Heal Me - Alternate Version

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody had been a heavy drinker for far too long. He spent too much time getting drunk and creating chaos, which reached a peak in his mid 20s when totally inebriated, the singer fell down some stairs and knocked himself out. Booze remained a problem until Lightbody had a wake-up call before football's European Championship during the summer of 2016. This hymn-like track is an uplifting ode to the female acupuncturist friend who convinced Lightbody to quit drinking. "I had my tickets and flights booked for all the matches and was going to France with four friends," recalled Lightbody to The Sun. "I woke up one morning and wasn't feeling very well - physically unwell. I was doing my exercises and I bent down to touch my toes and when I came up, it was like it was an earthquake. "I was dizzy and everything was moving. I phoned a friend who lived nearby and went to see a doctor." Lightbody was referred to a specialist who told him his whole head, eyes, ears, nose and sinuses were infected and he needed an operation. There was no way Lightbody could get on a plane meaning he was forced to miss the football tournament. Lightbody's acupuncturist pal treated Lightbody for six weeks. She not only helped him get back on track, but also convinced him to quit the drinking. "Finally, after way too many years of smashing my body to bits with booze, I met someone who helped me find my way back to health and clarity," said Lightbody. "This song is about her, that journey and is dedicated to her."

Lightbody previously sung about his drinking problem on the 2008 track "Disaster Button."