Their music initially featured many influences from 60s psychedelia, played with a rough lo-fi abandon. They self-released several EPs and albums between 2007 and 2011, including "30 track space opera" Jurassic Exxplosion Philippic, most of which are by now scarcely available. In 2011, they met producer/songwriter Richard Swift after handing him one of their EPs, and Swift would go on to work with them for some subsequent albums. After being signed to Jagjaguwar Records, Take the Kids Off Broadway, was released as their debut album on July 24, 2012. On January 22, 2013, they released their second album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic. This album was produced by Richard Swift and recorded at his National Freedom studios.
For each album Foxygen 'chooses' a different era in music history to focus themselves on. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic is based on the sixties, ...And Star Power was seventies and their newest release Hang is based on the forties.
Album discographyJurrassic Exxplosion Phillipic (2007)Take the Kids Off Broadway (2011)We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (2013)...And Star Power (2014)Hang (2017)Seeing Other People (2019)
No Destruction
Foxygen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I hate to say I miss you 'cause you don't need me anymore
You politely say I miss you but we know you don't mean that anymore
Like when the tock tic finally caught you
Then you weaseled through the door
Through the door of consciousness
San Francisco,
Oh you make it so long on me
Someone who smokes pot in the suburbs
Pot in the subway with me
Oh destructo, you're so destructive
Oh you so destructive to me
No destruction, in the waking hour
No destruction, in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour
There's no corruption on the waking wind
I'm talking to my grandma who lost her arms in the war
The aliens and armory that bond hers to God's door
Now you think that I don't know but I know you to know quite well
That I caught you sipping milkshakes in the parlor of the hotel
There's no need to be an asshole, you're not in Brooklyn anymore
You may take what you are given but you leave it on the floor
And I know you're gonna try to take my big mouse
Take the panels off my greenhouse
Oh but the door of consciousness isn't open anymore
Oh you think it's over, oh it's over with me
Someone who smokes pot in the suburbs
Pot in the suburb with me
Oh destructo, you're so destructive
Oh you so destructive to me
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour
There's no corruption on the mountain high
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction, no destruction
No destruction in the waking hour
The lyrics to Foxygen's No Destruction explore themes of nostalgia, longing, and disillusionment. The singer assumes that the person they are addressing has seen a photograph of them in their new car and is trying to connect with them by saying they miss them. However, the singer recognizes that the person no longer needs them and is only being polite. The reference to the tock tic catching up to them suggests that time has passed and the person has changed. The line "through the door of consciousness" could represent a moment of realization or awakening, where the singer sees things clearly.
The reference to San Francisco could be interpreted as a symbol of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, with its association with hippies, drugs, and social change. The person who smokes pot in the suburbs and on the subway may be rebelling against societal expectations and searching for a sense of freedom and identity. The line "Oh destructo, you're so destructive" could refer to the dangers of self-destructive behavior and substance abuse.
The final stanza references a conversation with the singer's grandmother, who lost her arms in the war. The image of the aliens and armory bonding her to God's door is a powerful metaphor for sacrifice and the toll of conflict. The line "you may take what you are given but you leave it on the floor" suggests a disregard for the gifts and opportunities in life. The final repetition of "no destruction in the waking hour" reinforces the idea of hope and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I assumed you knew this photograph of me in my new car
Assuming you know what I look like in my new car from a picture.
But I hate to say I miss you 'cause you don't need me anymore
I don't want to admit that I miss you because you no longer require my company.
You politely say I miss you but we know you don't mean that anymore
You're being mannerly when you say you miss me but we both acknowledge you don't care anymore.
Like when the tock tic finally caught you
Much like when you're finally caught and can't escape your consequences.
Then you weaseled through the door
You worked yourself out from a difficult scenario with calculated actions.
Through the door of consciousness
An exit from the conscious world.
San Francisco, Oh you make it so
Oh San Francisco, how you exacerbate me.
Oh you make it so long on me
You make it feel like it's taking an eternity for me to get through.
Someone who smokes pot in the suburbs
A person who uses marijuana in a suburban area.
Pot in the subway with me
Smoking marijuana with me in public transportation.
Oh destructo, you're so destructive
Oh destructive one, your actions are so ruinous.
Oh you so destructive to me
So detrimental to my well-being.
No destruction, in the waking hour
There is no negative influence during the active period of the day.
No destruction, in the waking wind
There is no corrupting influence within the winds of the active period of the day.
No destruction in the waking hour
No damaging conduct in the functional period of the day.
There's no corruption on the waking wind
The winds of the active period of the day carry no malicious intent.
I'm talking to my grandma who lost her arms in the war
I'm conversing to my grandmother who lost her arms during a time of conflict.
The aliens and armory that bond hers to God's door
The extraterrestrials and weapons that secure her fate to Heaven.
Now you think that I don't know but I know you to know quite well
You believe I'm ignorant to the fact, but I'm very much aware of what's going on.
That I caught you sipping milkshakes in the parlor of the hotel
That I discovered you drinking milkshakes in the hotel's lounge.
There's no need to be an asshole, you're not in Brooklyn anymore
There's no cause to be vulgar, you're not in a hostile environment anymore.
You may take what you are given but you leave it on the floor
You accept what's given to you without expressing gratitude and leave it behind.
And I know you're gonna try to take my big mouse
I'm aware you will try to take possession of my significant acquisition.
Take the panels off my greenhouse
Steal the sections from my greenhouse.
Oh but the door of consciousness isn't open anymore
The escape from reality is inaccessible now.
Oh you think it's over, oh it's over with me
You assume everything is concluded, but that's not the case with me.
