Tomato in the Rain

Album: Off With Their Heads (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Vocalist Ricky Wilson (from The Sun October 17, 2008): "We could have had the opening line 'I'm a bit lonely' but no one would have picked up on that. It's all about visualizing things. People say, 'What's it about?' And I go, 'What do you think?' They always say, 'Someone being lonely'. Why ask the question?"
  • Kaiser Chief bassist Simon Rix explained the song's unusual title to Drowned In Sound: "This song has a title that everyone seems to be intrigued by. We had written most of the music for this song in Old Chapel (a rehearsal room in Leeds) and then the title just came out of nowhere. When we are playing in the room, Rick and Nick (Hodgson, drums) often just sing things over the top until they come up with something good. Sometimes the best lyrics just come into your head. So one of them will be singing something and then one of them will say; 'did you say 'Tomato In The Rain'?' The idea will then develop from there. I think in this case Nick came up with the title then Ricky went away and wrote the rest of the words."
  • Rix commented to Drowned in Sound: "There's a lot more imagery on this album than the last one. Particularly in this song. It's meant to be a laid back Beach Boys kind of song and features some old fashioned style backing vocals from Nick that you don't really hear much any more."
  • On this track, the band's keyboardist, Nick 'Peanut' Baines, played a Farfisa organ, which was put through guitarist Andrew White's amplifier.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

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.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.