The band originated with vocalist Stephen Holt (vocals) and guitarist Graham Lambert. Another uncredited founding member, was basist Glenn Chesworth. His partnership with the band lasted only a couple of years. The band emerged alongside The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays from the indie scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bassist, Martyn Walsh, and drummer, Craig Gill, joined in 1984. Playing garage rock, they were joined by keyboardist, Clint Boon, who changed their sound based around harmonic (and often psychedelic) keyboards and jangly guitars.
After a couple of singles on a local indie label, Holt left the group and was replaced by Tom Hingley. The band were propelled to fame after being 'discovered' by the Radio 1 DJ John Peel and had their greatest chart success in the UK with a single entitled This is How it Feels, which is a song about loneliness and unemployment.
At the time of their initial success, the band earned some notoriety for their squiggly-eyed cow 'Cool as Fuck' T-shirts; a student at Oxford Polytechnic was prosecuted on obscenity charges for wearing one. One of their roadies, Noel Gallagher, went on to great success with the band Oasis. The band is named after an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which included the venue Swindon Oasis.
They reworked their single Find Out Why as the theme tune to early 90's kids TV show 'The 8:15 From Manchester'. Another release I Want You was used by Sony to advertise their in-car entertainment systems on this advert ; an early example of advertising agencies co-opting and promoting non-mainstream music to add kudos to mainstream brands (a trend that has increased significantly).
After the release of their 4th studio album, Devil Hopping, they started to record new, more darker-sounding demos in 1995 which their label, Mute Records rejected. An amicable split followed but they re-formed in 2003 for a tour and new compilation. For the next several years, they played gigs on and off, until Hingley could no longer give his 100% commitment so original vocalist, Stephen Holt, rejoined in March 2011.
Dragging Me Down
Inspiral Carpets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to take you to China, I want to kiss you in Rome
I'd use rocket ships, mine sweepers, transistor radio receivers
I want to hold you, want to hold you too tight
Gonna break every bone of everybody in sight
WHEN I'M FLYING SO HIGH (FLYING SO HIGH)
LIKE A BIRD IN THE SKY
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
I hear your talking and whispers, pale drawn out nails and fingers
I'm seeing shapes behind the curtain
You're looking older but you can't be certain
You're so tired (you're so tired) but you just can't sleep
You're so shallow (you're so shallow) but you're in too deep
Your hands shaking, body's lifting, body's mine
I know, I know, 'cause I told you so
WHEN I'M FLYING SO HIGH (FLYING SO HIGH)
LIKE A PLANE IN THE SKY
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
Oh, you're dragging me down, oh you're dragging me down
Drag, drag, dragging me down, oh you're dragging me down
Oh, you're dragging me, dragging me, dragging me, oh
(You're dragging me down)
(Oh) I never can quite remember, (oh) was it June, July or September ?
(Oh) That you sold your soul to me, to me
(Oh) That you sold your soul to me, to me
WHEN I'M FLYING SO HIGH (FLYING SO HIGH)
LIKE A STORM IN THE SKY
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
WHEN I'M FLYING SO HIGH (FLYING SO HIGH)
LIKE A STAR IN THE SKY
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
(Dragging me down) (7x)
Inspiral Carpets’ “Dragging Me Down” is a song about a person who’s lost in love and will go to any lengths to be with their lover, even if it means dragging them down. The opening line, “I would search this world for you, even though you can't imagine,” suggests that the singer is truly committed to finding their lover. They desire to travel the world with their lover, from China to Rome. They mention using rocket ships, mine sweepers, and transistor radio receivers to illustrate the lengths they're willing to go just to be with them.
In the second verse, the singer describes their lover in a state of exhaustion and paranoia. They see shapes behind the curtain, have worn out nails and fingers, and look much older than their actual age. The lines “You're so shallow (you're so shallow) but you're in too deep, your hands shaking, body's lifting, the body's mine” suggests that their lover is addicted to something, perhaps drugs. The chorus describes the conflict between the singer’s desire to be with their lover and the negative influence their lover has on them. The repetition of the lines “But you’re dragging me down” emphasizes the struggle the singer feels about their situation.
Overall, the song suggests that the singer is willing to do anything for their love, even if it means sacrificing their well-being. The addiction theme highlights the destructive nature of some relationships, where love can lead to an uncontrollable desire and addiction to someone who might not have the best intentions for them.
