The Knocks are a production and DJ duo who specialize in melodic, carefree … Read Full Bio ↴The Knocks are a production and DJ duo who specialize in melodic, carefree dance music that draws from soul, funk, disco, rap, and pop. Making their name with several singles and remixes, as well as EPs like 2011's Magic, they made their full-length debut in 2016 with 55, which featured a diverse array of guests such as Cam'ron, Carly Rae Jepsen, Wyclef Jean, and Walk the Moon. Following side project diversions that delved into future funk (Amelia Airhorn) and tropical house (the Mary Nixons), the Knocks presented another feel-good disco-house throwback with 2019's New York Narcotic. The duo subsequently released projects with artists like Gallant, Rivers Cuomo, and Foster the People, with whom they recorded the covers-heavy 2021 EP Melody & Silence. The collaboration-heavy full-length outing HISTORY appeared the following year.

The Knocks were formed in 2008 by James "JPatt" Patterson and Ben "DJ B-Roc" Ruttner. Patterson and Ruttner met at New York City's New School and shared an apartment, where they set up small recording studios in their bedrooms. The loud noise coming from their apartment led to neighbors constantly knocking on their door in order to get them to pipe down, hence the duo's name. Early success as remixers, however, enabled them to build their own studio in Manhattan. During 2008 and 2009, Knocks remixes surfaced for Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"), Britney Spears ("3"), and PRGz ("Soul Glo"). B-Roc and Andrew W.K. also released DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1 in 2009, featuring several Knocks productions.

In 2010, the Knocks released their first singles, the sunny "Dancing with the DJ" (which later appeared on their 2011 EP Magic) and the whistling "Make It Better." Over the course of the next few years, the duo's profile was magnified by additional remixes for Tegan and Sara ("Closer"), the 1975 ("Girls"), and Dragonette ("Let It Go"), among others, in addition to tours with Ellie Goulding, Dragonette, and Sleigh Bells. They also collaborated with Fred Falke for the Kitsuné Music release "Geronimo" in 2012, as well as Treasure Fingers for "DYWT," released on Fool's Gold Clubhouse in 2014. Also in 2014, the group released an EP, titled Comfortable and released on the Neon Gold label, that included collaborations with X Ambassadors and Ra Ra Riot.

Signed to Big Beat, the Knocks slowed it down a bit for the 2014 single "Classic," one of their funkier and more disco-indebted singles, featuring Powers. An EP titled So Classic appeared in April 2015, followed by a new version of "Classic" featuring a verse by Fetty Wap. The Knocks spent much of the year working on their long-delayed debut album, which was previewed by the singles "I Wish (My Taylor Swift)" (with Matthew Koma) and "New York City" (featuring Cam'ron). Finally, in March 2016, the duo released their first full-length, 55, which included additional guest appearances from Wyclef Jean, Walk the Moon, Carly Rae Jepsen, Alex Newell, and Semi-Precious Weapons' Justin Trantor. That July, the pair remixed selected tracks from the album on the 55.5 EP.

In early 2017, the Knocks released Testify, an EP of new songs featuring collaborations with MNEK, Delacey, and Tayla Parx. Later that year, the duo teamed up with Skylar Spence and released a future funk mixtape as Amelia Airhorn. They also formed the Mary Nixons, a group with Mat Zo, and issued the single "Adrian." They followed with the Captain Cuts collaboration "House Party." July 2018 saw the release of the single "Shades" which appeared later that year on the Knocks' second full-length, New York Narcotic. The album also featured contributions from Method Man, Sofi Tukker, and Foster the People.

2019 brought several singles, including the Kah-Lo collaboration "Awa Ni" and "Lucky Me" (with Great Good Fine Ok). Most of these were collected on the EP Summer Series: 2019. Several more singles arrived in 2020, including "One Fine Day" (with Idris Elba), "Bodies" (with MUNA), and "All About You" (featuring Foster the People). The following year, they released Melody & Silence, an EP with Foster the People that included a remix of the single, as well as covers of hits by Beck, Moby, and the Verve. Also in 2021, the Knocks released "R U High" (featuring Mallrat) and "Sound the Alarm" (featuring Rivers Cuomo and Royal & the Serpent), and were featured on Purple Disco Machine's "Fireworks." The following year saw the release of the full-length effort, HISTORY, which featured collaborations with Foster the People, MUNA, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Cold War Kids, Parson James, and Yoke Lore, among others.

