Dear Rosemary

Album: Wasting Light (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This dark, ambivalent, mid-tempo rocker is a track from the American rock band Foo Fighters' seventh studio album, Wasting Light. Dave Grohl recruited Bob Mould from one of his favorite all-time acts, Husker Du, to play guitar and sing vocals on this track. The Foo frontman told Q magazine: "It sounds like Bob and I wrote a song for Husker Du 20 years ago and the Foo Fighters are covering it."
  • Grohl told Mojo magazine how he got Mould involved on this track: "I was a huge fan of Husker Du. Their album Zen Arcade is one of the most underrated American rock 'n' roll records of all time. And only recently did I realise how much I've ripped Bob off for the last 16 years! I met him for the first time last summer and said, 'You know that I'd be nowhere and nobody without your music, right>' and he very politely nodded and said: 'I know.' We swapped phone numbers and became friends. I had this song that I imagined would be a duet between us, and he obliged. What an honor to have that sort of moment with one of your heroes."
  • Even for a Rock legend like Grohl, working with one of your all time heroes for the first time can be nerve-wracking. He told the UK Sun newspaper: "When you first meet someone you've idolized your whole life, you're just nervous. That's how I felt with Bob. You don't want to come off feeling like an awkward superfan but it's inevitable. But then those first impressions wear off and you realize he's just a nice person. And then you put on the instruments and that feeling comes back again. You want to make it right."

Comments: 1

  • Ryan from Birmingham, AlPart of it sounds kind of like the Bay City Rollers "Saturday Night" but of course the song as a whole is completely different. Dave has listed them as an influence in the past. Definitely my favorite on the album. I listen to the beginning over and over then listen for Bob's voice. I can't believe it has not been released as a single and a music video other than the contest video. Wasting Light is one of a few albums that I listen to every song on over and over in order, like Back in Black, Sgt Peppers, Appetite for Destruction, Joshua Tree, Van Halen I...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.