Big White Room

Album: Who You Are (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jessie spent time in London's Great Ormond Street Hospital at the age of eleven being treated for an irregular heartbeat. Inspired by a sad incident during her stay there, seven years later she wrote her first ever song, which later found its way onto Who You Are. She recalled in an interview with The Independent December 10, 2010 waking up in the middle of the night to see a little boy in an adjacent bed praying, and her mother explaining that he was having an operation the next day and was asking God to save him. Jessie continued: "He died the next day so I said to my mum 'but God didn't save him'. I was so angry and it really confused me. I always wanted to write a song about the experience, but I knew I had to be of an age where it wasn't tacky or depressing and had a lightness to it."
  • The version that appears on Who You Are is a live recording. Jessie explained to The Sun: "We recorded and reproduced it so many times but for some reason it never felt right, like it was missing something. I think the live recording at Scala in London with Ben on guitar was perfect. It joins ties together all the pieces in my journey."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.