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.
Strangest Thing
The War on Drugs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Howl at the day
I've been hiding out so long
I gotta find another way
Late at night I wanna see you
Well my eyes, they begin to fade
Am I just living in the space between
And the real thing
Now the sky is painted
In a wash of indigo
I've been holding on too long
In the howling of this cold
I recognize every face
But I ain't got everything I need
If I'm just living in the space between
The beauty and the pain
It's the strangest thing
Yeah, she runs surrounding me
Surrounded by the whole
Surrounded by no other
I wanna run home
Yeah, I can run slowly
Don't run away again
Yeah, I can run in the storm
Don't you run again
I wanna run, I wanna run
Yeah, I can run slowly
Yeah, I can run slowly
The War on Drugs's song Strangest Thing is a reflection on the human experience and the constant search for fulfillment. The opening lines reveal the singer's desire to escape reality and find a new way of existence. The mention of a beach and summer ride implies a sense of longing for a carefree life, but the howling of the day suggests that the burdens of life are still present. The singer is tired of hiding and wants to find a path that leads to a more fulfilling life.
As the song progresses, there is a shift in the tone. The singer talks about recognizing every face but not having everything they need. This implies a sense of alienation and a longing for something more than material possessions. The beauty and the pain mentioned in the lyrics represent the duality of life--the moments of joy and moments of sorrow. The singer is living in the space between these two extremes, and there is a sense of discomfort in this in-between space. However, the singer also acknowledges that this is the strangest thing about life.
The chorus of the song is a plea to run away from everything and find solace in oneself. The repetition of "I can run slowly" implies that the singer is ready to take small steps towards a better life. The "surrounded by no other" line is a reminder that one needs to rely on oneself to find happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer ride on the beach
Going for a ride on the beach during summertime
Howl at the day
Enjoying life in a carefree way
I've been hiding out so long
Being away from the world and avoiding confronting issues for a while
I gotta find another way
Realizing the need for a change in their approach to life
Late at night I wanna see you
Feeling the urge to connect with someone important
Well my eyes, they begin to fade
Getting tired after searching for that meaningful connection for a long time
Am I just living in the space between the beauty and the pain?
Wondering if their life is stuck between happiness and sadness
And the real thing
Still searching for true happiness and fulfillment
Now the sky is painted in a wash of indigo
The environment is changing, and things are taking a different aspect
I've been holding on too long in the howling of this cold
Stuck in a difficult situation for too long
I recognize every face, but I ain't got everything I need
Familiar surroundings, but still missing some key things in life
If I'm just living in the space between the beauty and the pain
Questioning whether their life is just stuck between happiness and sadness
It's the strangest thing
Feeling perplexed by the strange situation in life
Yeah, she runs surrounding me
Being enclosed by someone important in their life
Surrounded by the whole, surrounded by no other
Feeling like they are the only two people in the world
I wanna run home
Longing to be in a desirable and safe location
Yeah, I can run slowly
Willing to take their time in life
Don't run away again
Not to repeat the same mistake again
Yeah, I can run in the storm
Being able to face difficult situations in life with courage
I wanna run, I wanna run
Having the desire to move forward in life
Yeah, I can run slowly
Being willing to move forward in life at their own pace
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Songtrust Ave
Written by: Adam Granofsky
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sarconthewolf
Recognize every face ..... but I ain't got every thing I need
If i'm just living in the space between ........... the beauty and the pain
It's the strangest thing
That's for most of us
@CatherineSTodd
"Strangest Thing"
Sun rise in the East
Howl at the day
I've been hiding out so long
I gotta find another way
Late at night I wanna see you
Well my eyes, they begin to fade
Am I just living in the space between
The beauty and the pain
And the real thing
Now the sky is painted
In a wash of indigo
I've been holding on too long
In the howling of this cold
I recognize every face
But I ain't got everything I need
If I'm just living in the space between
The beauty and the pain
It's the strangest thing
Yeah, she runs surrounding me
Surrounded by the hole
Surrounded by no other
I wanna run home
Yeah, I can run slowly
Don't run away again
Yeah, I can run home
Don't run away again
I wanna run, I wanna run
@ghostchild336699
My parents are 65/70, the other day I introduced to the war on drugs. Last night I found them curled up on the couch together listening to this song. Good music is timeless and knows no bounds!!!
@s4mcote
That’s amazing 😍
@wendigoeleven
That must have been one of the most beautiful visions of your entire life
@elanteaster9349
Gotta love the rents
@xerxesalmighty9444
Interesting. Years ago, I played Strangest Thing in the car on a road trip. Days later I walked by my 13-year-old son’s room and to my surprise he was playing it over and over. True, good music touches us all. And this song is great! Unlike anything I’ve heard before. Huge fan of this band.
@williamhiggins842
This sixty two year old parent introduced this phenomenal band to my oldest son(35) he's been a fan ever since. Good music knows no age barriers, I grew up as a music freak I will die as one.
@G_Ozare
I found this song (and album) a few nights ago while on a mushroom trip laying down thinking about my life and the existential crisis I seem to be going through as I approach 40. All the ways I’ve been so selfish as a person and lacking as a husband. This entire album (especially In Chains & this song) made me see my life through different eyes and I wept. Not for myself but for my wife, for us… for the distance that has grown between us. I grew comfortable in that space and I hadn’t realized how lonely she must be. But it also gave me hope and the clarity to know the path forward to show love unconditionally and unselfishly. If I could take one song with me when I die it will be this one. This album is absolutely perfect. Thank you Adam. 🙏🏼
@kathleenbarber9677
Take the trip with out the mushrooms please, not needed
@willfromyadkinville
i will walk that road with you! don't give up!
@jeffperry8977
You didn't find it.. it found you