Q&A: Lily Williams’ “Things That Fall” is a Reverie
GRAVITY MAKES FALLING INEVITABLE — and on her latest single, “Things That Fall,” Lily Williams sings about love being just as grasping.
The British-born, Southern California–based singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist wrote “Things That Fall” with Dan Gleyzer. Among the various images within the song, audiences fall for a joke and the sun falls into the sky at the end of the day, both of which act as brilliant metaphors describing what it means to fall in love. The music video, directed by Lisa Morel, places Williams in a tranquil domestic environment as she hangs up laundry in sunlight. It’s utopian, reinforcing the dreaminess of the track itself.
At the same time, a great strength in Williams’ songwriting is her honesty about both the pleasures and the pains of romantic love. In “Things That Fall,” she introduces a flash of uncertainty in the final verse: “If you break my heart then we’ll fall apart / And it all ends too soon / Still none fell as hard as I did for you.”
While the song is sonically reminiscent of a perfect dream world, Williams creates space for a whole representation of relationships. Still, her songwriting has a promising quality that can bring belief to any reverie.
“I hope this song reminds you of late summer, new beginnings, novels, sunsets, and falling in love,” Williams says.
Luna chatted with Williams about the new track, how literature inspires her, and what it was like to film the music video. Read the interview below.
LUNA: How are you feeling about the release of “Things That Fall”?
WILLIAMS: I’m so excited. This is sort of the beginning of a new chapter and it’s the start of getting ready for the next project. It was really cool to turn the page and start something new. I’m just so excited for all the songs I’ve been writing. [“Things That Fall”] really feels like the start of that.
LUNA: “I Hope You Think Of Me” was a viral moment. Now, after having released your album How The Story Ends, do you feel that the experience of that viral moment informed your songwriting in any way going forward?
WILLIAMS: It definitely did, especially in that first project, [How The Story Ends], because “I Hope You Think Of Me” was just something I wrote on the piano one day. [I] posted it on TikTok and it had this viral reaction, but [the song] wasn’t even planned to be part of the first project. Obviously it informed that whole project and … moving forward, I [thought] about what my fans connect to and what the people that listen to my music love and connect to. Seeing what resonates definitely informs some of what I do now. But mostly, I think what that moment did is it made me more confident to trust my gut and to release the things that I love. I loved [“Things That Fall”] from the moment I wrote [it]. I guess it helped me … really trust my vision and go for it.
LUNA: Also on social media, you shared a poem from Pinterest that inspired your new release. Morgan Harper Nichols’ writing also inspired your song “July (Later On).” Do you often seek inspiration in literature?
WILLIAMS: All the time, and I definitely always try to make sure the authors are credited. Someone commented on “Things That Fall”: “I love when art inspires art.” I thought that was such a beautiful way to put it because it’s so true. Art inspires me all the time. Even when I’m on TikTok and I see a beautiful, cinematic video [that has] nothing really to do with songwriting … it could inspire a song in me. Or when I’m on Pinterest reading quotes, or when I’m reading fiction. I’m always absorbing. It definitely inspires what I write and how I write.
Seeing that poem on Pinterest, I immediately was like, “That’s how I feel, and it would be such a good song.” As soon as I saw that, I was making my own list of things that fall and thinking about the song after I saw it.
LUNA: There’s definitely a unique filter that artists have when looking at the world. They pick up on things that other people don’t store the same way in their minds.
WILLIAMS: I agree. Even when I hear conversations, I’m like, “That would be such a good lyric.” It inspires my mind to start thinking of a concept, and I love that. I love just using things that come up in my real life as inspiration for my music.
LUNA: I love the lyric “It’s funny how the city lights make you fall for a dream.” There’s inspiration there again, but this time in one’s environment, rather than in literature. I know certain places have informed your songwriting, like Boston, where you studied and met your husband. Do you often find yourself in a moment of inspiration where you pause to note down some images for your writing? Or are you first present, then reflect later?
WILLIAMS: I try to be present, but I’m always taking photos. I’m a very nostalgic person so I’m always looking [at the photos] when I’m sitting by myself or I’m traveling. I look back and think about the memories. I think having those images in my mind, and taking so many pictures solidifies all those little images that I have.
I love that line, too. And it actually makes me think of Boston and also of LA, because when I first moved out [to LA], you meet everyone chasing a dream, which is beautiful and scary. But it’s the city of dreams — it’s where everyone comes to pursue their dreams. So I love that line, too. I’m really glad it stuck out to you.
LUNA: The music video for “Things That Fall” was filmed at Kindred Spirits Care Farm in California, which creates a serene atmosphere in the video. What was the filming experience like?
WILLIAMS: Oh my gosh, it was so cute (laughs). Initially I had thought of laundry. I had [on] Pinterest [saved pictures of] shadows, the image of laundry falling off the line, or the image of the sun falling into the sky. That was kind of my vision — it was just going to be sort of simple. Then Lisa Morel and the amazing team that made the video scouted the location and saw the little lambs, the horse, and the train tracks. It was such a dreamy place, so they were like, “Whatever you’re comfortable with, but we would love to film you with the lambs and the horses to create this world of falling in love.” It was just so cute.
The most interesting moment was when I was walking with the horses and they were getting a little close. One of the horses sneezed all over me, and black stuff came out of its nostrils! [I was in a] white dress and I was so scared, but we got the shot so it was worth it. I’m not too much of a farm girl, but it all worked out fine!
LUNA: Well, you fooled me (laughs)! Also, a lot of your songs express uncertainties alongside the joys of love. “Things That Fall” does this toward the end of the song. At the same time, there’s an acceptance of love’s intensity in your music. For example, in “How The Story Ends” you sing, “If I thought too much, I’d never fall in love.” Can you speak about this balance in your songwriting?
WILLIAMS: I think, in life, there’s always this intensity of feelings and dreams that you have, but there’s always an element of uncertainty. You never know when something might be taken from you or when something might change. I think I’m always balancing that. There’s always a bit of uncertainty, and I think in love you have that uncertainty, but you have to fully go for it. Otherwise you never really let your walls down.
I think it’s only when you let yourself be known fully by somebody that you can feel like you’re truly loved by them. But there’s so much uncertainty and vulnerability and scariness in that. I definitely feel both of those — love is beautiful, but it’s also scary.
