Tower (Don't Look Down)

Album: Don't Look Down (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is one of four holdovers from Invincible, an album Holly Hafermann originally intended to release as her debut under the Skylar Grey moniker. After scrapping the original project, she decided to title her new set after this tune. "I think a song that can make it through the past year that I've had of writing new songs and throwing ones away is worth having the album title named after," she told Rolling Stone.

    "I put out [the single] 'Invisible' and I was feeling like I was so busy promoting an album and a song and I felt like I hadn't finished my album yet," Hafermann added. "So I kind of took a step back and had a conversation with Jimmy [Iovine, label boss] and he was totally on my side. He said, 'Look, this is your first album; it has to be exactly what you want it to be.' So we mutually agreed to slow down the whole process and let me take my time finishing the songs until I felt like it was there."
  • Skylar Grey explained the song's meaning to Artist Direct: "I moved to L.A. when I was like seventeen to pursue my dreams," she said. "I knew by doing that I was going to be leaving a lot behind, but it was all for the best. It was a positive move for me. At the same time, I was leaving a lot of things behind like a certain person. It was written from the perspective of the person staying in the small town and watching me go off and chase my dreams and never having this future we dreamed of when we were kids."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

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.