Temple

Album: Mechanical Bull (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song about taking a shot in the head for a prospective lover was penned in a South African hotel room. "Obviously things changed when we got in the studio, like the intro, but it felt like a '90s song to me," vocalist Caleb Followill told Billboard magazine. "That's when we were listening to a lot of music, and still when we play it, we crack up the whole time, this the most radio friendly song…"

    The Mechanical Bull Deluxe edition bonus track "Last Mile Home" was penned the same night.
  • According to drummer Nathan Followill, the breakdown in the song is the band's ode to Irish rockers Thin Lizzy.
  • The band have performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live.
  • The song's music video splits between sepia-toned Super 8 footage shot around the band's home town of Nashville and shots of an in-studio performance of the song. "The Super 8 footage was shot by the band, myself and director Paul Greenhouse on the day of the video and the days leading up to it," said Casey McGrath, chief creative officer at the Phear Creative, the agency behind the clip. "Nashville (is a) part of the band's life that is extremely near and dear to their hearts."

    A Prince and two Princesses of Leon can be seen on hand in the studio: Caleb's daughter Dixie, Nathan's daughter Violet, and Matthew's son Knox.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.