Asleep In The Back

Album: Asleep In The Back (2001)
Charted: 19
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the fourth single and title track from English alternative Rock band Elbow's debut album. It was their first ever UK Top 20 hit.
  • Singer Guy Garvey told Drowned In Sound about this song: "We only added this after the album was finished, bizarrely. Quite often when you're in love you find yourself testing your partner in the early stages of a relationship; telling them all the naff things about you, the dark stuff about you - almost testing how far their love goes (at least I used to do so). It was wonderful working with (producer) Ben Hillier, and this track, I think, is sonically one of the most interesting we did with him."
  • The Australian rock group Gang of Youths covered this for their 2021 EP Total Serene.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.