Walls Fall Down

Album: Street Gospels (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "There are many elements to 'Walls Fall Down,'" Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Malinowski told Songfacts in 2022. "In a very direct way, 'When the walls fall down on your hometown,' I think holding on to things really tightly that we have grown accustomed to, when we take all those things away, then we can actually begin to start something new again - as opposed to holding on to past ideas."
  • When this was released as the lead single from their third album, Street Gospels, in 2007, George W. Bush was still serving his second term as US president. The effects of his post-9/11 War on Terror were on Malinowski's mind when he wrote the song in reference to a war-hungry leader. "At the time I wrote that, George W. Bush was still the president of the United States, so the references in the verse may not make as much sense anymore. But that's generally what the song is about."
  • This was a big hit in the band's native Canada, going to #6 hit on the Canadian Hot 100 and #1 on the MuchMoreMusic Countdown.
  • Street Gospels was nominated for Pop Album of the Year at the Juno Awards in 2008, but lost to Feist's The Reminder.
  • The album peaked at #2 on the Canadian Albums chart and #4 on the US Reggae Albums chart.
  • In the music video, the band performs in a room that continues to change as walls are taken down and different ones are put back up. A run-down storage area transforms into a sleek studio space, which then shifts to a den where a house party is going on.

    The clip, directed by Marc Ricciardelli, was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2008 Juno Awards, but lost to Blue Rodeo's "C'mon."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.