in an interview with songfacts, guitarist jeff trott revealed "a change would do you good" was written in new orleans during a six-month stay with co-writers sheryl crow and brian macleod. the group decided to create a song by looking into classic soul music for inspiration, specifically by the staple singers and mavis staples. eventually, the trio came up with so many lyric ideas that they resorted to drawing them out of a hat, putting together similar lines so they made sense.