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
Our War
Lovedrug Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and everyone enjoys their lives
lovers chase the rain with an empty water can
and diligence shuts their eyes
we gotta finish our boats now before the tide comes in
what a pleasant distraction from the outcome
of this world that we live in
this is our war, so don't lose it
this is our only chance, so don't let it pass
through your eyes there's a choir singing
da da da da da da da
this is our war, so don't lose it
this is our second chance, so don't let it pass
through your eyes there's a choir singing
da da da da da da da
this is our war
we all love kids who can play in the cities
and how no one could feel more alive
trading off toys for sun glasses that can
cover another black eye
we gotta finish our drinks now before the tide comes in
what a pleasant distraction from the outcome
of these cities we lived in
battling is bound to leave blood on the ground
this war is a choir and this choir has a sound
da da da da da da da
The first two lines of the song seem to suggest that American girls are idealized and admired for their dreams, but the rest of the verse subverts this notion by pointing out that everyone (including American girls) faces struggle and hardship in life. The second verse describes the joy of childhood innocence and playfulness, but also acknowledges the harsh reality of violence and aggression.
The chorus establishes that the "war" being referenced is not a traditional military conflict, but rather the ongoing struggle of life itself. It urges the listener to seize this moment and not let it pass by without fighting for what they want. The repeated "da da da" is both a call to action and a reminder that this struggle is part of the larger human experience.
Overall, the lyrics of "Our War" are both poetic and thought-provoking, challenging the listener to confront the complexities of life while celebrating the resilience and beauty of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
we all love American girls when they're dreaming
We admire American girls when they seem to be lost in their own thoughts.
and everyone enjoys their lives
Everyone loves their lives.
lovers chase the rain with an empty water can
People in love find joy in even the simplest things.
and diligence shuts their eyes
Hard work can be exhausting to the point of not being able to keep one's eyes open.
we gotta finish our boats now before the tide comes in
We need to finish what we're doing before it's too late and circumstances change.
what a pleasant distraction from the outcome
Finishing a project can be a good way to take one's mind off of the results.
of this world that we live in
This world can be overwhelming and unpredictable.
this is our war, so don't lose it
We are responsible for our own battles and must not give up.
this is our only chance, so don't let it pass
We only get one shot at life, so make the most of it.
through your eyes there's a choir singing
There is beauty and hope in the world, if you look for it.
da da da da da da da
The sound of the choir can be felt, even if it's not explicitly heard.
we all love kids who can play in the cities
We appreciate the playfulness and innocence of children living in urban environments.
and how no one could feel more alive
Children have the ability to live life to the fullest without any worries.
trading off toys for sun glasses that can
Childhood can be fleeting and children quickly grow up.
cover another black eye
Unfortunately, some children experience violence and need to hide the evidence.
we gotta finish our drinks now before the tide comes in
We need to finish what we're doing before it's too late and the environment changes.
of these cities we lived in
Urban environments can also be overwhelming and unpredictable.
battling is bound to leave blood on the ground
Fighting will always result in casualties and harm.
this war is a choir and this choir has a sound
Even in times of war or conflict, there is still hope and beauty to be found.
da da da da da da da
The sound of the choir can still be felt amidst chaos and violence.
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Savyna10
favorite song right now ^^ LOVE IT!
Adam Ottovordemgentschenfelde
Good tune here. Like the lyrics
1nerdyblonde
im obsessed with lovedrug