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

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.