Room To Breathe

Album: Cavalier Youth (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitarist Max Helyer first played the riff to Josh Franceschi while on the Warped Tour in 2012. The You Me At Six vocalist told Kerrang! magazine: "I remember thinking, 'That's exactly what I want on this album.' We collectively wanted Max and Chris to come up with riffs that were more anthemic."
  • Franceschi said regarding the song's meaning: "Lyrically this is one of the only negative songs. I felt very claustrophobic at that time in my life. Sometimes as an individual, you need to give yourself room to breathe, and to find some answers and clarity."
  • Other songs where the protagonist needs room to breathe include:

    "One Step Closer" by Linkin Park. ("Everything you say to me. Takes me one step closer to the edge. And I'm about to break. I need a little room to breathe 'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge.")

    "Language" by Porter Robinson. ("Give me release. Let the waves of time and space surround me. Yeah Cause I need room to breathe. Let me float back to the place you found me. I'll be okay.")

    "Elephant" by Alexandra Burke. ("And it's crushing me, there's no room to breathe. Got me backed against the wall, like that. And I just can't see, 'cause it's blinding me. Coming closer, I can't relax.")
  • Franceschi told Billboard magazine: "The song was written at a confusing time, and I felt we/I just needed a fresh start musically. New people entered my life around that time and changed my whole perspective on music and reignited my love for it."
  • The Tom Welsh directed video features the group onstage and off it. According to Billboard, the clip was shot across 48 shows around the world.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

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

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.