Epitaph

Album: Never Had the Time (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by John Sponarski's late grandfather. Sponarski, who is one of the lead singers and songwriters for the band, explained in our interview: "My grandpa died before I was born, and I was born on the same day as him. My family, my mom's side of the family, has this notion that I'm his reincarnate. He was the only musician in the family, and he had a radio show up in the Interior. He was always the entertainer at parties and played a bunch of instruments. I never met him. It's kind of funny to me. I think this is the subject that I haven't finished writing about. It's something that I will continue to explore for a long time, but for me it was about the fact that I've come to know him through the tales of my grandma and my mother. To me that's his epitaph. And yeah, I guess this song is like a multi-perspective to me, like sung from his perspective and sung from mine. I guess it's really talking about how I remember him but asking the question of how will people remember me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.