Big Quiet

Album: Citycide (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Dead Ships frontman Devlin McCluskey wrote this song about his best friend, who killed himself after struggling to find meaningful work. He studied military history, but couldn't find a job in that field and ended up doing repetitive work in the pharmaceutical industry. A few months after moving out of his parents' home, he committed suicide.

    The song reflects on the good times they shared and imagines him returning to life after he sorts out his issues:

    If things get too loud
    and you're over it
    you can come back to life
    and return to the big quiet


    In his Songfacts Interview, McCluskey said there is some "positivity and light" in the song, which is what he goes for when he sings it.
  • Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene produced this song. Six tracks that Canning produced, including this one, were issued in 2015 on an EP called EP I. "Big Quiet" was included the following year on their album Citycide.
  • Devlin McCluskey made a video for this song using public domain footage from the 1978 film Cosmos: War of the Planets.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.