Just Be

Album: Fall To Grace (2012)
Charted: 66
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Paloma Faith's debut album Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful was full of songs about lost love and heartbreak. However when she came to pen her sophomore set, Faith found herself in a settled relationship and needed to take a different angle. She told the Mail on Sunday: "What you have a tendency to do is believe that unless you're heartbroken you won't be able to produce anything of any value. But I feel lucky because these new songs may be more interesting than singing and wailing about being dejected or deserted. They're about how difficult it can be to put up with someone you're in a relationship with. There's this song I've been showcasing called 'Just Be' and the first line is, 'Let's get old together, let's be unhappy for ever, because there's no one else in this world that I'd rather be unhappy with.'"
  • Faith explained the meaning of this song. "It's supposed to be a realistic love song for real lovers," she said. "It's saying, 'He gets on my nerves, but I love him.' I find that more endearing than, 'There's no one out there but him.' That seems naive. I have a lot of admiration for people who've been in relationships a long time, married for years. This is a more knowing take on romance."
  • Faith penned the song with English singer-songwriter Matthew Hales (who performs under the name Aqualung) and Canadian born and LA based producer Greg Wells, who has contributions to tracks recorded by Katy Perry and Adele on his resumé.
  • Faith told American Songwriter magazine that she is especially proud of this song, "because it doesn't need any production." She explained: "It's just piano and vocals and I don't think it needs anything else, which is difficult really to achieve successfully. It's difficult to write a song about something that everyone's written a song about."
    "It's an unusual twist on a love song," Faith continued. "It's a love song to the modern age and it's a love song that acknowledges how hard it is to stay loyal and stay in love with somebody in a world where we're used to just throwing in the towel early on. Rather than it being all kind of sentimental and just like everything's perfect; it doesn't say that at all, you know 'I wanna be with you.'
    There's one line that says like, 'Let's stay together until everything that once drew me to you eventually gets on my nerves.' I think that's a modern day sacrifice now. And I don't think there's many love songs that would be as honest as that. It's unusual because it's honest."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.