It’s been a long wait, and you wonder wheter it was worth it. I absolutely think so. This album as a whole is very coherent and it feels really good to be able to listen to it in its fullness, as God aka LP intended it! Some songs we know quite well, but there are still enough surprises left to enjoy its release.
your’s truly with LP’s latest body of artThe opening track, “When We Touch” serves as a great intro to the album, it shows capabilities of LP both as a singer and songwriter. It’s soft and big, it’s tender and powerful, it shows that LP can’t be put into one box.
LP: “This was the last to be written (for this album), except for Poem. It had been 2-3 months since the start of the pandemic… I had just started thinking about how long we would be in this situation. I was wondering what would be the first thing I wanted to express/share with the public, when we would “come back.” (source).
More: “The first song on the album, “When We Touch”, is the last one I wrote for this record. But it’s the first song I wrote when I realized that we weren’t going to play music for a long time. I was like “Oh shit, what’s it going to be when we get back?” And I thought “When We Touch” was very meaningful.” (source).
Next one is”Goodbye“, and now after some time has passed, after countless interviews, this song feels (to me) more like a ‘fuck you’ to all that’s been bad in LP’s life. It’s closing of several chapters and moving on into the new.
LP: “A lot of my songs are often me telling myself not to worry so much. It’s my kind of therapy. I just felt like there were a lot of things that I didn’t need anymore, whether it was in my mind, or lying next to me! [Laughs] I was just trying to do some “spring cleaning” in my life.” (source).
LP: “I don’t think it has to be a bad thing to say goodbye or let something go. I feel it may be the beginning of another cycle and that is what we are learning. I don’t necessarily want to be right. I don’t want to be the only one to blame, but I have issues over issues with the people I’m with and I won’t apologize for that. I just say “Goodbye“.” (source).
“Everybody’s Falling In Love” is this sort of a ‘summer pop hit’, it has this kind of vibe. It’s easy (going) and relaxing, you catch the lyrics very quickly and feel like swaying to its beat. I think this one will be played on the radio a lot.
LP: “It was very difficult to write the words for this song. I thought to myself: with a text like that, what can you do? I did a lot of melody and verse cuts, the pre-production was obviously difficult. I was a little stressed out with the lyrics, while this should be fun; I got too serious so I didn’t feel ok, my inspiration was “Matrix 3”, the rave party scene, or Like Every Night in Tulum – Papaya Playa in Tulum. I wanted it to be fun and irreverent and at some point I decided it worked.” (source).
“The One That You Love“, we already knew that one. But I’m not skipping it, it still feels good to listen to it. This song (its video mostly) motivated me to get back on the horse and it felt great! And now the lyrics seem so obvious and telling…
LP: “It’s so classical of me writing about you when I’m with you. It’s weird to write a song about someone who stays. It’s not a break up song, but it is about “what should I do”?” (source).
“Rainbow“. This one is by far the favourite of mine from the entire album. It reminds me about Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”. Lyrics are beautiful and haunting. Vocals are incredible and piercing right through the heart and soul.
Rainbow will make you cry even not knowing that it’s about LRW. I love that one a lot. This is a lot more fitting goodbye to LP’s past love. And you can feel LP’s pain and fragility. Even though it’s really sad, there’s still hope to it. “Is it worth surviving just to see a rainbow?”
LP: “‘Rainbow’ is about my relationship with my ex-fiancée, which was one of my major traumas. It touched the same emotional chord as when I had problems with my father at the time. When something goes wrong in a relationship, I shut down, I can’t move. Writing a song is part of the therapy.” (source).
More from LP: “In Rainbow that I wrote about Lauren, I could barely squeeze those lyrics out. There’s this weird familial deep rage and sadness connected to my father in there too. When the melody came out I could barely sing it when I was writing it because it was making me so emotional. I still forever will be like, “did I get all the things in there that I wanted to say?” ” (source).
Even more: “It was one of the hardest songs to write on the album, if not one of the most difficult songs in my entire career. I had the melody first and I’m not sure if I’m doing the song completely justice because I feel like the melody really speaks to me. There are a lot of things in this song: my relationship with my ex-fiancée, in particular. And strangely, when I wrote this song, I realized that this person had a special place in my heart, almost the same as my father, who passed away. Writing this song was really hard on my heart but I think you can feel it. And there is hope because there is a notion of acceptance, of forgiveness, of loving a person and being happy about it.” (source).
