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

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.