Love Dies Young

Album: Medicine at Midnight (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This upbeat Foo Fighters rocker finds Dave Grohl taking a cynical view of matters of the heart. He maintains that when you're deeply in love, it "leaves you numb with a nasty reputation." Such an attraction doesn't last forever, and once it's gone, it will "make you wish you never had a taste."
  • The Foos recorded "Love Dies Young" for their 2021 Medicine at Midnight album. Dave Grohl brought songs like "Shame Shame" to the recording sessions, but this one grew organically. Speaking to Guitar World, the frontman said it started out as a "strummy sort of song we've done a million times," which the band didn't see as a candidate for the record. When drummer Taylor Hawkins suggested a 16th-note beat, Grohl had other ideas, telling him to go for an "Abba side-high-hat-disco thing."

    Guitarist Chris Shiflett then added a galloping rhythm part like Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." "It was almost like a joke," Shiflett said. "But we listened back to it and we were like, 'Hmm … that actually sounds pretty good!'"

    As The Foos added the instruments, they laughed away because they were doing things they're not meant to do. "We're not supposed to do the galloping flange guitar! We're not supposed to do the Abba beat!" said Grohl. "But we're just like, 'F--k, load it up, man!' And then at the end of the day, we had something we'd never done before."
  • Written and directed by Dave Grohl, the video stars Ted Lasso's Jason Sudeikis as a coach hyping up an American synchronized swimming team ahead of a competition. As the team make their way to the pool, the Foo Fighters members' heads are superimposed on the swimmers.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

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."

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.