Put it Back Together

Album: Palookaville (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, was co-producer of Blur's Think Tank album, so he naturally attended that album's wrap party. The celebration turned into a jam session, which produced this tune.

    Damon Albarn's lyrics are about Cook and his wife Zoe Ball, who had recently returned to the DJ after a three-month split. The couple, who share a son, Woody, and a daughter, Nelly, had briefly separated because of the strain of life in the spotlight. As a high-profile pair, they were frequently pursued by the British tabloids and even had their phones tapped at one point. Despite the intense pressure, Cook and Ball reconciled. As Cook told Rolling Stone in 2004: "We just buckled down, got our heads down. Stopped going out, because every time we went out it was a stress. So we just sat here, played with Woody, and 'put it back together.'"

    The couple stayed together for more than a decade, but on September 24th, 2016, after 18 years of marriage, they announced their divorce.
  • Fatboy Slim contributed his production talents to two tracks on Blur's Think Tank: "Crazy Beat" and "Gene by Gene." In an interview with The Independent in 2006, Cook expressed his deep admiration for Albarn, stating: "There are two musicians I would follow anywhere: David Byrne and Damon Albarn."
  • "Put It Back Together" features guest vocals from British singer Sharon Woolf, best known for her work on Shanks & Bigfoot's "Sweet Like Chocolate," which topped the UK chart in 1999. It was the first garage track in the UK to reach #1.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.