Just Say Yes

Album: Up to Now (2009)
Charted: 15
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is one of three new tracks included on Northern Irish alternative rock band Snow Patrol's compilation album, Up to Now. It served as the lead single from the collection.
  • The song was originally penned by frontman Gary Lightbody for Gwen Stefani, who passed on it. Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger picked it up for her solo CD, then when that album got shelved, Lightbody reclaimed it. The Snow Patrol vocalist told The Denver Post that when the band's UK label first heard the track, they couldn't believe he hadn't kept it for his own band: "They said, 'You gave that to somebody else? What the (expletive) were you doing?' And so we reclaimed it for ourselves. It was originally a ballad, but now it's far from that."
  • The song is a surprising departure for the band, in that it is an electronic-infused, '80s-influenced track. "It's one of those songs that we've always had in us," said Lightbody to The Denver Post. "I've loved dance music since I was an 18-year-old kid going to nightclubs, so it was bound to happen at some point. But I'm surprised it took me 15 years."
  • The other two previously unreleased songs on Up to Now are "Dark Roman Wine" and "Give Me Strength." The compilation also includes tracks from the two albums Snow Patrol released on UK indie label Jeepster Records: 1998's Songs For Polarbears and 2001's When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up. In addition, the record features two songs by The Reindeer Section - an indie supergroup formed by Gary Lightbody featuring members of Scottish acts such as Belle and Sebastian, Idlewild, Mogwai and Teenage Fanclub. There is also a cover of Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love" that was recorded as a live track for BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe's evening session at Maida Vale in London (with a rap performed by Lowe).
  • The song was used in the trailer for the 2010 film Leap Year.
  • The Northern Ireland city of Derry used this in their successful bid to be crowned UK City of Culture 2013.
  • Lightbody told BBC News that the song is about, "loving someone so much that you get exasperated they aren't showing the same amount of passion that you are."

Comments: 1

  • Bella from Essex, United Kingdomlove this songgg :) It's really good and really like relates to when you really like someone and they aren't so sure about you yet.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

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?

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

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

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.