Days Were Different.

Album: The Purple Tape (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Before Lisa Loeb signed a record deal, she played bars, clubs and coffeehouses around New York City, and recorded an album that she sold as cassettes at her shows. This album was known as "The Purple Tape," and contained many songs that made it to her first 2 albums when she signed with Geffen Records. This song was part of The Purple Tape, but was only available on the cassette until 2008, when The Purple Tape was officially released on CD. Says Loeb: "I really like the music on that song. It's a song that's about writer's block. I remember hearing Suzanne Vega talking about having writer's block. And I thought, Oh, I want to ward off writer's block, that sounds terrible. You know, I'm never gonna have it, and I never want it. And that's what that song was inspired by. There's some awkward moments in the lyrics, but I try to give myself the benefit of writing that way, because I think - and I know that there are other songwriters who do – that when you get into the place where you want everything to be perfect all the time, sometimes you never finish a song. So you have to allow yourself awkward moments of lyrics." (Check out our interview with Lisa Loeb.)

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.