Band member Adam Granduciel (born Adam Granofsky in Dover, Massachusetts) moved from Oakland, California to Philadelphia in 2003, where he met Kurt Vile and began playing music with him. They began playing as The War on Drugs in 2005, and self-released a demo EP. While Vile and Granduciel formed the backbone of the band, they had a number of accompanists early in the group's career, before finally settling on a lineup that added Charlie Hall as drummer/organist, Kyle Lloyd as drummer and Dave Hartley on bass. Granduciel had previously toured and recorded with The Capitol Years, and Vile has several solo albums. The group gave away its Barrel of Batteries EP for free early in 2008. Their debut LP for Secretly Canadian, Wagonwheel Blues, was released in 2008.
Reviewers of the band's music make note of its Americana overtones. The group's sound has been described as influenced by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and My Bloody Valentine.
The lineup underwent several changes, and by the end of 2008, Kurt Vile, Charlie Hall, and Kyle Lloyd had all exited the group. Granduciel and Hartley were joined by drummer Mike Zanghi as the group slimmed to three members.
After Zanghi's exit in 2010, Steven Urgo took over drum duties and Robbie Bennett joined on keys.
Comin' Through
The War on Drugs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
this ramblin' road
spent some time in a common place
in everyone
who'd been burned like a thousand times
just wastin' away
they'd arranged for the bitter man
to take them away
from head to toe
fell in line with the racketeers
from layin' low
in the darkest point of night
I want you
to be here light before
comin' through
The lyrics to The War on Drugs's song Comin' Through is about someone who has been trying to overcome the struggles of life. The first line, "I've been trying just to pull it through", suggests that the singer is facing some obstacles but is determined to overcome them. The next few lines allude to spending some time in a common place with people who have also been through similar struggles and have been burned out or exhausted from life's challenges. However, the reference to "the bitter man" taking them away implies that this common place may not be one of healing but one of numbing the pain.
The singer then goes on to admit that they fell in line with the "racketeers" or those who operate illegally or unscrupulously to achieve their goals. This could mean that the singer may have given in to temptations or engaged in wrongful acts as a way of coping. In the darkest point of the night, the singer reaches out to someone they want to be with, perhaps a loved one, in the hopes that this person can provide light before "comin' through" or breaking through the struggles they are facing.
Overall, the lyrics of Comin' Through touch on themes of struggle, resilience, and the temptation to engage in wrongful acts in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been trying just to pull it through
I have been making a consistent effort to overcome my struggles
this ramblin' road
My journey in life
spent some time in a common place
I have experienced a situation that is familiar to many others
in everyone
A universal experience
who'd been burned like a thousand times
People who have been repeatedly hurt or disappointed
just wastin' away
Falling apart and deteriorating
they'd arranged for the bitter man
They had made plans for someone who was resentful and pessimistic
to take them away
To remove them from their current situation
fell in line with the racketeers
I conformed to the criminals or corrupt individuals
from head to toe
Completely and entirely
fell in line with the racketeers
I succumbed to the pressure of joining unethical individuals
from layin' low
By hiding and remaining under the radar
in the darkest point of night
At my lowest and most vulnerable point
I want you
I desire you
to be here light before
To guide me out of my darkness
comin' through
Arriving and becoming present in my life
Contributed by Kaelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steven Denny
I've been trying just to pull it through
This ramblin' road
Spent some time in a common place
In everyone
Who'd been burned like a thousand times
Just wastin' away
They'd arranged for the bitter man
To take them away
Fell in line with the racketeers
From head to toe
Fell in line with the racketeers
From layin' low
In the darkest point of night
I want you
To be here like before
Comin' through
Yeah, goin' back to the root of my beliefs
And all that is lost
Spent some time in a common place
And nowhere to go
That's the sound of a million ships
Just sailin' away
Yeah, it can feel like before
Comin' through either way
Let it feel like before
Comin' through either way, alright
Lenny Rose
This might not be one of their more well-known or popular songs but it's absolutely one of my favorite songs of all time. The opening strumming alone never fails to immediately send me into a blissful trance of peaceful euphoria for the duration of the entire song. It's so powerful and ethereal, similar to Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams". I love it so much. Anything is possible for me when I hear this song
Adam Khan
Well said with the Dreams analogy
Lenny Rose
patrick oswald seeing them this summer though, I can always dream they’ll play Comin Through at some point lol
Lenny Rose
patrick oswald noice, Im jealous
patrick oswald
Erik Frost they played it live when I saw them down in La. unreal!!!
Stephen Henry
My university was two hours from my hometown and every summer I'd make the drive home through picturesque Virginia mountains towards the coast. After graduation I was packing everything into my car when I found a random burned CD in a pocket in the trunk. I popped it in the CD player and left. I will never forget the moment I crested the first mountain as the sun was setting and I realized I really was leaving my university years behind. This song played and I was overwhelmed by both sadness and hope, understanding that I could never get those years back while marveling at the infinite possibilities ahead.
Stephen Henry
@ThisIsYou 420 ya bastard
ThisIsYou 420
@Stephen Henry haha I’m just messing with you
Stephen Henry
ThisIsYou 420 😂 to be clear it was my cd that I’d forgotten burning awhile back
ThisIsYou 420
I call horseshit