*Song Description By Noles*
If history has shown us anything regarding songwriting in music, it is that a lot of the best songs come from pain. When pain is portrayed in music, it makes it real. Something that is authentic and genuine. Which is why people can relate to it so much. Because we've all experienced pain one time or another. And that melancholy can resonate with the listener on a human level. This is a big reason why blues is the foundation of popular music. When I wrote "Something On Your Mind", I was in emotional pain. Despite the fact that it's a major-based song that's rather uplifting. I had broken up with my girlfriend of 5 years after she cheated on me. It took us 6 months to actually break up. We saw each other for the last time on December 27, 2013. After the new year, I wrote the music for "Something On Your Mind" on January 5, 2014 (her birthday). The idea for the tune started with the guitar riff that is filled with hammer ons and pull offs.
The lyrics for "Something On Your Mind" were written on January 11, 2014. With words that address a failed relationship with my girlfriend of 5 years, the song is auto-biographical. It largely describes the dichotomy between our different personality traits. Which proved that we weren't meant for each other. Despite the fact that we were best friends. Upon completing the writing of "Something On Your Mind", I wanted to record the tune as soon as possible. It seemed to me like it was the best song I had written at that point. And I felt like recording the tune would finally act as closure to my failed half-decade relationship.
The Plaid On Flannel band began on February 15, 2014 as a 3-piece. I was in school for music during this time. My final assignment for my advanced production class in March of 2014 was to record an original song. There were no time restrictions for the tune, so I decided to record "Something On Your Mind". It was my debut for recording vocals on Logic Pro X. As I was using GarageBand before that. I call "Something On Your Mind" a "tale of whoa". Whoa coming from the word "woe". Meaning of great sorrow and distress. "Whoa" is the chant that can be heard before every verse of the song. On this version of "Something On Your Mind", I use a piano and an organ all over the tune. The piano creates a build up during the verses, and the organ adds colour to the choruses. "Tales From The Forest Gnomes" by Wolfmother influenced the pre-chorus instrumental section of "Something On Your Mind". Other influences for the song include The Black Keys, Jane's Addiction and Oasis.
"Something On Your Mind" was performed with the Plaid On Flannel band often from 2014-2017, and we featured a new version of the tune on our Get On! EP in 2017. That version can be heard here...
youtu.be/-PPaFPPnLZg "Something On Your Mind" is a song I know will live on in POF's live arsenal of songs for years to come.