These Hard Times

Album: Exile on Mainstream (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Like the other 5 new songs on the Exile on Mainstream album, "These Hard Times" was written by all 4 members of the band. This was a fundamental alteration from their previous albums when frontman Rob Thomas had operated as Matchbox Twenty's songwriter and musical catalyst. Guitarist Paul Doucette told the Fairfax County Times how this was a refreshing change of approach: "We all feel like we listen to the 6 new songs that are on 'Exile' and we're like 'Yeah, I totally hear me. Whereas in the past, you're fighting so hard to get your ideas across. You're maybe fighting too hard because you just want to get your ideas heard, and it's not necessarily what's best for the song or what's best for the band. It's just about ego. And I think that we've kind of lost that. Our egos, we finally learned to check them at the door."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.