If I Could Change Your Mind
by Haim

Album: Days Are Gone (2013)
Charted: 27
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Haim recorded this tune with frequent Arctic Monkeys producer James Ford, who also is one half of the Electro-Dance duo Simian Mobile Disco. Este Haim told NME that the song was a surprise: "We'd been working with James for a week and we were restless, so we thought, 'F—k this, let's do something from scratch.' James tapped out a drumbeat and we f---ing wrote a song in a day. It was just supposed to be a release exercise to calm us down."
  • The song is about ending relationships. Este Haim told NME: "You think back to the decision that you made to not be with someone any more and whether it was really the right one. It's kinda a weird thing, especially in my case. I'm 27 now and I'm not old but I think the relationships that you have you think about longevity. So when you do break up with someone there's always a thing in your head of, What if that was the one and you said goodbye?"

    "[Writing this song] I was thinking, F--k am I gonna go my whole life being like that?," she continued. "And what would I do if I did make a mistake? I just, I was at a point when I was thinking… it was a weird time. Having relationships now is…it's a whole different ballgame, I'm just kinda navigating that, what it means having a relationship, not having a relationship, that weird 'We're in a relationship but we're not in a relationship'…"

    "Love is probably the thing that people adhere to and identify with," Este concluded. "Heartbreak and love are the two things that I personally like writing songs about most. At my core I'm fu--ing human."
  • NME asked Este Haim if the song's lyric about "Lyin' Eyes" was an Eagles reference? She replied: "We said when we were writing it that people would think we were jocking the Eagles. We love the Eagles. One of our favorite concerts we ever went to was theirs in San Diego - we could see Tijuana from the venue."
  • The song's music video sees the three Haim sisters perform a dance routine. It was directed by Warren Fu, who has previously worked with Daft Punk and The Killers.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining Victims

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining VictimsSong Writing

Just like Darrin was replaced on Bewitched, groups have swapped out original members, hoping we wouldn't notice.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.

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."