White Bird

Album: Distance Inbetween (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This started as a collaboration between Coral frontman James Skelly and his drummer brother Ian. The vocalist recalled to Drowned in Sound: "I was strumming a D chord on the guitar, saying we should write a song over one chord and he started singing 'Here comes the white bird on its long way down.' So I answered, 'here goes the feeling as it hits the ground', then we wrote a couple more verses and left it there. We started jamming it in rehearsal the next day and then Nick (Power, keys) and I finished the lyrics at his."
  • The recording of this song led to ex Zutons guitarist Paul Malloy joining The Coral. (Their usual guitarist, Lee Southall, was on paternity leave). James Skelly explained: "We did it live in one take in the studio, then Ian said 'We should get Paul Molloy on guitar for this,' they have a band together called Serpent Power. At the time I was the only guitarist, but when he started playing over the tune in the studio he was playing tuned down, distorted, drone stuff and we thought… He gets this, let's get him in."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?