Crutch

Album: Things Are Great (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This impressionistic guitar-pop song, though at times inscrutable, is about a personal experience of singer Ben Bridwell. "I feel like everybody has had a time when nothing goes right and you still have to carry on," he said. "I think that feeling hits you in this song, even if you don't know what the specifics are."
  • In the double-meaning chorus, Bridwell sings of his dependence on his romantic partner.

    I've got a crutch on you, wishing there was something that I could do
    I've got a crutch on you


    The wordplay expresses the idea of having a crush as well as relying on his lover. "I think I wanted to say, 'I've got a crush on you,' and I thought it was funny how relationships also feel like crutches," said Bridwell.
  • Bridwell co-produced the track with Wolfgang Zimmerman, a well-known in-house producer.
  • Released as the lead single from Things Are Great, Band of Horses achieved their first #1 on a Billboard songs chart when "Crutch" climbed to the top of the Adult Alternative tally dated January 8, 2022. Their previous best placement had been "Casual Party," which peaked at #4 on the same tally in 2016.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.