1) The Drums are an American indie pop band from Brooklyn, NY. Jonny Pierc… Read Full Bio ↴1) The Drums are an American indie pop band from Brooklyn, NY. Jonny Pierce and Jacob Graham met at summer camp when they were children and have been best friends ever since. Soon after their initial meeting, they formed Goat Explosion and toured extensively in North America during their teenage years. Around 2003, Pierce and Adam Kessler formed Elkland. In the meantime, Graham formed a band called Horse Shoes (Shelflife Records). Pierce ultimately decided to take a few years off from writing music after becoming disillusioned with the music business and parted ways with Elkland in 2005.

The Drums were formed in late 2006. Relocating to New York, The Drums added former Elkland guitarist Adam Kessler on second guitar and NYC born drummer Connor Hanwick (formerly of lo-fi teen pop duo Cape of No Hope) to the line up and set up a month long residency at a small club on the lower east side of Manhattan. They released their debut single Let's Go Surfing on on 15 September 2009, which the Let's Go Surfing Songfacts reports was inspired by Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election.

In September 2010, guitarist Adam Kessler left the band, Followed by Connor Hanwick in 2012 and Jacob Graham in 2016.
Jonny Pierce is the only remaining member.

2) The Drums is an American experimental band from San Francisco featuring John Dwyer (of Coachwhips, Pink & Brown, Thee Oh Sees) on drums and Anthony Petrovic (Ezee Tiger, Gay Barbarians) on drums.

Blue Stripes
The Drums Lyrics

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Don't look away from me, don't look away,
You must be tired, you're working hard,
And I'm happy you told me, you don't believe him,
... You don't, have to be, close something that you want is a family oooh,
Don't look away from me, don't look away from me,
Oh you were a quiet child,
You were a sweet boy,
And even when they beat you down,

You never dropped your sword,
You don't have to be close, something that you want is a family oooh,
Don't look away from me, don't look away.
You got your blue stripes, you got your blue stripes,
You got your blue stripes, around your new girl x6

Don't look away, don't look away,
Don't look away, don't look away.

Overall Meaning

The song "Blue Stripes" by The Drums is a melancholic piece that features introspective and emotional lyrics that delve into themes of loneliness, belonging, and family. The opening lines of the song, "Don't look away from me, don't look away, You must be tired, you're working hard," seem to address someone who is feeling lost and worn out. The singer seems to be urging this person to stay present and not give up on finding what they are looking for.

The next lines, "And I'm happy you told me, you don't believe him, ... You don't have to be, close something that you want is a family," suggest that the person is struggling with a certain situation or person that is causing them to feel isolated and unsupported. The singer is reassuring them that they don't have to endure this struggle alone, and that even if they don't have a biological family, they can create their own sense of family with the people they hold dear.

The chorus of the song is repetitive, with the phrase "Don't look away from me, don't look away" being repeated several times. This seems to emphasize the importance of human connection and not turning away from others who may be struggling or hurting. The lines "You got your blue stripes, you got your blue stripes, You got your blue stripes, around your new girl" seem to suggest that the person has found some sort of comfort or belonging in a new relationship, but the repetition of this phrase also suggests a certain level of emptiness or superficiality.

Overall, "Blue Stripes" is a poignant and introspective song that speaks to the human need for connection and a sense of belonging. It is a reminder to not turn away from others who may be hurting and to create our own sense of family even in the absence of biological ties.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't look away from me, don't look away,
Please don't ignore me or turn away from me.

You must be tired, you're working hard,
I understand that you are tired from working so hard.

And I'm happy you told me, you don't believe him,
I am glad that you confided in me and do not trust him.

... You don't, have to be, close something that you want is a family oooh,
You don't have to be related by blood to have a family, it can be something that you choose.

Oh you were a quiet child,
You were a shy and introverted child.

You were a sweet boy,
You were a kind and gentle boy.

And even when they beat you down,
Even when others caused you harm or distress,

You never dropped your sword,
You never gave up or surrendered.

You got your blue stripes, you got your blue stripes,
You earned your achievements and qualifications.

You got your blue stripes, around your new girl x6
You have found a new partner and are proud to show them off.

Don't look away, don't look away,
Please keep paying attention and stay engaged in our conversation.

Contributed by Colton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS