Mind

Album: Wonderful Wonderful (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Brandon Flowers' wife Tana suffers from anxiety and depression and was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder following a difficult childhood. In 2015, Flowers canceled a string of tours for his solo album, The Desired Effect, after his wife's depression became severe, so he could go home to look after her. A number of songs on Wonderful Wonderful are about her condition. Flowers told UK's The Sun that writing personal songs such as "Rut" " Life To Come " and "Out of My Mind" has helped.

    "People are getting more informed on mental health and raising awareness and changing the stigma," he said. "This can only be a good thing. I think there is a power in talking about it. Addressing it on these songs wasn't easy, but it feels powerful.

    "I've never been prone to those feelings," Flowers added. "I've been relatively unscathed. A lot of people that are artists probably had a lot different upbringing to what I had."
  • Flowers mentions in the song a Paul McCartney encounter:

    So I told you about McCartney
    And that's a heavy name to drop
    You say you don't need confirmation
    But I don't know if I can stop


    Brandon Flowers explained to NME: "New Year's Eve we played a party in St. Barts and we heard he was coming so we practiced Helter Skelter and we got him on stage to sing it with us. His daughter was filming and wanted me to say something but I was too emotional."
  • There's also a lyric on the track about Tana being unimpressed by a Springsteen story.

    Went back to back with Springsteen
    You turned and rolled your eyes


    Flowers explained: "I sang 'Thunder Road' by Bruce Springsteen - I was trying to impress my wife, but she just wants me to be a good person, so she's not that impressed."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

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

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.