You Do the Math

Album: American Saturday Night (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is one of several party songs on American Saturday Night. Paisley explained to Billboard magazine: "I wanted to deal with the weekend scene in America, which is what people are living for these days. Those of us that still have jobs are living for Friday and Saturday. They are going to live it up." He added that this song, "is really an almost Johnny Cash-meets-Merle Haggard, pick-up line song. The chorus says, 'It takes two to make love, baby. I'm sure of that. I'm one, you're one, you do the math.' It's really fun. It starts out mono. It sounds like 1960 and then all of a sudden it goes stereo and it's neat to hear."
  • Billboard asked Paisley what the writing sessions were like for American Saturday Night. He replied: "We wrote most of this at the farm. Between [Kelley Lovelace's] house and my house, we have this old guest house that I've converted into a studio and writing area. We always get together there. There was one night back in December, in the living room was me, Chris [DuBois] and Ashley [Gorley] finishing up 'Then.' In the other room, Robert Arthur and Tim Owens were thinking of another first verse for a song we had written called 'You Do The Math'. Kelley was upstairs by himself writing something that he and I and Chris had been working on. I've never had more fun."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.