Levi Johnston's Blues

Album: Lonely Avenue (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lonely Avenue is a collaboration album between American piano-popster Ben Folds and English muso novelist Nick Hornby. Folds previously worked with Hornby on "That's Me Trying," a song that appeared on the 2004 Folds-produced William Shatner album Has Been.
  • Levi Johnston, who is the father of American politician Sarah Palin's grandson, is the bone-headed protagonist of this track. The Alaskan first received media attention in August 2008 when Palin was running for the vice-presidency on a family values ticket, and was forced to announce that her daughter Bristol was five months pregnant and that Johnston was the father.
  • The way the pair collaborated was that Hornby emailed lyrics to Folds, who then wrote the music. The American singer-songwriter told Spinner UK: "There was no consulting. He sent me emails without explanations. I'd play around with them [the lyrics] a little bit, and if I found something in it and was ready to go, which I usually was, I called the band up and went to the studio, which was on hold, and recorded it, Nick got an MP3 the next morning."
  • The lyrics, "I live to hang out with the boys/Get on my snowboard/Do some fishing/Kill some moose," are based on lines from Johnston's former MySpace page.
  • Folds told Spinner UK that even though the duo appear to be making fun of Johnston, the song is really about growing up. "The fact that Levi Johnston has become a celebrity was never ever in either one of our heads," he explained. "I find it a little unfortunate because now it looks like some kind of a novelty song or satire. There's no satire, no novelty. It's totally on his side. We were kids too. I just happen to like the guy."
  • Al Gore got to hear this song and called up Folds to say he loved it.
  • Folds told Jam! Music: "I got the lyrics the day after the Republican National Convention. I didn't know who Levi Johnston was. Nick noticed the kid onstage. Now that he's famous, it adds another dimension that I'm not sure is good for the song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.