Don't Believe A Word

Album: Ursa Major (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first single off the San Francisco band Third Eyed Blind's fourth studio album, Ursa Major.
  • This intensely political song underwent numerous lyrical changes between its live debut and its radio release in 2009. Stephan Jenkins, lead singer and songwriter for the group, told The Huffington Post that it is indicative of the band's style, saying, "the song is full angry, bold and dirty and so are we."
  • Jenkins explained the album title to Marie Claire magazine: "Ursa Major is the constellation of the bear. It's good for us because we've been hibernating and now we've awakened and we are hungry for spring and we want to feed and we want to thrive."
  • The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart making it the highest charting set of the San Francisco band's career. The group had previously peaked as high as #12 with Out of the Vein in 2003.
  • Jenkins told Alternative Addiction in a September 2010 interview that the message of this song is not so relevant now Barack Obama has replaced George Bush as president. He explained it, "was aimed at the deceit that went on and the lyrics if I remember go on about the lies at the court of King George and he'll wake up screaming. I certainly don't feel that way now because we got our man elected."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

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.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?