While The Song Remains The Same

Album: Chasing Yesterday (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Noel Gallagher wrote this song after going back to his hometown of Manchester. He was dismayed to find that a lot of the landmarks from his favorite two-hour walk starting and ending at his old apartment in the city center had disappeared.
  • The Chasing Yesterday album title is taken from a line in this song. The disc's name has lead to wrongful assumptions that its referencing a desire for an Oasis reunion. "If I hadn't had a f--king raging hangover I would have had the foresight to think, 'That might look a bit nostalgic on its own,'" Gallagher told Jam! Music. "The title's awful. What happened was I put it off and put it off and then my management called me and said, 'This album's going up for pre-order on iTunes today so we need a title by 3 o'clock.' And I said, 'Alright what time is it?' (They said), 'It's ten past one.' And I went, 'f--king hell.' I was going to call it Wheat is Murder or Dark Side of the Room, but Bono talked me out of that one."

    Gallagher added: "The line is saying, 'Look, let's stop chasing yesterday and think about tomorrow.' Now, clearly when chasing yesterday is taken out of context it looks like something else. I mean I still play some of the (Oasis) songs because I love some of the songs, and I know my audience particularly f---ing adore that part of my musical life. And I wouldn't really ever close the door on the music. But if you're asking about reforming the band, no, that's not even on. If I look now to the horizon and close my eyes, I don't see it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

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.

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.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

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

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."