I'll Back You Up by Dave Matthews Band

Album: Remember Two Things (1993)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Dave Matthews wrote this song for Julia Grey, his longtime girlfriend, in an effort to win her back after they split up. The song is very romantic, with Dave singing:

No matter how fast we are running
Somehow we keep up with each other

Julia liked the song but didn't go back to Dave. Looking back on it, he's happy it worked out that way: Dave got married to a woman named Ashley in 2000 and remained friends with Julia. Even though the song didn't accomplish its goal, Matthews likes it a lot and puts it into the band's setlist from time to time.
"I'll Back You Up" was the first song Dave Matthews wrote. In 2023 he told Howard Stern that it's "still one of the best songs I ever wrote."
The Dave Matthews Band started playing this song live soon after they formed in 1991. They recorded it for their first album, Remember Two Things, which they released independently in 1993. Some songs on that album, including "Tripping Billies" and "Ants Marching," were included on later albums released by their label, RCA, but "I'll Back You Up" they never recorded again.
Matthews recorded the song with Tim Reynolds in what he described as a closet at nightclub in Charlottesville, Virginia called Trax. It's just Dave and Tim with their acoustic guitars.

Reynolds didn't become an official member of the Dave Matthews Band until 2008, but he recorded and performed with the band since their inception.

Comments: 13

Matt Krause from DelawareThe first song Dave wrote was The Somg That Jane Likes, as others have said. He wrote the song very young and his sister Jane likes it but it took time to develop the lyrics. The first lyrics he ever wrote down and then put with music is I’ll back You Up, but it was not the first song he wrote.
Eduardo from Curitiba, BrazilActually, the first song Dave wrote is "The Song That Jane Likes".
Beau from Phoenix, Az"The Song That Jane Likes" actually predates DMB by about 2 years; it appeared on a disc Dave did with Mark Roebuck called Tribe of Heaven, which was recorded in 1989 but never actually released until 2005.
Ines from Miami, FlI just want to know what this song is about? I love it! But I don't fully understand the lyrics. Thanks =o)
Ryan from New York, NyI believed this one was about Anne Matthews
Bryan from Syracuse, NyI have walked in Dave's shoes then.
Gabe from New York, NyIf I remember correctly, The Song That Jane Likes, was Dave's first musically written peice with the band, while I'll Back You Up was his first song containing lyrics.
Jesse from Peterborough, CanadaYou're all missing a rather important point. Tim Reynolds played the solo and harmony guitar parts.
Ben from Harpers Ferry, WvThis was the first complete song- the music for the song that jane likes was complete before this song, but the words came after. It is a good song, beautiful music but a little wimpy in its sentiment. It shows the evolution of his relationships with women, however, if you compare it to later songs.
Dan from Port Jervis, NyAccording to www.antsmarching.org, The Song That Jane Likes was the second song he wrote. They say that Dave wrote this song in April 1990 and wrote TSTJL in October 1990.
Tommy from Southboro, MaI think "The Song that Jane Likes" is the first song Dave wrote...I may be wrong though, correct me if I am
Lucian from Blacksburg, VaThis was accualy written by Dave after he had asked Grey to marry him (3 times...poor guy!). Holloween is the "sequel" to this, and basically says F You!
Emily from Houston, TxThis is a beautiful song that seems to be somewhat underrated for what it is and what it is about as well as the amazing guitar melodies. Dave Matthews sure set his band off to a great start with this one!

see more comments

More Songfacts:

ReasonsEarth, Wind & Fire

"Reasons" by Earth, Wind & Fire is a popular wedding song, but it's actually about a one-night stand.

White IversonPost Malone

Post Malone came up with "White Iverson" after getting braids in his hair and thinking they looked like basketball legend Allen Iverson's signature cornrows.

Passionate KissesLucinda Williams

Lucinda Williams wrote and recorded "Passionate Kisses" four years before it was a hit for Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Talk To Ya LaterThe Tubes

"Talk To Ya Later" proved the power of MTV when sales of Tubes albums picked up in markets like Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the network was available.

Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)Doris Day

"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" was written for Doris Day to sing in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Step OnHappy Mondays

"Step On," the most famous song by the Happy Mondays ("You're twistin' my melon man!") is a thoroughly revamped cover of a song from 1971 about the plight of indigenous peoples called "He's Gonna Step On You Again" by John Kongos.