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
Slow Song
The Knocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel you trying doors I'd opened up before
But I'm the one with all the keys, and I'm the one
Who's walking around here like I own the joint
Oh, I got ways to shake it off, baby
And as long as you stay intoxicated
I'll keep beating your heart until I break it
I'ma play you
Play you right until the track's done
Play you however many times I want, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
Yeah, I'll keep you spinning
Spinning circles 'til the groove's gone
And fade it out just like a setting sun, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
You can flip back through the pages
And you won't find I was making any promises
You're the desert, I'm the rain
And we both know I never stay, but still you wanted it
Ooh, I got ways of losing you, baby
I'm faster than whatever you're chasing
I'll keep beating on your heart 'til I break it
And if you can take it, I'm gonna go crazy, baby
I'ma play you
Play you right until the track's done
Play you however many times I want, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
Yeah, I'll keep you spinning
Spinning circles 'til the groove's gone
And fade it out just like a setting sun, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
Keep you, keep you spinning 'round
Play you again and again
Keep you, keep you spinning 'round
Play you again and again
I'ma play you
Play you right until the track's done
Play you however many times I want, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
Yeah, I'll keep you spinning
Spinning circles 'til the groove's gone
And fade it out just like a setting sun, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
I'm gonna play you (keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
I'm gonna play you (play you again and again)
Play you so slow, baby (keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
(Play you again and again)
'Til the end, oh I (keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
Gonna play you (play you again and again)
There's no faith (keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
(Play you again and again)
The lyrics of The Knocks and Dragonette's song Slow Song is about playing with someone's heart and emotions, even if they try to open up doors that have been shut before. In the song, the singer confesses that they have all the keys to the doors, and they are the ones who own the place. Even though the other person is intoxicated and vulnerable, they still decide to play with their heart and make them go crazy by repeatedly playing them like a slow song till the grooves are gone.
The song depicts someone who is not ready for a relationship and warns that even though the other person might flip through the pages, they will not find any promises. He likens his actions to being rain in the desert, as he comes and goes, but the other person still wants him. He boasts of having ways to lose them, and he's always one step ahead of them. He wants to keep them spinning around in circles, and he'll continue to play them however many times he wants until he fades them out.
Overall, the song is a warning to anyone who is looking to be in a serious relationship with the singer. It's a song about playing games with someone's heart and emotions and being okay with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring at the the ceiling
I am lost in thought
I can feel you trying doors I'd opened up before
You're trying to rekindle our past relationship
But I'm the one with all the keys, and I'm the one
Who's walking around here like I own the joint
I am in control of our relationship
Oh, I got ways to shake it off, baby
And as long as you stay intoxicated
I'll keep beating your heart until I break it
Because you can take it, I'm gonna go crazy, baby
I will use your emotional vulnerability to my advantage
I'ma play you
Play you right until the track's done
Play you however many times I want, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
I will make you fall for me again, only to take advantage of you
Yeah, I'll keep you spinning
Spinning circles 'til the groove's gone
And fade it out just like a setting sun, yeah
I'll play you like a slow song
I will control and manipulate you for as long as I want
You can flip back through the pages
And you won't find I was making any promises
You're the desert, I'm the rain
And we both know I never stay, but still you wanted it
I never promised you anything, yet you still want me
Ooh, I got ways of losing you, baby
I'm faster than whatever you're chasing
I'll keep beating on your heart 'til I break it
And if you can take it, I'm gonna go crazy, baby
I will leave you before you can leave me, and I will enjoy breaking your heart
Keep you, keep you spinning 'round
Play you again and again
I'ma play you
Play you right until the track's done
I will enjoy controlling and repeating our relationship
(Keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
(Play you again and again)
(Keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
(Play you again and again)
(Keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
(Gonna play you, play you again and again)
(Keep you, keep you spinning 'round)
(Play you again and again)
I will never stop playing with your emotions, even when it's clear you want to leave
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexandra Willa Milner, Benjamin Michael Ruttner, James Patterson, Kaelyn Behr, Martina Sorbara, Tabitha Blu Detiger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tiagotoytm
Aquaria, congratulations, you are the winner of this week's challenge
@CascadianFyn
I need more Dragonette and Aquaria in my life! ❤🔥
@anonnon4737
Aquaria? Lol
@viajandoxelmundo2
me too!
@fluffkiss18
You said what I think. Yeppers!
@rk1356
This song has a secret it will never tell.
It’s mysterious and it’s dark and it won’t look you in the eye. But it’s also hopeful and warm and smart. It’s a damn near perfect song and visually stunning video.
@im-mj3gk
Omg yes! Thank you for pointing that out!
@theknocks
This is the best review 🥲 thank u ❤️
@PhillipsPietro
drag is trash
@quendrixmartinez8797
Wow ur words, ur mind 😮