Featuring former Carry On vocalist Ryan George and one time Carry On drummer Nat Keefer, Drew on guitar, and Max on bass; this foursome plays catchy pop music.
Signed to V2 Records, they have released a five song EP in 2005 with a debut album entitled A New Language, slated for release in July.
Ethical Drug
The Adored Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your arms covered with fabric
I'm in denial for my sake
Hiding from the here and now
"Why's that spoon in the bathroom?"
Who's watching that candle burn, burn?
Warm water filled to the tub's top
Some things no one should learn
White mice with their medicine
I try to relate to your numbing state
Talk loose and dry about the better times
Blue eyes roll black, so I shake you back
Young girl with her medicine
It was getting hard to know you
Now I fight so hard to hold you up
Here we go again
White mice with their medicine
My arms will hold you regardless
Besides, I still know you can shine
I know I've got my own problems
Let's just breathe for a while
The Adored's song Ethical Drug is about a narrators struggle with a partner who is addicted to drugs. The opening lines "come home wet like a baby, your arms covered with fabric" suggest that the partner has just come home from using drugs and is in a vulnerable state. The singer is in denial about the situation and is hiding from facing the reality of the here and now. They ask about a spoon in the bathroom and who is watching the candle burn, indicating that they are wary and worried about their partner's drug use.
The chorus repeats the phrase "white mice with their medicine" which suggests that while the partner may be taking their drug of choice, they are not fully in control of their actions, much like the mice in an experiment. The singer tries to relate to their partner's state but admits it is difficult, their partner's eyes roll black with drug use and they have to shake them back to reality. However, they still love and want to hold them up. The final lines suggest that while the partner may have their own problems, they can still shine and the singer just wants to breathe and be together for a while.
Overall, Ethical Drug is a poignant and relatable song about the struggles of addiction and the difficulty of being in a relationship with someone who is using drugs.
Line by Line Meaning
Come home wet like a baby
You returned soaking wet and vulnerable like a child
Your arms covered with fabric
Your arms are wrapped in something, perhaps hiding tracks or scars
I'm in denial for my sake
I can't accept the harsh reality of your situation, it's too painful for me
Hiding from the here and now
We're avoiding facing the present moment and its difficulties
"Why's that spoon in the bathroom?"
Asking an innocent question as a cover for something more troubling
Who's watching that candle burn, burn?
We're all burning brightly and consuming ourselves, but who is really looking out for us?
Warm water filled to the tub's top
Finding comfort in the sensation of hot water filling a bathtub
Some things no one should learn
There are certain truths that are too devastating for anyone to bear
Here we go again
We've been through this cycle of self-destruction before
White mice with their medicine
Like lab rats given drugs to numb their minds, we are dependent on substances to cope with our pain
I try to relate to your numbing state
I attempt to understand your emotional shutdown or addiction
Talk loose and dry about the better times
We reminisce about happier times, but it feels hollow and fake
Blue eyes roll black, so I shake you back
Your once bright, hopeful gaze has dulled and I try to snap you out of it
Young girl with her medicine
You're a girl, but forced to take on the burden of an adult coping with substance abuse or trauma
It was getting hard to know you
Your addiction was causing you to change in ways that made it difficult to connect with you as a person
Now I fight so hard to hold you up
I struggle to support you and prevent you from slipping further into self-destruction
My arms will hold you regardless
I'll be here for you, even if I don't fully understand your struggles
Besides, I still know you can shine
I have hope that you can overcome your addiction and find a way to be happy and fulfilled
I know I've got my own problems
I recognize that I have my own issues and weaknesses to work through as well
Let's just breathe for a while
Let's take a moment to simply be still and focus on our breathing, a small moment of calm amidst the turmoil
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adriana Smith
Nice xo