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about
In the middle of 2019, I went through a really tough breakup and was stranded in London for the aftermath. I got swept up by this guy, I was on the rebound and found myself falling for him, but in the end he led me on and left me heartbroken.
I came back to Australia thinking the change of scenery would help me get over it, but I couldn’t escape the now tainted memories of this romance. I walked into a writing session with Eilish Gilligan with all of this weighing me down, and we decided to write our best Taylor Swift style breakup banger.
It’s fitting that a British music legend – Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello and the Attractions – came up with that amazing drum pattern that anchors the track. It was his favorite track to play on, and it was his way of apologising on behalf of London for the shit I’d gone through there.
Writing this song really helped me put all those memories in their proper place, and now I can’t wait to get back to the UK and play this song at a gig in London when that’s possible again.
lyrics
Walking through Melbourne
I was looking at London skies
Tried sleeping in New South Wales
But dreamt of the bars along The Thames
Loved you by firelight
But can’t get your story right
Summer in Bethnal Green
Meant less to you than it did to me
I remember Islington, but I wish I didn’t
‘Cause I don’t wanna but I gotta (forget about London)
I don’t wanna but I need to (forget about London)
It was a circus in the street
I lived in the lies you fed to me
I don’t trust anyone I know
And you knew that when you took me home
I remember Notting Hill, even if you don’t
‘Cause I don’t wanna but I gotta (forget about London)
I don’t wanna but I need to (forget about London)
Dodged a bullet, stupid woman (forget about London)
I don’t wanna but I gotta (forget about London)
The Abbey, The Tower, the stakes and the power
The cracks in your voice, the sweet and the sour
My ghost and my fear, my lost and my found
You can always count on being let down
‘Cause I don’t wanna but I gotta…
I don’t want to but I need to…
‘Cause I don’t wanna but I gotta (forget about London)
I don’t wanna but I need to (forget about London)
Dodged a bullet, stupid woman (forget about London)
I don’t wanna but I gotta (forget about London)
credits
released January 29, 2021
Written by Imogen Clark, Eilish Gilligan and Mike Bloom
Produced and Mixed by Mike Bloom
Engineering and additional production by Will Golden
Executive Produced by Imogen Clark and Jeremy Dylan
Recorded in Los Angeles CA at Sir Tiger
Pete Thomas recorded by Tim Sonnenfeld at Red Star, Los Angeles
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
Imogen Clark - Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals
Eilish Gilligan - Harmony Vocals
Mike Bloom - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic Guitar, 12 String Electric Guitar, Programming, Bass Guitar, Mellotron, Yamaha V50, Prophet 08, Harmony Vocals
Will Golden - Moog, Unacorda, Korg DDD-1
Pete Thomas - Drums, Bull Testicles, Shaker, Humming
Sylvain Carton - Alto Saxophone
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