Boston – More Than A Feeling – 6/17/1979 – Giants Stadium (Official)

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

[Chorus]
It’s more than a feeling (more than a feeling)
When I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling)
I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)
‘Till I see Marianne walk away
I see my Marianne walkin’ away

[Verse 2]
So many people have come and gone
Their faces fade as the years go by
Yet I still recall as I wander on
As clear as the sun in the summer sky

[Chorus]
It’s more than a feeling (more than a feeling)
When I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling)
I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)
‘Till I see Marianne walk away
I see my Marianne walkin’ away

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
When I’m tired and thinking cold
I hide in my music, forget the day
And dream of a girl I used to know
I closed my eyes and she slipped away

She slipped away

[Chorus]
It’s more than a feeling (more than a feeling)
When I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling)
I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)
‘Till I see Marianne walk away
I see my Marianne walkin’ away

“More Than a Feeling” is a song written by Tom Scholz and first released by American rock band Boston as the lead single from their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with “Smokin’” on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The track is now a staple of classic rock and in 1999 it was named the 39th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.^[1]

Content

His biggest hit, “More Than a Feeling” took writer Tom Scholz five years to complete.^[3][4] It is one of six songs, five of which eventually appeared on the Boston album,^[5] Scholz worked on in his basement in 1974 and 1975, before Boston got its record contract.^[4] The drum parts were originally developed by Jim Masdea, although Sib Hashian played the drums on the official release.^[5] The verses are in the key of D major while the chorus is in G major. The song is in compound AABA form.^[6]

The Book of Rock Lists suggests that the chorus riff may itself be a subtle homage to the Kingsmen‘s classic, “Louie Louie.” Scholz credits “Walk Away Renee” by The Left Banke as the song’s main inspiration.^[7][8]

Boston’s website says the song is about “the power an old song can have in your life,”^[9] with Tom Scholz elaborating that “it was sort of a bittersweet ballad.”^[10] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci points out that this is a common theme in Boston songs.^[11] The lyrics express the author’s discontent with the present and his yearning for a former love named Marianne, whose memory is strongly evoked by an old familiar song. In an interview Scholz was asked, “Who is Marianne?” He replied, “There actually is a Marianne. She wasn’t my girlfriend.” He explained that when he was 8 or 9 years old he had a much older cousin who he thought was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and that he was “secretly in love” with her (laughs).^[12] But he has also stated that the lyrics were inspired by his emotions after a school love affair ended, and were influenced by the lyrics of the Left Banke song “Walk Away Renee.”^[4] Maximum Guitar author Andy Aledort pointed out that the guitar chord progression of G-D/F#-Em7-D that follows the line “I see my Marianne walking away” also comes from “Walk Away Renee.”^[4] Aledort also explains that the guitar solo is unusual in that it incorporates mordents and inverted mordents, which are more typically used in baroque music.^[4]

Guitar World states that when the radio plays “More Than a Feeling”, “few can resist indulging in fits of fleet-fingered air guitar and a spirited falsetto sing-along.”^[13] Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Paul Evans states that “as slick as it sounds, ‘More Than a Feeling’ strikes an uncommonly resonant emotional note.”^[14] Gallucci rated it Boston’s greatest song.^[11] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it the #28 all-time classic rock song.^[15]

When performed live, the power ballad^[16] is occasionally played after “The Journey“, since “It’s Easy” has rarely been played live.

Single version

Epic released an edited version of the song for the single with the first chorus and second verse removed, clocking in at 3:30 versus the album track at 4:45. That single edit can be found on the Rock installment of Sony’s Soundtrack for a Century box set from 1999.

Covers and samples

• Several artists have covered “More Than a Feeling”, including Ingram Hill, Nirvana (the similarities between the song’s main riff and that of Nirvana’s breakout hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit” have often been noted, including by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain),^[17] No Mercy, *NSYNC, and Sleater-Kinney.^[18]
• Comedy band Ninja Sex Party covered the song on their 2017 album Under the Covers, Vol. II. Coincidentally, the album also features a song called “Something About You”, which shares a title with another Boston song.
• Australian group The Stafford Brothers covered and released the track in 2006. It peaked at number 90 on the ARIA Chart.^[19]
• The song was sampled in “Totally Hooked” by DJ Peter Presta in 2005.

2008 U.S. presidential race

In 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee used the song “More Than a Feeling” to promote his campaign. Former Boston band member Barry Goudreau made appearances with Huckabee both live and on YouTube stating that he was then of the band Boston, though he had been out of the band for over two decades. In February 2008, Scholz wrote to Huckabee requesting that he stop using the song, stating:

While I’m flattered that you are fond of my song, I’m shocked that you would use it and the name Boston to promote yourself without my consent.

Your campaign’s use of “More Than a Feeling”, coupled with the representation of one of your supporters as a member “of Boston” clearly implies that the band Boston, and specifically one of its members, has endorsed your candidacy, neither of which is true.^[20]

Huckabee complied with Scholz’s request, and videos featuring Barry Goudreau and the song were subsequently removed by the Huckabee Campaign.

Personnel

• Tom Scholz – acoustic and electric rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass
• Brad Delp – vocals
• Sib Hashian – drums

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Downloadable content for rhythm and music games

The song is a part of the soundtrack for the original Guitar Hero (video game) series released in 2005.^[32]

The song was made available to download on March 1, 2011, for use in the Rock Band music video game series.^[33]

The song is also available as downloadable content (DLC) for the Rocksmith guitar learning game. The song is available individually or as part of the ‘Rock Hits 70s’ Song Pack along with “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers Band and Deep Purple‘s “Smoke on the Water.”^[34]

Boston – More Than A Feeling
Recorded Live: 6/17/1979 – Giants Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ
More Boston at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com
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