Anyway

Album: TIME OUT (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the liner notes for TIME OUT, Accidentals singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Savanna Buist says "Anyway" is one of the only Accidentals songs that doesn't have a happy or hopeful message. "It just is," Buist writes. "It's a reflection of the honesty of that moment in time. No apologies. Just truth."

    The moment she is referring to is the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, which also happened to overlap with serious political upheaval, civil unrest, and destructive wildfires that cut through the coutnry. On top of these troubles, a friend of the band had their son commit suicide. The son was around the same age as the Accidentals, and the news hit hard.
  • One of the first lines that gave life to the song was "it's just another sunrise, anyway." That sentiment of existential resignation sets the stage for the rest of the song. Sometimes things just aren't going well, and during those times the best you can do is to be honest with yourself, feel what you need to feel, and accept what you can't change. That's what "Anyway" is about.
  • The Accidentals wrote the song with folk-music legend and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom Paxton, who was also with the Fleming Artists booking agency.

    Buist told Songfacts that they wrote the song in no more than an hour. "The words were simple," she said, "yet we spent time making sure they would speak to anyone who really needed to hear the words.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."