Someone who smokes pot in the suburbs
A person who uses marijuana in a suburban area.
Pot in the suburbs with me
Smoking pot in a suburban area with me.
No destruction in the waking hour
No negative actions or influence within the productive portion of the day.
No destruction in the waking wind
No harmful or calamitous impact within the active portion of the day's breeze.
No destruction, no destruction
No damage or detriment whatsoever.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Jonathan Rado, Sam France
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doozie
I'm sending you this photograph of me in my new car
But I hate to say I miss you cause you don’t need me anymore
You politely say, "I miss you"
But we know you don’t mean that anymore
Like when the doctor thought he caught you
Then you weaseled through the door
[Pre-Chorus]
Through the door of consciousness, San Francisco
Oh, you think it's over
Oh, you think it's over to me
Someone who smokes pot in the subway
Smokes pot in the subway with me
Oh, destructor, you’re so destructive
Oh, you so destructive to me
[Chorus]
No destruction in the waking hour (In the waking hour)
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour (In the waking hour)
There's no corruption in the waking wind
[Verse 2]
I’m talking to my grandma who lost her arms in the war
The aliens and armory that bombed her cigar store
Now you think that I don’t know
But I know you two know quite well
That I caught you sipping milkshakes in the parlor of the hotel
There’s no need to be an asshole, you’re not in Brooklyn anymore
You may take what you are given but you leave it on the floor
And I know you’re gonna try to take my big mouse
Take the panels off my greenhouse
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, but the door of consciousness isn’t open anymore
Oh, you think it’s over
Oh, you think it's over to me
Someone who smokes pot in the subway
Pot in the subway with me
Oh, Destructo, you’re so destructive
Oh, you so destructive to me
[Chorus]
No destruction in the waking hour (In the waking hour)
No destruction in the waking wind
There’s no destruction in the waking hour (In the waking hour)
There’s no corruption on Blue Mountain
No destruction in the waking hour (In the waking hour)
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour (In the waking hour)
There's no destruction in the waking wind
No destruction, no destruction
There's no destruction in the waking wind
centipede moon
I assumed you knew this photograph of me in my new car
But I hate to say I miss you 'cause you don't need me anymore
You politely say I miss you but we know you don't mean that anymore
Like when the tock tic finally caught you
Then you weaseled through the door
Through the door of consciousness
San Francisco,
Oh you make it so
Oh you make it so long on me
Someone who smokes pot in the suburbs
Pot in the subway with me
Oh destructo, you're so destructive
Oh you so destructive to me
No destruction, in the waking hour
No destruction, in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour
There's no corruption on the waking wind
I'm talking to my grandma who lost her arms in the war
The aliens and armory that bond hers to God's door
Now you think that I don't know but I know you to know quite well
That I caught you sipping milkshakes in the parlor of the hotel
There's no need to be an asshole, you're not in Brooklyn anymore
You may take what you are given but you leave it on the floor
And I know you're gonna try to take my big mouse
Take the panels off my greenhouse
Oh but the door of consciousness isn't open anymore
Oh you think it's over, oh it's over with me
Someone who smokes pot in the suburbs
Pot in the suburb with me
Oh destructo, you're so destructive
Oh you so destructive to me
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour
There's no corruption on the mountain high
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction, no destruction
No destruction in the waking hour
Jon M
I'm sendin' you this photograph of me in my new car
But I hate to say I miss you cause you don't need me anymore
You politely say I miss you but we know you don't mean that anymore
Like when the toc tic finally caught you, then you weaseled through the door
Through the door of consciousness, San Francisco
Oh you make it so
Oh you make it so long on me
Someone who smokes pot in the subway
Pot in the subway with me
Oh destructo, you're so destruct
Oh you so destructive to me
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour
No corruption in the waking moon
I'm talking to my grandma who lost her arms in the war
The aliens and armory that bond hers to God's door
Now you think that I don't know but I know you to know quite well
That I caught you sipping milkshakes in the parlor of the hotel
There's no need to be an asshole, you're not in Brooklyn anymore
You may take what you are given but you leave it on the floor
And I know you're gonna try to take my big mouse
Take the panels off my greenhouse
Oh but the door of consciousness isn't open anymore
Oh you think it's over, oh you think it's over with me
Someone who smokes pot in the subway
Pot in the subway with me
Oh destructo, you're so destructive
Oh you so destructive to me
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction in the waking hour
No corruption on the mountain high
No destruction in the waking hour
No destruction in the waking wind
No destruction, no destruction
No destruction...
DuUbermensh
I'm going to be bold and say that I think this song is one of the most special songs I've heard in years. Very catchy, lyrically weird and boundary pushing without being totally nonsensical. The singer made some phenomenal choices that turned the verses into a landscape of sound instead of being predictable. When you listen to this song, you must pay attention the whole time and that is what I call damn good songwriting.
Robert Dominguez
boundary pushing how? This song follows a pretty standard song structure and none of the sounds on it aren't things we've heard before
AirBallers31
@Robert Dominguez and yet something about it makes it that good
brooklynJMZ
Huge fan of Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Dylan, Reed, etc. and I love these guys. Unique spin on all the classics and somehow they make it their own. Not as easy to pull off as some would like to imagine.
Matthew M
Yeah, totally. I heard they were inspired by the soundtracks of Wes Anderson movies
Eric Holder
my best friend and i used to play darts to this song and laugh; he's gone now - god bless you brother
Bret Bishop
Sounds like a good memory to hold onto
Vincent Rodriguez
Bless you ❤️❤️❤️
Mace Windu
@Bret Bishop Yeah
Nick
So much old school influence. These dudes are dope.