Lovedrug drew nationwide attention with two independent EPs in 2003 and 2004, followed by the highly acclaimed debut full-length Pretend You’re Alive in July 2004 on indie The Militia Group (Sony). The fastest selling debut in label history, Militia upstreamed the band to parent label Columbia Records for a planned rerelease in March 2005 around the radio single “Spiders”. Though unrelated corporate purging at Columbia left many plans stillborn, Lovedrug toured heavily, including dates with The Killers, Robert Plant, Switchfoot, and Coheed & Cambria, and established a sizable American following.
By late 2006, Lovedrug had a new album’s worth of material and, to avoid continued upheaval at Columbia, returned to The Militia Group to release Everything Starts Where It Ends in March of 2007. The album was well received, selling close to 30k albums in several months on the back of Japanese and North American touring, including two headline runs and tours with Sparta and Blue October. Several singles/videos saw traction at radio & MTV, including “Ghost By Your Side” and “Happy Apple Poison”, but a lack of significant label support failed to capitalize, leaving the band frustrated and burned out.
After a brief interlude, founder Shepard reformed the group and proceeded to write what would become Lovedrug’s 3rd album as a bit of catharsis, working with iconic producer Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mew) to exorcise several years of demons in an aggressive homage to grunge. Though the 2008 release of The Sucker Punch Show coincided with the collapse of the Militia Group in North America, the album was especially well received upon it’s 2009 release in Europe, landing at #6 on the coveted Visions summer chart, garnering broad radio play for the single “Only One”, and seeing the band play shows and festivals with Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Silversun Pickups, and Eagles of Death Metal.
Following the European summer tour, a fully revitalized Lovedrug took the rest of 2009 to explore and define what would come next. The band self-released EP- PART I in April, the first in a series of three such indie EPs planned for 2010, while continuing to write, tinker, and prepare for the HiFi album to come. Lovedrug will play a number of dates this spring, including a headlining tour June/July, Bamboozle, and others.
Band Members:
Michael Shepard - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Jeremy Michael Gifford - Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano
Thomas Bragg - Bass
James Childress - Drums
In Red
Lovedrug Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out of love for the catch
For the thrill I will sail across this ocean
Out of love, for a pirate seeking fortune
All the blood that we spilled
Cannot fill my empty heart
On a beach we're dressed in red
Out of love for the sea
Out love for your majesty
For the thrill I could change
Out of love for my captain I can't change, no I can't
All the blood that we spilled
Cannot fill my empty heart
On a beach we're dressed in red
On a beach we're dressed in red
In a memory I fall
In the arms of a dancing girl
On a beach we're dressed in red
On a beach we're dressed in red
Fall inside of her now
Fall inside of her now
On a beach we're dressed in red
The lyrics to Lovedrug's song In Red seem to focus on the allure and thrill of living a life of piracy, with the singer seemingly unable to resist the call of the sea and the promise of treasure. The first two lines of the chorus, "All the blood that we spilled / Cannot fill my empty heart" suggest that despite the excitement and adventure of the pirate life, there is a sense of emptiness and lack of fulfillment that remains. The mention of being dressed in red on a beach could suggest a violent confrontation or battle, with the color red representing blood.
The second verse furthers the singer's dedication to the pirate life and their loyalty to their captain, even if it means sacrificing personal desires or the possibility of change. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the sense of being trapped in this dangerous lifestyle, with the memory of a dancing girl offering a moment of escape or respite from the violence and danger.
Overall, the lyrics of In Red evoke a sense of romanticizing the idea of piracy and the thrill of the unknown, while also acknowledging the dangers and the toll it takes on the soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of love for the hunt
I do it because I love the thrill of the chase
Out of love for the catch
I do it because I love the satisfaction of achieving my goal
For the thrill I will sail across this ocean
I love the excitement that comes from adventure and I'm willing to go to great lengths to experience it
Out of love, for a pirate seeking fortune
My love for earning wealth and success drives me to be like a pirate seeking treasure
All the blood that we spilled
Despite all the harm we've caused, the guilt weighs heavy on my heart
Cannot fill my empty heart
The remorseful feeling will not go away despite the actions we’ve done
On a beach we're dressed in red
The violent aftermath of our actions lies before us, symbolized by dressing in red as a reminder of the bloodshed
Out of love for the sea
I have a strong passion for the ocean
Out love for your majesty
My love for royalty, possibly indicating patriotism or a deep respect for authority
For the thrill I could change
I am willing to change who I am for the excitement that it might bring me
Out of love for my captain I can't change, no I can't
However, there is one person I wouldn't change for, my loyalty to my leader is steadfast
In a memory I fall
Memories of a past experience haunt me
In the arms of a dancing girl
The memory is of an intimate encounter with a woman
On a beach we're dressed in red
Repetition of the symbol, as if the aftermath of violence is pervading the singer's memories
Fall inside of her now
The singer desires to reconnect with this woman and what the vision of the red-dressed beach represents
Fall inside of her now
Repetition of line 15, as if the artist is desperate to fulfill this desire
On a beach we're dressed in red
Final repetition of the symbol, probably representing the lasting impact that the violence has had on the artist and his memories
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL L. SHEPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind