Roller Coaster

Album: In The Grace of Your Love (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • New York based dance-punk outfit The Rapture's frontman Luke Jenner found himself on an emotional roller coaster in the five year gap between the band's third album Pieces Of The People We Love and their fourth In The Grace of Your Love. He experienced both personal tragedy with his mother's suicide, and great happiness with the birth of his son. Such events, added to the long absences when the band were away touring, put pressure on his marriage. This song was inspired by the difficulties Jenner and his wife encountered. He explained to Spin magazine: "'Roller Coaster' is about keeping my marriage together. It's our 10th wedding anniversary on August 25 (2011), and we've been through a lot. My wife's an incredible, very patient person. I'm on a rollercoaster being in a band - it's record and then, 'Bye! See you in three months!' We're getting a lot better at navigating those obstacles. 'Rollercoaster' is almost like the Beatles song 'Oh Darlin''. It's saying, 'Please stay with me. I wouldn't be happy if you weren't here.' It's a declaration of love, but it's also acknowledging that I don't have control over other people loving me or not."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.