Bully

Album: Catching A Tiger (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from Catching A Tiger, the debut album by Illinois born folk rock artist Lissie Maurus, who records under the name of Lissie. The title of the LP, which is a line from this song reflects how the singer-songwriter has gone about realizing her goals on her own terms.
  • After moving to Ojai, California, Lissie was visited by Band of Horses bassist Bill Reynolds, who produced her debut EP Why You Runnin. This song was one of the first fruits of their sessions. She explained to Spinner: "We just started to work on songs and he played the four chords of 'Bully' over and over again. In five minutes I had all the words written. It was almost like that song was me talking to a younger version of myself saying, 'These are the guidelines for like living a good life, realizing all the people that love you and that everything's going to be fine. Reach for things but don't push them away because you reached too hard.'

    It's about trying to force these things that are difficult and being hard on yourself, you can't do it," she adds. "As an overall title, I thought it was good because trying to get your hands around something slippery. It conjures up an image in someone's head and they can apply it to whatever their tiger is."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.