Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on French Kiss Records in March 2004 and Separation Sunday a year later. In April 2006 the band signed to Vagrant Records and entered the studio on the 1st of May to begin work on their third record, Boys and Girls in America. Released in October, it was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2006 and reached a much larger audience than its predecessors.
The band released their fourth album, Stay Positive, recorded again with Boys and Girls in America producer John Agnello. Nicolay left the group and on May 4, 2010 the band released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever, recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis.
On July 15, 2008, Stay Positive was released. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. It debuted on the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. The album was named the best of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, was released in 2019. Among its songs, "Entitlement Crew" and "Confusion in the Marketplace," were considered standouts.
Ask Her For Adderall
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't tell her that I'm sleeping on your couch.
And if she asks just tell her that we opened for the Stones,
It's her favorite band except for the Ramones.
And if she happens to suggest
A love based on trust and respect,
Tell I've been wasted since last week.
Tell her that I almost died.
Tell her I ain't seein' people yet.
Yeah but ask her to send cigarettes.
And if she calls don't tell her 'bout the bloodshed in the streets,
The less she knows the less she can repeat.
If she happens to bring up
The pin pricks and the throwin' up,
Tell her it's just part of growin' up.
If she wants to get involved,
Tell her to stay in St. Paul.
Tell her I ain't up for takin' calls,
But ask her for some Adderall.
Yeah 'cause we're gonna have to focus
If we're gonna fight this.
We gotta stay tenacious.
If she asks just tell her that we're too far gone to deal.
She should know exactly how that feels.
And if she wants a scene report,
Don't tell her 'bout the kicked in doors.
Tell her they ain't even keeping score no more.
And if she wants to help the cause,
Tell her we need tape and gauze.
Tell her she should look through all her medicine
To see if she's got Klonopin.
Cause I got all this anxiety.
Yeah I'm afraid she won't get high with me,
I got all this anxiety.
The Hold Steady's song Ask Her For Adderall, off their 2006 album Boys and Girls in America, tells the story of a drug addict trying to hide his current state from a woman he used to be with. The lyrics are a list of things he doesn't want her to know about his life, but also give hints to what his current situation is. He doesn't want her to know that he is living with a friend and is broke, but he does want her to know that he is opening for the Rolling Stones (which is an obvious lie). He wants her to think he is successful, but is also aware that she knows him too well to believe that he could be doing that well.
The drug addict character that the song is written about is struggling with addiction and seems to have a dependence on Adderall. He wants this woman to bring him some cigarettes, but also wants her to bring him Adderall to help him focus so he can "fight this". He doesn't want her to know about the bloodshed in the streets, the pin pricks and vomiting, or how "far gone" he really is. The song is essentially about the lies and manipulation that comes hand-in-hand with addiction, especially when trying to hide it from someone close.
Line by Line Meaning
If she asks, don't I'll tell her that I'm living hand-to-mouth.
Don't reveal to her that I'm barely getting by and struggling financially.
Don't tell her that I'm sleeping on your couch.
Keep it from her that I don't have a place of my own and am temporarily living at your house.
And if she asks just tell her that we opened for the Stones, It's her favorite band except for the Ramones.
If she inquires, let her know that we got an opportunity to open for The Rolling Stones, but also mention she likes The Ramones more.
And if she happens to suggest A love based on trust and respect, Tell I've been wasted since last week.
If she proposes a relationship based on trust and respect, inform her that I've been intoxicated for the past week.
And if she wants to stop on by, Tell her that I almost died. Tell her I ain't seein' people yet.
If she wants to visit, tell her I was near death and not quite ready to see others yet.
Yeah but ask her to send cigarettes.
However, ask her to send cigarettes regardless.
And if she calls don't tell her 'bout the bloodshed in the streets, The less she knows the less she can repeat.
If she calls, avoid discussing the violence and unrest, since the less she knows, the less likely she is to share.
If she happens to bring up The pin pricks and the throwin' up, Tell her it's just part of growin' up.
If she brings up symptoms like injection marks and vomiting, reassure her that it's normal for growing up and experimenting with drugs.
If she wants to get involved, Tell her to stay in St. Paul. Tell her I ain't up for takin' calls, But ask her for some Adderall.
