Be Above It

Album: Lonerism (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frontman Kevin Parker explained the meaning of this song to NME: "This self-mantra of someone who's just experienced something that has really shaken them and is trying to block out the idea that they're worthless and terrible."
  • The song features the sounds of a person walking. It was recorded by Parker on a Dictaphone that he stuck out of a window at a hotel that he was staying at.
  • According to an American Songwriter magazine article, Parker didn't have access to a drum kit while he was recording this song, so he used instead a drum sample from Tame Impala's Innerspeaker album. He ran the sample through a Roland Space Echo unit, and built the song around the new drum loop.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.