Think It Over

Album: Mammoth WVH (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Mammoth WVH is the solo project of Wolfgang Van Halen, son of Eddie. Wolf joined Van Halen on bass when he was just 16 and played on their 2012 album A Different Kind Of Truth. His own music, though, bears little resemblance to the band, especially when it comes to his lyrics, which are a lot more introspective. In a Songfacts interview, he explained: "'Think It Over' lyrically is about nostalgia, and not being able to move forward. Just the idea of nostalgia controlling your life. But song-wise, it was a really fun breath of fresh air. It's kind of a pop song."
  • The Mammoth WVH album was completed in 2018, but Wolfgang held it back to care for his ailing father. He released it in June 2021, nine months after Eddie Van Halen died of cancer.

    Eddie got to hear the whole album as it was created - Wolf would send him demos and bits along the way. This song was Eddie's favorite from the set. "He was so proud and happy with all of it," Wolfgang told Songfacts. "He was the only other person – other than me – to have all the ideas and everything on his phone. He had what would be the album, and then he had about 10 more other ideas that are pretty fleshed out but hit the cutting room floor during the recording process."
  • Just to get our species straight, a mammoth is an elephant-like prehistoric creature. When Eddie and Alex Van Halen formed their first band, they named it Mammoth, which is why Wolfgang used the name.

    The album cover doesn't show a mammoth, but a giant crab wreaking destruction. It's a piece of artwork by John Brosio that Wolf (what is it with all these animals?) felt represented the word "mammoth" in the sense of something enormous.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining Victims

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining VictimsSong Writing

Just like Darrin was replaced on Bewitched, groups have swapped out original members, hoping we wouldn't notice.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.