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.
Eyes to the Wind
The War on Drugs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I met you and I fell away again
Like a train in reverse down a dark road
Carrying the whole load just rattling the whole way home
Have you fixed your eyes to the wind?
Will you let it pull you in again on the way back in?
I'm a bit run down here at the moment
Let me hold you
There's a cold wind blowing down my old road
Down the back streets where the pines grow
As the river splits the undertows
But I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't mind
Leave it hanging on the line
Lost inside my head
Is this the way I'll be denied, again?
So I'll set my eyes to the wind
But it won't be easy to leave it all again
Just a bit rundown here on the sea
There's just a stranger livin' in me
As you set your eyes to the wind
And you see me pull away again
Haven't lost it all, my friend
Just a bit run down here at the moment
Yeah, I'm all alone here, livin' in darkness, alright
The lyrics to "Eyes to the Wind" by The War on Drugs describe the struggle of navigating through life, navigating through difficult times and trying to figure out what to do next. The lyrics address themes of loss, weariness, and uncertainty. The singer suggests that he was sailing smoothly through life until he met the person he's singing to, and then everything fell apart. It's as if he's saying he's now going in reverse and the weight of his past experiences is rattling him as he tries to make his way back home.
The lyrics encourage the listener to fix their eyes on the wind, to let it pull them in again on the way back in. The wind can be interpreted as hope or opportunity. The singer suggests that he's lost his way and is trying to find his way back. The lines "Leave it hanging on the line, Lost inside my head" suggest that the singer is feeling emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed, with thoughts and feelings piling up and causing him to feel weighed down.
Overall, the lyrics to "Eyes to the Wind" are introspective, contemplative, and poignant. They convey the mixed emotions of hope, weariness, uncertainty, and a desire to find a way forward. The singer's voice is soft and melancholic, further emphasizing these themes and contributing to the overall mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I was sailin' down here on the wind
I felt like I was being carried away by life
When I met you and I fell away again
When I met you, I felt like you made me drift further from reality
Like a train in reverse down a dark road
I felt like I was going further away from my desires
Carrying the whole load just rattling the whole way home
The burden on me makes it feel like I'm carrying a heavy load all the way back home
Have you fixed your eyes to the wind?
Have you lost yourself to the unpredictable nature of life?
Will you let it pull you in again on the way back in?
Will you submit to the chaos of life once again when you return home?
I'm a bit run down here at the moment
I'm feeling tired and depleted right now
Let me think about it, babe
Let me contemplate and process everything before I make any hasty decisions
There's a cold wind blowing down my old road
There's a negative energy affecting my life
Down the back streets where the pines grow
In the deeper, darker parts of my mind
As the river splits the undertows
As the current of life shifts and changes
But I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't mind
I can't say I'm not affected by all of this
Leave it hanging on the line
Let me leave this issue to be resolved later
Lost inside my head
Trapped in my own thoughts and confusion
Is this the way I'll be denied, again?
Is this how I'll once again be prevented from getting what I want?
So I'll set my eyes to the wind
I'll accept the unpredictability of life and go with the flow
But it won't be easy to leave it all again
It's hard to submit to the chaos of life once more
Just a bit run down here on the sea
I'm feeling depleted and tired while I'm away
There's just a stranger livin' in me
I don't even recognize myself anymore
And you see me pull away again
You see me drift further from reality yet again
Haven't lost it all, my friend
I haven't completely lost myself yet
Yeah, I'm all alone here, livin' in darkness, alright
I'm isolated in my own confusion and troubled thoughts
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam Granofsky
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind