World On Sticks

Album: Human Contact Is Never Easy (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Phillips ready to take on a world that seems to be at a tipping point. "I was thinking about humans and how brave they can be under the most impossible circumstances," she said in her Songfacts interview. "Our civilization feels fragile right now, like we are on the high wire without a net."
  • The song is driven by a percussive soundscape created by Jay Bellerose, a Los Angeles-based session drummer who also played on the Grammy-winning albums Don't Give Up On Me (Solomon Burke) and Raising Sand (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss).
  • Phillips spent much of 2016 composing music for the Netflix TV series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. At the end of the year, she issued the mini-album Human Contact Is Never Easy, which she recorded with many of the same musicians. "World On Sticks" is one of four new songs included on the set.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?