Only Love Can Save Me Now

Album: Death by Rock and Roll (2021)
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Songfacts®:

  • Gone so down, lost is all I found
    Only love, love, love can save me now


    The Death By Rock And Roll album is an homage to two hugely important people in vocalist Taylor Momsen's life:

    Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell, who died by suicide in 2017 when Pretty Reckless were touring with them.

    The band's longtime producer Kato Khandwala, who died in a motorcycle crash the following year.

    This song was born out of the two tragedies.
  • Taylor Momsen told Apple Music that once Pretty Reckless had done a rough sketch of the song in the studio, they realized it "had this Soundgarden-esque overtone to it." She sent it to Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil and drummer Matt Cameron asking if they wanted to play on it. After they agreed, the band flew to Seattle and recorded the track at London Bridge Studios, where Soundgarden laid down their seminal album Louder Than Love. Momsen said the thrill of collaborating with two of her favorite musicians of all time at such a landmark location helped her get through the worst time in her life. "It means that there is hope, and that life has to go on, and most importantly, is worth living," she said.
  • According to Kim Thayil, the song has "elements of classic Soundgarden" with a riff that 30 years ago would have found a home on Louder Than Love. He added that Pretty Reckless' Ben Phillips' guitar parts "lay down a heavy foundation," allowing space for Momsen's vocals.

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