Don't Believe A Word

Album: Ursa Major (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first single off the San Francisco band Third Eyed Blind's fourth studio album, Ursa Major.
  • This intensely political song underwent numerous lyrical changes between its live debut and its radio release in 2009. Stephan Jenkins, lead singer and songwriter for the group, told The Huffington Post that it is indicative of the band's style, saying, "the song is full angry, bold and dirty and so are we."
  • Jenkins explained the album title to Marie Claire magazine: "Ursa Major is the constellation of the bear. It's good for us because we've been hibernating and now we've awakened and we are hungry for spring and we want to feed and we want to thrive."
  • The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart making it the highest charting set of the San Francisco band's career. The group had previously peaked as high as #12 with Out of the Vein in 2003.
  • Jenkins told Alternative Addiction in a September 2010 interview that the message of this song is not so relevant now Barack Obama has replaced George Bush as president. He explained it, "was aimed at the deceit that went on and the lyrics if I remember go on about the lies at the court of King George and he'll wake up screaming. I certainly don't feel that way now because we got our man elected."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Pete Anderson

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."