Soon You'll Go

Album: Ordinary Heroes (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the lead single from British pop musician Howard Jones' ninth studio album, Ordinary Heroes.
  • This song is about the heartache Jones felt when his daughter left home for university. Jones told The Daily Telegraph November 11, 2009 that he sung it with such raw emotion that he could barely hold the vocal together at the end of the song. He said: "When I was recording it, I choked up. My voice cracks. I've noticed that people really relate to that song. I was doing a radio interview the other day, and the interviewer said she couldn't listen to it because she'd be a blubbering wreck. I apologised to her, but I shouldn't have because that's what I've always tried to do, to have that sort of effect on people."
  • This song features the Morriston Orpheus, a male-voice choir based in Swansea. Jones told The Daily Telegraph that he has been a fan of them since he was a child: "When I was 11," he said, "I'd go to the local church to listen to them, and it left a real impression on me. The sound of a male-voice choir is so moving."
  • On Ordinary Heroes Jones laid down a rule that there was to be only one of each instrument– one guitar track, one piano track etc – and no overdubs. The only time he deviated was on this song where he brought in the Morriston Orpheus Choir. He told The Daily Telegraph: "It went against the grain, but they just had to be there. I'd recorded the piano, the vocal and the string arrangement, and, in my head, I could just hear them coming in on the chorus."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.