Biography by Andy Kellman

R U High
The Knocks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes I stay at home in bed
Up late, upset
Gone, go get

I know you've been getting older
Hold, weighing on your shoulders
Are we done? Is this ever over?
Are you high? Are you ever sober?

Are you there? I'm just double checking
Do you care? Why you keep forgetting?
I was there when you weren't expecting
I was there, I was there

Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?

I know you've been getting older
Hold, weighing on your shoulders
Are we done? Is this ever over?
Are you high? Are you high?
Are you there? I'm just double checking
Do you care? Why you keep forgetting?
I was there when you weren't expecting
I was there, I was there

Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?

Hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back, back, back, back
Hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back

Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?
Are you high?

Hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back

Hold me back but I want you back
And you hold me back but I want you back

Overall Meaning

In "R U High," The Knocks and Mallrat explore the complications of a struggling relationship, with the question of whether or not the person they're addressing in the song is high being a recurring theme throughout. The opening lines establish a melancholy tone as the singer describes staying home in bed late at night, feeling upset and alone. The first verse transitions into the chorus, where the singer asks a series of questions to their love interest, including whether they are high or ever sober, and if they care about the relationship. The chorus is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of these questions.

The second verse is similar to the first, with lyrics about growing older and feeling weighed down by responsibilities. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus and an outro that asks the person they're addressing if they want each other back.

Overall, "R U High" deals with the complexities of modern relationships and the difficulties that come with trying to connect with someone on a deep level. The question of whether or not the person is high adds an extra layer of confusion to the situation, suggesting that their behavior may not always be entirely trustworthy or coherent.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I stay at home in bed
At times, I prefer staying indoors and not interacting with people.

Up late, upset
Staying awake till late at night and feeling unhappy about something.

Gone, go get
Feeling absent-minded and wanting to get something.

I know you've been getting older
I am aware that time is passing by and you are growing old.

Hold, weighing on your shoulders
You are carrying a heavy burden that is affecting you deeply.

Are we done? Is this ever over?
Have we reached the end of something? Will this ever come to a conclusion?

Are you high? Are you ever sober?
Are you under the influence of drugs? Do you ever sober up?

Are you there? I'm just double checking
Are you present and paying attention? I am confirming if you are listening to me.

Do you care? Why you keep forgetting?
Do you have concern for what I am saying? Why do you keep forgetting what I have told you?

I was there when you weren't expecting
I was present at a time when you did not anticipate my presence.

Are you high?
Are you under the influence of drugs?

Hold me back but I want you back
I want to be with you, but something is holding me back.

And you hold me back but I want you back
You are also holding me back, but I still want to be with you.

And you hold me back but I want you back
You are still holding me back, but I still have the desire to be with you.

And you hold me back but I want you back, back, back, back
Despite you holding me back repeatedly, I still have an intense desire to be with you.

Hold me back but I want you back
I feel like something is holding me back from being with you, but I still want to be with you.

And you hold me back but I want you back
You are also preventing me from being with you, but my desire to be with you remains strong.

And you hold me back but I want you back
Even though you are holding me back, I still want to be with you.

And you hold me back but I want you back
Despite the obstacles, I still want to be with you.

Are you high?
Are you under the influence of drugs?

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin Michael Ruttner, Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw, James Paterson, Kaelyn Behr

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@hisammy3969

2y↑68

I found this song back in October 2021 just days after me and my long term partner broke up. i was in a really bad way for quite a while after and this is one of the songs i had on repeat at the time. I still listen to it occasionally now and when i do it triggers some serious memories. The song takes me back to a really dark place but in a sort of nostalgic way as it briefly unlocks some of the feelings i was going through at the time. But because of that i can see how much I've healed since and honestly i think that's amazing that a song can do that. Thank you for your music <3

@ooouui

2y↑6

I'm in a similar spot as you right now. I look forward to the times I can begin reminiscing instead. Thank you for your comment.

@christopherangeli1141

1y↑1

I felt your anxiety just reading that. Thankfully this is a safe song for me. Though believe me, I have my trigger songs I can’t even play or listen to anymore. 😢