Louisiana

Album: Barking (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This piano-laced ballad is from Barking, the eighth studio album by British house group Underworld. Out of the nine tracks on the album, Rick Smith and Karl Hyde wrote eight at their studio in Essex, before sending them on to various guest artists well-known for their contributions to trance, drum and bass and dubstep. This was the only song they finished themselves.
  • Hyde told the story of the song to MTV News: "Every time I hear that song, I think, 'People might not get this when I say it, but it's kind of dark.' I had written the verse and the chorus with a piano and it was in the archive, and I said, 'I think there's something here, something really strong and I think we need to make the rest of the tune,' " the Underworld musician recalled. "So I said [to Rick], 'Let's try something radical. We'll get into the room with you on piano, we'll have a beat box, and I'll have a microphone!'"

    This was unusual for Underworld who typically write their songs via the Internet. Said Hyde: "Eventually, this song appeared and there it was, and we sort of crafted it in a really, really traditional way. When it was finished we just felt, we don't want anyone to work on it; it's done, it's complete."

Comments: 1

  • Valo from Moscow, Russia FederationLots of Radiohead in this one. Late a bit, more of a nineties
    Quite beautiful, although)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

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."

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.