The Chemical Brothers are an English electronic music duo formed by Tom Row… Read Full Bio ↴The Chemical Brothers are an English electronic music duo formed by Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons in Manchester in 1989. They were pioneers (along with the Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, the Crystal Method, and other acts) in bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture. After attracting Virgin Records, the duo achieved further success with second album Dig Your Own Hole (1997), which topped the UK charts. In the UK, they have had six No. 1 albums and 13 top-20 singles, including two chart-toppers.

Their name came about in 1995 after they dropped their original moniker the Dust Brothers due to the existence of a different band with the same name. In the United States, they have won six Grammy Awards including Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album of the year as recently as 2020.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chemical_Brothers

Studio albums
Exit Planet Dust (1995)
Dig Your Own Hole (1997)
Surrender (1999)
Come with Us (2002)
Push the Button (2005)
We Are the Night (2007)
Further (2010)
Born in the Echoes (2015)
No Geography (2019)
For That Beautiful Feeling (2023)

not another drugstore (plane nin
The Chemical Brothers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Not another drugstore, not another town
Tired of the old job, I had to put it down
You know I was the man but I put the crown down
So I roll around with Chemicals to pave the new sound
So I roll around with Chemicals to pave the new sound
So we rolling with The Chemicals and got the new sounds

Chemical inflection like Kool-Aid with Owsley

Wicked on the track, you know me
Drugstore Cowboy, down boy
Sit and listen check the load and
Open suddenly with the twin ring, ring connect then
Proceed to rip it like scissors
Comin' through your town like a fuckin' blizzard
Cheech wizard, hiding under a hat
I made the room L.Z. rock and liberate beat tracks
In the crate activate form of a black fist with the pick
You know me, rollin' with my clique the One-Inch Punch
Send these bastards back to lunch

Come on leave the grind, you know it’s time to down
Soon the world will seed the sands of time, a born will be sound
Holla us, hold the note and then the mic gets spoke
Another day into the Dharma like a wheel to a spoke
Like a particle of what your mind converted to choke
I never worry about the dollars so I’ll never be broke
You know I understand but still I really don’t understand
Strictly guided by the breeze, my shit can never be planned
Ain’t a man alive but bold enough to just dance trill
He tried to corner but she thought to move in inches and flinch

Blast off the canvas and you know it’s inevitable
Smoking classic One-Inch Punch, we’re mad incredible

Overall Meaning

The Chemical Brothers's song "Not Another Drugstore" is a high-energy rap-infused track urging the listener to leave the monotony of their mundane life and join in the creation of something new and exciting. The lyrics open with the singer expressing their dissatisfaction with their old job and metaphorically putting down their crown, suggesting an abandonment of former ego and status. They have now moved on to working with chemicals, perhaps referring to the creation of music being a chemical and collaborative process, and paving a new sound for themselves.

The lyrics further refer to the Kool-Aid, perhaps indicating the wild and unpredictable journey that the singer is on. "Drugstore cowboy" refers to the Western American subculture of young men who engage in recreational drugs and live reckless lifestyles. The reference to "Cheech wizard" further underscores this idea. The second verse talks about the singer's musical abilities and the liberation that comes with creating beats.

The bridge suggests that the time has come for the world to embrace new sounds and ideas, and to leave behind the old ways of thinking. The metaphor of the wheel and the spoke is used here, indicating that the singer is just one part of a greater whole, but is still essential to the creation of something new. The chorus is repeated with vigor as an invitation to the listener to join in the creation of something spectacular.

Line by Line Meaning

Not another drugstore, not another town
I am tired of repeating the same old routine in different places, it's time to break the mold and try something new.

Tired of the old job, I had to put it down
The job I was doing was becoming monotonous and unfulfilling, so I decided to quit and pursue my passion.

You know I was the man but I put the crown down
I used to have power and status, but I realized that it wasn't making me happy and decided to give it up.

So I roll around with Chemicals to pave the new sound
I am experimenting with new ways of creating music by using Chemicals to develop a unique sound.

Chemical inflection like Kool-Aid with Owsley
The Chemicals I am using in my music production are having a profound effect on the sound, much like how Kool-Aid mixed with Owsley's LSD created a unique experience.

Wicked on the track, you know me
I am confident and skilled in my music production abilities.

Drugstore Cowboy, down boy
I used to be like a cowboy in a drugstore, looking for something to fulfill me, but I have decided to calm down and take a new approach.

Sit and listen check the load and
I am taking the time to analyze and understand the impact of my music.

Open suddenly with the twin ring, ring connect then
I am suddenly opening up to a new approach to music and connecting with other like-minded individuals.

Proceed to rip it like scissors
I am going all out in my music production, cutting through any obstacles in my way like a pair of scissors.

Comin' through your town like a fuckin' blizzard
My music is making an impact in towns everywhere, like a blizzard that cannot be ignored.

Cheech wizard, hiding under a hat
I am like a wizard, hiding my magic under a hat until the moment is right to reveal it.

I made the room L.Z. rock and liberate beat tracks
My music has the power to make the entire room come alive and liberate people's emotions through the rhythm of the beat.

In the crate activate form of a black fist with the pick
I am using the records in my crate as a form of black power, wielding my records like a powerful fist to create a unique sound.

You know me, rollin' with my clique the One-Inch Punch
I am part of a group of like-minded individuals who are all striving to make their mark in the music industry.

Send these bastards back to lunch
I am so confident in my music production that I can send people who doubt me back to the drawing board.

Come on leave the grind, you know it’s time to down
It's time to move on from the mundane routine and embrace a new way of creating music.

Soon the world will seed the sands of time, a born will be sound
The world will soon recognize the impact of my music and a new genre will be born.

Holla us, hold the note and then the mic gets spoke
Listen to our music, and you will understand our message loud and clear.

Another day into the Dharma like a wheel to a spoke
Every day, I am exploring a new perspective on music creation and am becoming more enlightened.

Like a particle of what your mind converted to choke
My music is like a particle that fills your mind and triggers a powerful emotional response.

I never worry about the dollars so I’ll never be broke
I am not concerned with making money through my music because I am confident that my unique sound will bring me success.

You know I understand but still I really don’t understand
I have a deep understanding of the music industry, but there are still many mysteries and questions that remain unanswered.

Strictly guided by the breeze, my shit can never be planned
I am following my instincts and letting the wind guide my music production, rather than sticking to a rigid plan.

Ain’t a man alive but bold enough to just dance trill
There is no one on this earth who is brave enough to dance like I do and keep it real.

He tried to corner but she thought to move in inches and flinch
I am not afraid to take calculated risks in my music production, even if it means moving forward slowly and cautiously.

Blast off the canvas and you know it’s inevitable
My music is like a rocket launching off a canvas, it is unstoppable and impossible to ignore.

Smoking classic One-Inch Punch, we’re mad incredible
We are making incredible music using the classic One-Inch Punch technique.

Contributed by Lucy Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS