Wild Pink, the project of John Ross, is releasing a third album called A Billion Little Lights in February, and following on from the gleaming lead single “The Shining But Tropical” he has this week shared “You Can Have It Back”. He reveals:
“This was the last song I wrote for the album, and it’s also one of the most fun to play live. Wild Pink songs typically don’t follow conventional song structures but with this one I did. Julia’s vocals totally make this song what it is, and I love Dan’s harmonies in the choruses – I wrote it with the intention of having someone else sing it. but ended up just singing it myself. This song is inspired by Fleetwood Mac and, once again, “If I Needed You” by Townes Van Zandt (one of the greatest songs ever written). Special cameo by Computer the Dog.“
It’s telling that Ross says the song wasn’t intended for himself to sing, as “You Can Have It Back” is a more staightforward pop rock song than most Wild Pink cuts, but his trademark heart-on-sleeve is still very much beating here. Bolstered by harmonies from Ratboys’ Julia Steiner, “You Can Have It Back” sails with precision simplicity, making it the most immediately catchy Wild Pink song yet. Although, this buoyancy masks the turmoil that is at play in the track, where Ross is, as ever, wading through conflicting emotions, trying to put a deceased relationship in the rearview and move forward with nothing but positivity – although it’s much easier said than done.
The video for “You Can Have It Back” was shot at Philadelphia’s abandoned Mount Moriah cemetery, take a look below.
Wild Pink’s new album A Billion Little Lights comes out on February 19 via Royal Mountain Records. Find the band on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp.
