Breakin' Away

Album: Breakin' Away (1981)
Charted: 43
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Breakin' Away" is the title track to Al Jarreau's most popular album, which expanded his audience outside the world of jazz. It also includes his hit "We're In This Love Together." Both songs have a theme of finding that special someone who makes you feel like you can take on anything together.
  • Jarreau wrote this song with Tom Canning and Jay Graydon. Canning is a keyboard player who wrote and produced tracks for Jarreau's first seven albums. Graydon is an architect of the West Coast melodic pop sound, writing and producing tracks like "After The Love Has Gone" and "Turn Your Love Around." Graydon worked on many of Jarreau's hits, but isn't a fan of his lyrics.

    Graydon told Songfacts: "We'd write a song, a love song or whatever. Now comes the big payoff, where the guy or the girl should be telling the other guy 'Get out. It's over. Go away.' Instead he starts talking about flowers and things. When it's time for the big payoff everything turns into candy. It's like in 'Breakin' Away': 'Show me some climbing boots, show me some parachutes,' what are you talking about?"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.