Not Broken Anymore

Album: Sway (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from Blue October's seventh studio album, Sway. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld penned the record in an upbeat frame of mind after years of struggling with a crippling alcohol addiction and marital problems. "Sway is about trying to find solutions to problems instead of dwelling in the problems," Furstenfeld told Radio.com. "It's about recognizing that you have to be proactive with your life if you really want to make it through to the other side and enjoy it."
  • Furstenfeld considers this emotional ballad to be the most personal tune on Sway. "That's the first song I attempted to tackle when I found this new way of life," he told Radio.com. "It means so much to me because I wrote it for my wife, what she did for me and all the things she empowered me with."

    "I didn't want to write complex songs anymore," continued Furstenfeld. "Not on this album, at least. I wanted to write songs you could get after one listen. It wasn't about how sad I am, it wasn't about how much turmoil I was in. It's just giving thanks. So when I hear ('Not Broken Anymore'), it just makes me remember all of the things I put my wife through and how she still stood up to me."
  • This was played as the final song each night on Furstenfeld's solo Open Book tour in April and May of 2013.
  • Furstenfeld told Artist Direct the story behind the song: "When we started touring for Any Man in America, I didn't see any change in the legal system," he said. "I thought by putting an album out about it, people would see and things would change! It didn't turn out that way. It just got worse. I still couldn't see my daughter. It felt like I was beating a dead horse. I began drinking and use again pretty heavily to the point where my wife looked at me and said, 'You know what? You've turned into a complete hypocrite. You're out there singing about how you want to be a good father but you can't go an hour without drinking.' She said, 'Nobody grieves this way. You need to clean your s--t up or I'm going to leave you!' So I cleaned myself up."

    "Today, I live a sober life," he continued, "which is blessed and amazing, but I couldn't have done it without her. This band would not be around anymore if she weren't in my life. I was so far off the deep end of drugs and alcohol that it was just awful. When I got clean, I needed to say, 'Thank you.' That song was her birthday and anniversary gift. I worked the hardest on that song. It's simple and gorgeous."
  • The similarly titled "Still Broken" was originally recorded by Furstenfeld's first band, Last Wish, and released on their 1995 album The First of February.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

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.