If she insists on participating, instruct her to remain in St. Paul and not to contact me, but request that she provide Adderall.
Yeah 'cause we're gonna have to focus If we're gonna fight this. We gotta stay tenacious.
We need to concentrate and work hard, since we're fighting an arduous battle and must keep up our persistence.
If she asks just tell her that we're too far gone to deal. She should know exactly how that feels.
Let her know that we're too deep into our situation to handle it, since she should be aware of how that feels.
And if she wants a scene report, Don't tell her 'bout the kicked in doors. Tell her they ain't even keeping score no more.
If she requests a report on what's happening, don't mention the forceful entry, but explain that there's no longer a tally of what's been done.
And if she wants to help the cause, Tell her we need tape and gauze. Tell her she should look through all her medicine To see if she's got Klonopin.
If she desires to contribute, indicate that we need medical supplies like bandages and that she should search through her medicaments for Klonopin.
Cause I got all this anxiety. Yeah I'm afraid she won't get high with me, I got all this anxiety.
I have lots of anxiety, and fear she won't use drugs with me.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Muir
"If she asks, don't tell her that I'm living hand-to-mouth
Don't tell her I've been sleeping on your couch
If she asks just tell her that we opened for the Stones
It's her favorite band except for The Ramones
If she happens to suggest a love based on trust and respect
Tell her I've been wasted since last week
If she wants to stop on by, tell her that I almost died
Tell her I ain't seeing people yet
But see if she'll send cigarettes
If she asks, don't tell her about the bloodshed in the streets
The less she knows, the less she can repeat
If she happens to bring up the pinpricks and the throwing up
Tell her it's just part of growing up
If she wants to get involved
Tell her to stay in St. Paul
Tell her I'm not up to taking calls
But ask her for some Adderall
Now Holly won't say hi to me
'Cause I'm in love with my anxiety
If she asks just tell her that we're too far gone to deal
She should know exactly how that feels
If she wants a scene report, don't tell her about the kitchen doors
Tell her we ain't even keeping score no more
If she wants to help the cause
Tell her we need sterile gauze
Tell her she should look through all her medicine
And she if she's got klonopins
Now Charlemagne don't seem the same
He's skinny, scared and off his game
He's been hiding from those gentlemen
With the same tattoos as Gideon"
pettige88
Impressive! I love the colors, the energy and the aggressiveness You obviously have a talent for this. :)
Ian Gillespie
This is honestly amazing. This song was the 2nd in the encore at Brooklyn Bowl last night. I always laugh at the line about being wasted since last week.
Richard the GINGER BO$$
but see if she'll send cigarettes!
John Muir
"If she asks, don't tell her that I'm living hand-to-mouth
Don't tell her I've been sleeping on your couch
If she asks just tell her that we opened for the Stones
It's her favorite band except for The Ramones
If she happens to suggest a love based on trust and respect
Tell her I've been wasted since last week
If she wants to stop on by, tell her that I almost died
Tell her I ain't seeing people yet
But see if she'll send cigarettes
If she asks, don't tell her about the bloodshed in the streets
The less she knows, the less she can repeat
If she happens to bring up the pinpricks and the throwing up
Tell her it's just part of growing up
If she wants to get involved
Tell her to stay in St. Paul
Tell her I'm not up to taking calls
But ask her for some Adderall
Now Holly won't say hi to me
'Cause I'm in love with my anxiety
If she asks just tell her that we're too far gone to deal
She should know exactly how that feels
If she wants a scene report, don't tell her about the kitchen doors
Tell her we ain't even keeping score no more
If she wants to help the cause
Tell her we need sterile gauze
Tell her she should look through all her medicine
And she if she's got klonopins
Now Charlemagne don't seem the same
He's skinny, scared and off his game
He's been hiding from those gentlemen
With the same tattoos as Gideon"
Wil Fulton
This is easily one of the best fan made videos i've ever seen.
JAYDVS
Absolutely the best fan made video I've ever seen. And couldn't pick a better sing and band!
JanieJones77
This is rad. Great song. Amazing band!
Eric Lutz
Honestly one of the best fan made videos I've ever seen. Nice job.
chelsea village
such a great song-diggin it
Frank Tybush V
This is kind of actually amazing. Awesome job.