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.
Taking the Farm
The War on Drugs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Disconnected from me
Been a little to anxious and a little too sweet
Have you been chopping down treetops tree after tree
Have you been digging for diamonds at the bottom of the sea
He said I'm taking the farm out from under your knees
Said I'm taking the air and rag that you're bleeding upon
Come together like the motion
Comes together with my feet
Well top and bottom it's all the same to me
Until all my breathing air is gone
Well you feel it in the ozone zone zone
You can feel it in the knees knees knees
You can feel it in the dirt that's going under your feet
You can feel it in the highways and the one way streets
When you're digging for diamonds at the bottom of the sea
You seem a little on the high side
Disconnected from me
Been a little to anxious and a little too sweet
I'll be chopping down treetops tree after tree
When I'm confusing my highways for a one way street
The lyrics of The War on Drugs's song Taking the Farm is interpreted as a conversation between two individuals who are experiencing a communication gap. One of them seems anxious while the other appears high and disconnected. The anxious individual is perceived to be chopping down treetops and digging for diamonds at the bottom of the sea, which could symbolize someone who is seeking for something that is unattainable or chasing an impossible dream. Meanwhile, the other individual is taking control of the situation, announcing that they are taking the farm out from under the other person's knees and taking the air and rag on which the other individual is bleeding. This could be interpreted as the individual trying to regain control of their life and correcting the situation, even if it means taking drastic measures.
It appears that the song is a commentary on self-destructive behaviors and chasing unreachable dreams. The lyrics speak of feeling the consequences of these behaviors at the molecular level, in the ozone and the dirt under their feet, and the highways and one-way streets they take. The chorus reiterates this theme of self-destruction, where the top and bottom are all the same until they run out of air to breathe.
Overall, the song Taking the Farm by The War on Drugs appears to be a commentary on chasing after something that is unattainable or self-destructive behavior. The lyrics depict a sense of desperation and unilateral action taken by one individual to correct the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
You seem a little on the high side
It appears that you're not fully present or engaged in this interaction, possibly due to drug use
Disconnected from me
There's a noticeable lack of connection between us
Been a little too anxious and a little too sweet
Your behavior suggests that you're trying too hard to please or impress me
Have you been chopping down treetops tree after tree
Are you engaging in destructive or unsustainable behavior, like cutting down trees without regard for their future growth?
Have you been digging for diamonds at the bottom of the sea
Are you chasing after something that's unrealistic or impossible to attain, like searching for treasure in the ocean depths?
He said I'm taking the farm out from under your knees
Someone is threatening to take away something essential to your stability and livelihood
Said I'm taking the air and rag that you're bleeding upon
They're intent on causing you harm, taking away the very things keeping you alive and comfortable
Come on meet me where the highways and the one way streets
Meet me in a place where two opposing forces converge
Come together like motion comes together with my feet
This place is intense and full of energy, like the force of motion meeting the ground
Well top and bottom it's all the same to me
It doesn't matter how things appear on the surface, I see things in a more nuanced and complex way
Until all my breathing air is gone
This is so important to me that I'll fight to the death to protect it
Well you feel it in the ozone zone zone
There's a sense of environmental danger or threat
You can feel it in the knees knees knees
You're physically or emotionally affected by this situation
You can feel it in the dirt that's going under your feet
The consequences of these actions are palpable and tangible
You can feel it in the highways and the one way streets
The tension and intensity of this situation can be sensed in the environment around us
When you're digging for diamonds at the bottom of the sea
When you're pursuing something unrealistic or impossible, you're likely to encounter great difficulty
I'll be chopping down treetops tree after tree
I'm not afraid to engage in destructive behavior if it means achieving my goals
When I'm confusing my highways for a one way street
When I'm in a state of intense focus or determination, I may not consider other perspectives or options
Contributed by Henry F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.