Painkiller
by Ruel

Album: Painkiller (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ruel Van Dijk grew up in the Australian city of Sydney. The teenage singer-songwriter penned this tune with songwriter Sarah Aarons and producer M-Phazes during a writing trip in LA when he was missing his life back home.

    Window seats as the plane starts leavin'
    Miss those streets where my knees were bleedin'
    Homesick veteran
    I left my bed again


    Speaking on Australian radio, Ruel explained how he used Sydney as his metaphorical painkiller:

    "I was writing a couple of verses just about home and just about wanting to be home and things that reminded me of it. And kinda just saying that it was my painkiller, it was my stress reliever."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?