Warm Foothills

Album: This Is All Yours (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song's imagery about an idyllic swimming trip are from John Bayley's memoir of his wife Iris Murdoch, Elegy for Iris. The passage recounts a happy time together before the late author's sad slide into dementia.

    Iris Murdoch (1909-1999) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1997 and died two years later in Oxford.
  • The sunrise ballad came from the writing sessions Alt-J did for British indie film Leave To Remain.
  • Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Lianne La Havas, Marika Hackman and Sivu were recruited to add vocals and whistling which were then spliced to fit between those sung by Joe Newman.

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousThis is an incredible song that I have used on my annual Black Friday radio show in Chattanooga 2 or 3 times. I absolutely love the harmonies and had no idea what the lyrics were about. Now I know; f--king incredible!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?