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
The Prize
The Knocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lack of imagination, no more lights
Running tap sounds like Niagara falls
Silhouettes in the frame,
A double take decision
Grab the key,
Seems my feet are rushing to the door
Lead around in circles
Am I taking too much time
A rhyme so lost in riddles
You're the prize,
You're the prize, the prize
You're the prize,
The prize, the prize
You're the prize,
Moving fast, when did cabs get little televisions
Looking back through the glass
At the footprints on he snow
At the red people cross like a parade of nothing
It's too much, wanna stop it like a video, video
I've been lied to by the night
Made the wrong decisions
Thought I finally got it right
Don't these drums have rhythm?
Don't these drums have rhythm?
You're the prize,
You're the prize, the prize
You're the prize,
The prize, the prize
You're the prize,
Don't these drums have rhythm?
I've been lied to by the night
Looking back, moving fast, fast
Oh, I, I've been lied to by the night
You're the prize,
Don't these drums have rhythm?
You're the Prize, the prize
You're the prize,
The prize, the prize
You're the prize
The lyrics of The Knocks's song "The Prize" describe the confusion and disorientation that can come with a night out in the city. The singer seems to be wandering aimlessly, lacking inspiration and direction, while the sounds and sights of the city overwhelm him. He is unsure of what to do, and feels as though he has been "lied to by the night," led around in circles and unable to find his way. He expresses a desire to stop everything "like a video," to regain control and find some sense of order.
Despite all of this uncertainty, the singer is comforted by the idea that someone or something is the "prize" at the end of his journey. This prize is not clearly defined, but seems to represent a sense of purpose or fulfillment that he is seeking. Whether this prize is a person, a place, or a feeling is left up to interpretation, but the repetition of the phrase "you're the prize" suggests that it is something tangible and specific.
Overall, "The Prize" is a song about the chaos and confusion of a night out, but also about the hope that there is something worth seeking at the end of it all. The repetition of the chorus and the hypnotic beat of the music create a sense of urgency and determination, as though the singer is determined to find his way to the prize no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Fucked up nigh, empty pack
The singer is having a terrible night and he's run out of the essentials like cigarettes or gum.
Lack of imagination, no more lights
He's feeling uninspired and there seem to be no bright ideas coming to him.
Running tap sounds like Niagara falls
The tap is making a lot of noise but it sounds like it's echoing through the entire house.
Silhouettes in the frame
There are shadows of people or objects that can be seen in the background.
A double take decision
A decision so important that one needs to take a moment to think twice before going ahead with it.
Grab the key
The singer is trying to leave the place where he is as soon as possible.
Seems my feet are rushing to the door
He's in such a hurry that he can't really feel his own legs moving fast towards the exit.
I've been lied to by the night
The night is not turning out the way he had hoped or planned.
Lead around in circles
The night is becoming too predictable and lacking any excitement.
Am I taking too much time
The singer is worried if he's wasting his own time or if he should be rushing through life.
A rhyme so lost in riddles
Something that started out uncomplicated and in sync is now becoming confusing and complicated.
You're the prize
The person the singer is referring to is important and worth pursuing.
Moving fast, when did cabs get little televisions
The singer is in a taxi going very fast to meet someone and just realised that there are TV's in the cab.
Looking back through the glass
The singer is looking through the back window of the taxi at the path taking him further and further away from his original starting point.
At the footprints on he snow
He can see tracks made in the snow from people who have walked this way before.
At the red people cross like a parade of nothing
The traffic light where pedestrians cross the road is like a show or parade that has been seen before and is quickly forgotten.
It's too much, wanna stop it like a video, video
The singer is feeling the pressure building up and they want to press the stop button like on a video to take a break and relax.
Made the wrong decisions
The singer has made mistakes in the past and has probably hurt the person they're singing about.
Thought I finally got it right
The singer has made peace with their past and feels like they've finally found some clarity.
Don't these drums have rhythm?
The singer is questioning the pace of the drums and if they match the emotions he's feeling.
You're the prize
The person is still important to the singer and thinking about them gives him hope and inspiration.
Looking back, moving fast, fast
The singer is taking a look backwards, while moving quickly.
Oh, I, I've been lied to by the night
The singer is reflecting on the night and realises the night hasn't gone according to plan.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN RUTTNER, JAMES PATTERSON, GO GARY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zsuzsanna Gabor
This was a song on my playlist when i moved to London ca. 10 years ago, listened to it to death at the time. Such a nice thing to hear it again tonight (heart)
Alex Snow
This is actually one of the few songs played at work that I thoroughly enjoy.
alaiya
omg love all their songs
Stargate8girl
Love it!
Michael Bartel
Wish i could find the lyrics for this!
Victoria Barmak
I shopped there today and that is how I got it :)
ㅇㄹ
와 놀라워 10년전
Ryan Latterell
every. single. time
picklezenator
NIAGARA FALLS....CANADA!!! FTW
Ystrdy H D
Like if you work at Forever 21 and hear this song on the radio!