Rainbow is followed by “One Last Time‘. Again, that one we know already very well, but recently LP added a lot more to the story behind it: “That one was a message to the people that have died in my life – my parents, the relationships that have died – and thinking how precious they were. I loved all those people, even the people who are still alive that I am not with. You can’t go back.
The way the pandemic was going, I was seeing all this horrible stuff with people saying goodbye to loved ones via FaceTime. It really had an effect on me emotionally, thinking about that and trying to tell myself and to tell people to realize how beautiful these moments are, because I would do anything to bring all these people back for one last hug, one last hang, one last drink. Anything.” (source).
More: “One Last Time” is a song about both my first love and my mother. These are people that I have lost on the way. But we can’t go back… I know that a physical loss is much worse. But sentimental loss is a death in a way. It has a fairly “mindfuck” side because the person is still very much alive, she has her feet on the ground. The feelings you had for each other are like prisoners in a particular space-time, an alternate reality.” (source).
Next one is “My Body” and I like it a lot. It’s groovy and interesting. I love dancing to it when no one’s watching. This one is giving me powers (pun intended!) and a lot of good vibes. However the background story is quite interesting, to say the least…
LP: “I just wrote this song because I didn’t have enough sex in my life! I needed to have sex! If you can’t give it to me I’ll find someone else! That was the idea!” (source). “Basically it’s about me when I felt like I’m not getting what I needed. I definitely felt like I’m out of myself, something more than a sharp pain like the time that goes by when you want to be with someone you’re already with.” (source).
More: “In fact, it’s more of a song about how I felt I wasn’t having sex enough. (She bursts out laughing). Sorry! When you are on tour you try to be faithful and I have been! It’s not really about accepting my own body but if someone sees it like that, why not! Because it’s always a journey, whether for me or for other people.” (source).
“Angels” is dedicated to us, LP fans. And what’s not to love about this song. I like it a lot. It’s not earth-shattering, but it’s still great. LP: “I had that title, and I just knew it was going to be an uplifting song about feeling like how I was watched over by angels. I’m a very lucky person in the scheme of things. I feel like I have actual angels around me – insert “roll your eyes” or “big groan” – but I don’t really give a fuck.” (source).
More from LP: “This song is very self-explanatory. For a lot of reasons, I feel like I have angels around me. Certainly my mother’s spirit surrounds me, I can feel it. I think I’m a lucky person, a lucky person, hence LP. (She smiles).” (source).
“How Low Can You Go“, what more can I say about this song? I still like listening to it.
LP: “It’s a bit like a poem where you take poetic licenses, in this case about a series of interactions (which actually go nowhere) that I have had with people or with women. You are with someone else but you meet someone and you have this kind of connection with them. You wonder what they are doing and how they are doing it and where they are in life.” (source).
However next one “Yes“, is quite different and interesting. It’s sort of a mix of country and blues. This one was co-written with Lars Stalfors. Not sure what inspired this one, and LP hasn’t been asked about it yet (at least not to my knowledge), so I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I mean I have an idea, but not sure if it’s right. So I’d rather wait and see for sure.
LP: “Yes” is a song about how John Lennon met Yoko Ono at an exhibition with an installation by the conceptual artist in which you had to climb a ladder to see with a magnifying glass a tiny word written on the ceiling: “ yes ”. “He said ‘I need to meet this woman,'” LP said. “I took it as an inspiration to write a song about giving yourself a chance, because you never know.” (source).
“Conversation“, like I’ve said, I’m grateful for its lyrics, and what LP was trying to say with this song. LP might seem like she doesn’t give a damn about certain things, but deep down she is very fragile, insecure and sensitive. She may act all ‘rebel yell’ and shit (once again, pun intended!), but some things still haunt her and she’s not able to let go of those.
“Conversation” is about another ex, musician Lauren Ruth Ward, who told her she didn’t communicate well with her. LP: “That was like my love letter to her… to make her happy.” (source).
LP: “I was about to not put this song on the album. I wrote it just before going on tour and I just wanted things to work out between us. It was my way of communicating with her in a more adequate way and I feel that sometimes we have succeeded.” (source).
“Safe Here” is another mystery to me. Love the lyrics and melody. I will include lyrics to this one at the end of my post. Let me know what *you* think inspired this one!? As for the melody, I can’t put it into a certain box. Kind of bluesy? Perhaps, but not sure.
LP: “…it’s about my love addiction among the other types of addictions I have. In a way it is the one that most of all carries my soul.” (source).
