Mishra, a straight edger and ex-Marxist, often incorporates political concerns in his songs veiled in terms of personal relationships (as in his only hit). After a troubled working relationship with EMI Records, Mishra was dropped from the label in 1997 and since then has gone back to working with indie labels like Parasol Records. His last album, 2000's Peek & Poke, received moderately enthusiastic reviews but sold pitifully compared to his major label work.
In 2005 White Town contributed the song "The PNAC Cabal" to the charity album "Voyces United for UNHCR" (Voyces United for UNHCR (disc 1)).
In October 2006 White Town released a new album, Don't Mention The War on Mishra's own label, Bzangy Records.
Why I Hate Drugs
White Town Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now I can't remember the last time you were
Straight
You're a joke but no one's laughing any more
You're the face that closes every open door
I'm telling you you've got to change
And the sunglasses didn't fool his friends
You had a good thing there
The best it's ever been
But your new hip friends didn't think he fitted in
I'm telling you you've got to change
I don't mind you stealing money from my house
I've known you far too long for that to matter now
But I will not take the lies and disrespect
With all the things you've given
What you gonna get
I'm telling you you've got to change
The lyrics to White Town's song "Why I Hate Drugs" highlight the consequences of living a drug-fueled lifestyle. The song's narrator confronts someone who is clearly struggling with addiction and observes the toll it has taken on their life. He notes that the individual has been high nonstop, to the point that the singer can't even remember the last time the person was sober. The person has become a joke to others, and their addiction has caused them to lose relationships and opportunities. The singer knows that the person needs to change and warns them to do so before it's too late.
The second verse of the song continues to drive home the message that addiction has consequences. The singer reveals that the person's boyfriend has broken up with them because of their addiction. The person's attempt to hide their addiction with sunglasses only fooled themselves. The singer knows that the person had a good thing with their now ex-boyfriend, but their new "hip friends" thought he didn't fit in. The singer tells the person once again that they need to change, and it seems that the person's addiction has become so bad that they are now resorting to stealing money. The singer can forgive that, given their long relationship, but he won't tolerate the lies and disrespect that come with addiction.
Overall, "Why I Hate Drugs" is a sobering reminder of the bleak reality of addiction. The song conveys the frustration and sadness that comes with watching someone struggle with addiction and the hope that they can change before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
You're living life fucked up every single day
You're constantly under the influence of drugs and it's affecting your everyday life
And now I can't remember the last time you were
Straight
You've been high for so long that I can't even remember the last time I saw you sober
You're a joke but no one's laughing any more
Your drug use was once seen as funny or cool, but now it's become a serious problem causing concern and worry for others.
You're the face that closes every open door
Your drug use is causing you to miss out on opportunities and close doors that were previously open to you
I'm telling you you've got to change
I'm suggesting that you must change your ways and stop using drugs for your own good.
I saw your boyfriend he never wants to see you again
Your significant other is fed up with your drug use and has decided to break up with you
And the sunglasses didn't fool his friends
Your attempt to disguise your drug-induced appearance with sunglasses didn't work; those around you still noticed the effects of your drug use
You had a good thing there
Your relationship with your now ex-boyfriend was once great and fulfilling
The best it's ever been
Your relationship was at its peak when you were sober and not under the influence of drugs
But your new hip friends didn't think he fitted in
Your new drug-using friends didn't approve of your boyfriend because he did not do drugs like them.
I don't mind you stealing money from my house
I no longer care about the material possessions you take from me because at this point, your drug problem is more concerning
I've known you far too long for that to matter now
I've realized that our history is meaningless when compared to the severity of your current drug addiction
But I will not take the lies and disrespect
Although I am willing to overlook certain things, I won't tolerate the lies and disrespect caused by your drug-induced behavior.
With all the things you've given
What you gonna get
After giving into your addiction, you'll ultimately have nothing to show for it, and will likely regret your choices in the long run.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jyoti Mishra
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind