Giant

Album: Born Under Saturn (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • When Django drummer and chief songwriter Dave McLean came back from Africa, he came up with the lazy boogie piano riff that became the song. He played it to synth player Tommy Grace, who said it sounded like a giant walking. The comment inspired frontman Vinny Neff to come up with some lyrics inspired by Atlas, the Greek mythological figure that was condemned by Zeus for his part in the War of the Titans to bear the heavens on his shoulders.
  • On the subject of very tall people, here are some fun facts about giants from The Encyclopedia of Trivia:

    Frederick William I ((1688 – 1740), the father of Frederick the Great, had a famous private guard company called the Potsdam Grenadiers. He would bribe, buy or even kidnap any man close to seven feet high to get them for the Grenadiers. Frederick made the giant men marry giant woman so he could "raise" his own giants.

    Adam Rainer (1899-1950) was just over 3'10 tall at the age of 21. He then starting growing and was 7'8 by the time he died, the only man in history be classified as both a dwarf and a giant.

    The tallest man in the world, Robert Wadlow, was 8 feet eleven inches tall. He died at the age of 22, in 1949, due to an infection caused by leg braces he needed to be able to stand on his feet.

    In 1965, Andre the Giant received a draft notice for the French peace time army, but was unable to join as there were no shoes big enough, bunks long enough, or trenches deep enough to accommodate him.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.