On Deronda Road

Album: Giants Of All Sizes (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "On Deronda Road" finds Guy Garvey chronicling the simple pleasure of taking a bus journey with his son Jack near his South London home. The Elbow frontman originally wrote the song about a fisherman he had observed in India on a rubber ring, using ping pong bats to steer around the lake. He told Apple Music, "ultimately it sounded like, 'I've been to India, me!'" So he scrubbed the lyrics but kept the music.

    One day Garvey and Jack went on a bus trip. When their transport stopped at Deronda Road in Brixton, Garvey started singing to his son, "We're on Deronda Road." He realized it fitted the music for his "India" song and penned more lyrics about being on the bus with Jack.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

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.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

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.