Nightmares

Album: The Beast In Its Tracks (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Josh Ritter wrote and recorded The Beast in Its Tracks in the 18 months after his marriage to singer-songwriter Dawn Landes had fallen apart. He said: "All heartbreak is awful - my broken heart wasn't unique. But writing these songs was helping me get through the night and I didn't have the strength to care or question."
  • Ritter penned this song when he was "in the teeth of it all." He recalled to MSN CA: " I had a real terrible time sleeping. The doctor gave me sleeping pills, which were the worst experiences I ever had in terms of sleeping. The nightmares were so vivid, and so terrifying. They were so unexpected. I was having so much trouble sleeping to begin with. I stopped taking them immediately. You couldn't pay me to take those things again. They were the worst."

    Ritter added that "there was something about that melody that was pretty and really sweet. I like counter posing really graphic, hallucinogenic images being it. It felt like a tension in the song. That was really fun. People might drift into the melody, then hear about these nightmares down in hell."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.