More: “It’s funny because it sounds like a love addiction, but like you’re addicted to being sad. I never thought to myself “I want to be sad about this” but it never seems to leave me. And I think maybe that’s my “specialty” because some people accuse me of dating people just to write songs. So what? (Laughs) What can it do to you? Do you know what would be of greater concern? It’s if I don’t write songs about you… You don’t have to worry if I write a song about you, worry when it’s the other way around!” (source).
“Can’t Let You Leave” is another intricacy! It’s a sort of mixture of country and rock’n’roll. I told you, there’s quite a lot new to discover at this album! And it’s so worth it! Music is the best medicine for all our doubts and worries. Oh and I love the piano in it a lot!!
It was written several years ago on that Nashville guitar that I love so much! This song is about the same person who inspired “Lost On You.” LP: “I remember my ex saying, ‘Can’t you stop playing it?’” “And I would answer her: ‘You are breaking my heart! You’re leaving anyway! ‘… I love the vibe of that song.” (source).
More from LP: “This is an old song, written for the “Lost on you” person who loved this song. I remember she was really into this song before we broke up … She was breaking up with me and I wrote a piece about not wanting to be left knowing she would anyway, and couldn’t stop listening to it.” (source).
And here’s a snippet of the song, from 23rd January 2015, recorded by LP’s “ex” ex. I’ve had this video saved for years now! Thank you Annick for reminding me of its existence!
source.“Churches“, the title track is acoustic one, and another favourite of mine. I love the melody and the story-telling in this song. It says a lot about LP as a person. And it shows yet another side of her as a singer and songwriter. I know it will be a favourite of many fans. I just feel it. There is this divinely feel to it. I’m very eager for you to hear it. And I’m glad that there is addition of strings and even harp! to it.
LP: In this song “I wanted to talk about the things that have happened to me in several countries, such as in Russia. We visited quite a few beautiful churches and I was asked to cover my head and I said “No, I wouldn’t do that”. It’s not my “vibe” with God. I believe in God, I pray every day, I feel very grateful for Him. I just wanted to say it wasn’t my way and wanted to write a song about it.” (source).
“Poem” is an outro to the entire album, it consist of all the titles of the songs and gives a beautiful ending to this record as a whole. It really shows that LP had a lot of time to work on it, and master it to perfection. So again, this is a very coherent body of work. And I can’t wait for you to hear it, and share your thoughts with me.
LP: “I had this idea a few months before we finished the album. I said to myself: “What if I wrote, if I read a poem with the title of each song on the album that could summarize the emotions and the themes of this album?”. I wasn’t sure how to do it and then realized that I had never really heard anyone do it. It must exist somewhere, but I’ve never heard of it. I thought that would be a cool idea and it took me five minutes to do the last day of recording the album. I wanted it to have some pretty deep meaning.” (source).
To LP – you’ve done it again. I’m forever on owe of your songwriting talents. Thank you! And to all that contributed to this record. I’m glad it’s finally out in the world. There is a lot to celebrate about it!
Safe Here – official lyrics
I feel safe here
I feel safe here
Here’s to the nights never ending
Here’s to the barely sleeping
Here’s to our rule our rule bending
Church of the secret keeping
I know i got my friends
We go non stop times 10
Into the night but i’m an island
Always alone and thinking
Help me, heal me, tell me i’m cured
It’s all behind me yeah
Days like this kinda make you unsure
They always find me yeah
Maybe i’ll just open that door cuz
I feel safe here
Maybe i can handle one more
I feel so safe here
whistle
I feel safe here
How do you stop when you’ve started
Loving a sinking feeling
Throw me a line you cold hearted bastard
I’m tired of kneeling
All that i got my friends
It’s got to stop but when
‘Cause it keeps coming around again faster
and faster ohhh
Help me, heal me, tell me i’m cured
It’s all behind me yeah
Days like this kinda make you unsure
They always find me yeah
Maybe i’ll just open that door
I feel safe here
Maybe i can handle one more
I feel so safe here
Oohhhhh
Here we go ‘round again
Ohhh
I feel safe here
I’ve hallelujah’d many times when the lights weren’t shining
Real talk i thought i lost my mind but i’m out here trying
Maybe i’m just functional cause baby i can go all night
Crazy can be comfortable but baby that don’t make it right
Help me, heal me, tell me i’m cured
It’s all behind me yeah
Days like this kinda make you unsure
They always find me yeah
Maybe i’ll just open that door
I feel safe here
Maybe i can handle one more
I feel so safe here
Oohhhhh
Here we go ‘round again
Ohhh
I feel safe here
Ohhh
Here we go ‘round again
Ohhh
I feel safe here
Ohhh
Here we go ‘round again
Ohhh
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