This Is This

If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know I like songs that shouldn’t work. Well, this one’s to songs what bumblebees are to aerodynamics.

Keyboards and mandolin intro, cheesy lyrics, slow bass. Meh.

But hang on - how much space are the drums giving everything? And isn’t he singing about getting back on his feet again? And isn’t that a melodeon? And is that James Taylor on backing vocals?

Well, a lot, yes, possibly and fuck yes.

The lyrics were written by Will Jennings, who wrote for BB King, Eric Clapton and Roy Orbison. Not only should the song not work, but it nearly didn’t start. Jennings said about the recording session:

“Steve had not written the music to it yet and he at that time was going through a divorce. And because of the divorce, his wife got everything in the house, this big house in England. So he came up from London and went out to this house, which he still lives in and he had for years before he was married, and everything was gone, except there was a mandolin over in the corner of the living room. It was winter and it was dreary. He went over and picked up the mandolin, and he already had the words in his head, and that’s when he wrote the melody. He went back and not only cut a big hit which still is played so much today, but it was the title track of the album. And if I hadn’t asked about it, it would have just gone by, so that’s one that was saved at the last minute.”

We’ll be back in the high life again
all the doors I closed one time will open up again.
We’ll be back in the high life again
all the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in.

Listen: Back In The High Life

—
Related pages
Weekend Song archive

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