The Rifle

Album: The Pirate's Gospel (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by a dream in which all Alela Diane's anxieties came together. She explained to The Sunday Times January 18, 2009: "I woke up at 5am, scrawled down the words and fell back to sleep. When I woke up, all those lyrics were there, and it was about the house I grew up in, straight out of a memory. We had this rifle hanging above the French doors - a great-grandperson's thing that didn't work any more - next to some antlers that my mom got at a thrift store or something."
  • The Pirate's Gospel album was originally self-released by Alela Diane in 2004. Two years later after amassing devotees on the internet, it was re-issued in revised form by Holocene Music. The following year, the employees of the Rough Trade record store chain named it their album of the year.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

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.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

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

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.