I picked up my phone after my band left, and I sang into it, “The drum set is gone, and the rug it was on is still here, screaming at me.” It’s the same thing I used to do when I was a kid. When I would walk home from school, there was a mirror when I walked in the door where we would hang our keys. I would open up the front door and just sing whatever came to my mind. I often found that would reveal what I was really thinking to myself and it would start me creating things.
Nothing changed in the lyrics from what I sang into the phone, which is why the lyrics are not very poetic. Then we recorded it in one take. I was playing a chair, and we were all sitting in this one corner of my house. There’s a certain part where you can sort of hear me laughing because I’m playing the chair and Mercy comes up to me and starts kissing me while we’re recording. No one else would be able to hear it, but whenever I hear that song, I’ll be able to remember that moment.
I really like how that song feels. If I didn’t hear the recording of the song and I just looked at those lyrics, I’d be like, “Oh, I’m not going to put this on my record, this is stupid,” because it was basically belched out. It really was. If I found the voice-mail I sang it into, there would be absolutely no changes in the lyrics. I may have sent a voice-mail to the band right away. I don’t even know if they addressed it because they know me, they kind of were like, “Yeah.”
Drumset
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the rug it was on
He's still here screaming at me
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you take it all away?
And the dialing of the phone
Is no longer fun
Since you've been done with me
Why did you take it all away?
I did nothing wrong
I don't believe it, I don't believe it
I don't believe your reasoning
Now I understand, you're a human
And you've got to lie, you're a man
And you got to get what you want
How you want it, 'cause so do I
And I wanted to try
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away)
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away, took it)
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away)
Why did you take it all away?
The drumset is gone
And the rug it was on
He's still here screaming at me (you took it all away, took it)
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away, took it)
And the dialing of the phone (you took it all away, took it)
Is no longer fun (you took it all away, took it)
Since you've been done with me
And you don't want to talk with me at all
Why did you take it all away?
I did nothing wrong
I don't believe it, I don't believe it
I don't believe your reasoning
Now I understand, you're a human
And you've got to lie, you're a man
And you got to get what you want
How you want it, 'cause so do I
And I wanted to try
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
And
Fiona Apple's song "Drumset" explores themes of loss, frustration, and communication breakdown in a relationship. The lyrics depict a situation where the drumset, which symbolizes joy, passion, and connection, has been taken away. The singer is left bewildered and hurt, questioning why their partner would remove something that brought them happiness. Their unanswered queries, "Why did you take it all away?" reflect a deep sense of betrayal and confusion.
The song goes on to highlight the deteriorating state of the relationship. The phone, previously a source of enjoyment, has lost its appeal since the partner decided to sever ties. In their heartache, the singer questions what they could have done wrong to deserve this treatment. They find it difficult to trust their partner's reasoning, believing it to be insincere and riddled with lies.
In the later part of the song, the singer acknowledges that their partner is human and, like any person, is capable of deception. They grasp the notion that people, especially men, often resort to manipulation to obtain what they desire. This realization prompts them to question why their partner didn't want to put effort into the relationship, why they didn't want to try. The repetition of the line "Why did you take it all away?" serves as an echo of the singer's anguish and longing for answers.
Overall, "Drumset" delves into the feelings of loss and confusion that arise when a relationship breaks down. It highlights the frustration of being left without explanation or closure, and the struggle to understand why someone would deliberately take away the happiness that once existed.
Line by Line Meaning
The drumset is gone
The symbol of joy and expression, represented by the drumset, has been removed from the situation
And the rug it was on
Even the stable foundation on which the drumset once stood has been taken away
He's still here screaming at me
Despite the absence of the drumset, the person is still present and expressing anger towards me
Why did you take it all away?
I am questioning the motive behind removing the drumset, which brought happiness and fulfillment
And the dialing of the phone
The act of reaching out and trying to communicate
Is no longer fun
It has lost its enjoyment and excitement since the connection between us has been severed
Since you've been done with me
Ever since you decided to end our relationship or association
And you don't want to talk with me at all
You have completely shut down the lines of communication with me
I did nothing wrong
I believe I am innocent and have not done anything to deserve this treatment
I don't believe it, I don't believe it
I refuse to accept your justification or explanation for your actions
I don't believe your reasoning
I doubt the validity and truthfulness of the reasons you provided
Now I understand, you're a human
I have come to realize that you are fallible, capable of making mistakes and acting in self-interest
And you've got to lie, you're a man
As a human, you have the tendency to deceive and manipulate, especially as a man
And you got to get what you want
You are driven by your desires and will do whatever it takes to satisfy them
How you want it, 'cause so do I
Just like you, I also have my own desires and needs that I want fulfilled
And I wanted to try
I had the desire and willingness to make an effort and work on our relationship
Why did you not want to try?
I am questioning why you didn't have the same willingness to put in effort and make things work
Why did you take it all away?
I am questioning why you chose to remove all the positive elements and joy from our connection
You took it all away
Emphasizing that it was you who actively took away everything that brought happiness and fulfillment
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
siai
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
The drumset is gone
And the rug it was on
Is still here screaming at me
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you take it all away?
And the dialing of the phone
Is no longer wrong
Since you've been done with me
And you don't want to talk with me at all
Why did you take it all away?
I did nothing wrong
I don't believe it, I don't believe it
I don't believe your reasoning
Now I understand, you're a human
And you got to lie, you're a man
And you got to get what you want
How you want it, cause so do I
And I wanted to try
[Chorus]
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
[Post-Chorus]
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away)
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away, took it)
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away)
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away)
[Verse 1]
The drumset is gone
And the rug it was on
Is still here screaming at me (You took it all away, took it)
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you take it all away? (You took it all away, took it)
And the dialing of the phone (You took it all away, took it)
Is no longer wrong (You took it all away, took it)
Since you've been done with me
And you don't want to talk with me at all
Why did you take it all away?
I did nothing wrong
I don't believe it, I don't believe it
I don't believe your reasoning
Now I understand, you're a human
And you got to lie, you're a man
And you got to get what you want
How you want it, cause so do I
And I wanted to try
[Chorus]
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
Why did you not want to try?
Why did you take it all away?
And
Bill Haines
The printed lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qONNetp6rZQ&t=45m51s
have
“Now I understand, you’re a human and you got to lie;
You’re a man
and you got to get what you want you want, how you want it, but
So do I and I wanted to try”
This parsing makes the parallel structure of words match a parallel structure of meaning: you lie because you’re human, you’re pushy because you’re a man (but I’m pushy too).
inca guaya
If I'd known Fiona would drop an album the day I got dumped, I would have sabotaged my own relationship long ago.
DominiQue White
Lol 😂😂😂
T axr
No chill...😂🤣
Elaina Cordova
LOL!!!
Serena del Mar
Same thing here friend
Arcanjo Miguel
oh well...
Cortney Miller
I haven’t stopped listening to this album since April 17th. Thank you, Fiona, for giving me exactly what I need exactly when I need it.
John Odom
Same 🙌🏻
shane bolivar
same
Audrey V
It's been exactly a year!