Line by Line Meaning
I would search this world for you, even though you can't imagine
My love for you is so strong that I am willing to go to any length to find and be with you, even if it seems impossible to you.
I want to take you to China, I want to kiss you in Rome
I desire to travel the world with you and have romantic moments in different places such as China and Rome.
I'd use rocket ships, mine sweepers, transistor radio receivers
I am willing to use any means necessary, whether it's rocket ships, mine sweepers or transistor radio receivers to get to you and show my love.
I want to hold you, want to hold you too tight
I want to embrace you tightly because I can't resist the urge to be close to you.
Gonna break every bone of everybody in sight
I am ready to fight anyone who tries to come between us or stop me from being with you. I am willing to go to any length, even if it means violence.
WHEN I'M FLYING SO HIGH (FLYING SO HIGH)
When I'm experiencing the height of my love and happiness
LIKE A BIRD IN THE SKY
Like a bird soaring in the sky, feeling free and unencumbered.
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
But you, on the other hand, are bringing me down from my happiness and freedom.
I hear your talking and whispers, pale drawn out nails and fingers
I notice your nervousness through your talking, whispers, pale skin and shaky fingers.
I'm seeing shapes behind the curtain
I feel like you're hiding something from me and I can't help but suspect the worst.
You're looking older but you can't be certain
You seem to be aging prematurely, but you don't know why.
You're so tired (you're so tired) but you just can't sleep
You struggle with insomnia despite feeling exhausted all the time.
You're so shallow (you're so shallow) but you're in too deep
You are not emotionally invested in our relationship, yet you have gone too far to back out now.
Your hands shaking, body's lifting, body's mine
You are physically attracted to me, and I feel like I have ownership over your body.
I know, I know, 'cause I told you so
I am aware of your physical attraction to me because I have pointed it out to you before.
Oh, you're dragging me down, oh you're dragging me down
You are bringing me down from my happiness and freedom with your behavior and actions.
Drag, drag, dragging me down, oh you're dragging me down
You are slowly but surely bringing me down, and it's affecting me more and more as time goes on.
(You're dragging me down)
You are causing me to feel trapped and weighed down.
(Oh) I never can quite remember, (oh) was it June, July or September ?
I can't remember what month it was when we made our commitment to each other or started our relationship.
(Oh) That you sold your soul to me, to me
It feels like you gave up everything to be with me and committed completely to our relationship.
WHEN I'M FLYING SO HIGH (FLYING SO HIGH)
When I'm experiencing the height of my love and happiness
LIKE A STORM IN THE SKY
Like a powerful storm brewing in the sky, full of energy and intensity.
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN, YEAH
But you are bringing me down from my high, and causing me to lose my passion and energy.
BUT YOU'RE DRAGGING ME DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
You are causing me to feel trapped and weighed down by our relationship, and it's getting worse over time.
Dragging me down (7x)
Reiteration of the aforementioned feeling of being dragged down and trapped in the relationship.
Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: CLINTON DAVID BOON, CRAIG DOUGLAS GILL, GRAHAM PAUL LAMBERT, MARTYN JOHN WALSH, THOMAS WILLIAM HINGLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jenny gibbs
Absolute banger. Also I met Tom recently and the guy Is a legend and his voice is still amazing.
Camo Fraser
Its horrible but if I don't think about it ,it goes away. Its only when I think about it I hear it.
Learned to accept it. Can't imagine how it affected Craig. My thoughts and prayers for him.
Love you brother.❤❤❤
Camo Fraser
I have tinnitus. Have had it for the last 10 years. 365 days of the year,24/7. I can hear it constantly but I just have to accept it.
Sa
Bobafetting
Agreed - Tom is THE voice of the Carpets. This new tour will be even worse than the last - at least then Martyn and our dear Gilly were involved
Paul Brogden
RIP Craig Gill. The Inspiral's were a brilliantly under-rated band!
Heli-Crew HGS
gramme parsons For years, he suffered terribly from tinnitus. He ended up taking his own life.
newellgirl
lucky enough to see the Inspirals live in Melbourne they were awesome..100% sooooo underrated... but so what? they matter to me!!!
John Harvey
gramme parsons No. it wasn’t drugs.
Sonja Colquhoun
I agree 😉
The Social Media Concierge
First band I ever saw!