Miracle Mile

Album: Dear Miss Lonelyhearts (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cold War Kids lead singer Nathan Willett explained the genesis of this piano-driven rocker about the lonely road to fame: "It was actually the very last song that we finished on the record," he told LA Music Blog. "We did a couple songs for an EP with a bunch of covers, and our friend Richard Swift came down to play piano and do some background vocals. 'Miracle Mile' came from that. It came together really quickly and was a really fun, easy one."
  • The album title alludes to the troubled advice columnist in Nathanael West's Depression-era novel Dear Miss Lonelyhearts. Willett explained in the same interview: "I think the idea of a main character who is an advice columnist and is answering these letters from really desperate people who want some kind of help, and the idea of the songs being little letters or attempts to ask for help - something really resonated there. Something about the advice columnist having this kind of spiritual crisis about how to answer these people' really sad letters struck me as being very timeless and inspiring." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • This peaked at #22 on the Alternative chart.
  • This was used on several TV shows, including The Vampire Diaries in the Season 4 episode "Bring It On," Grey's Anatomy in the Season 9 episode "Transplant Wasteland," and Camp in the Season 1 episode "Valentine's Day In July."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

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.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.