Foo Fighters
Under You
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Foo Fighters released their second single. After “Rescued”, a song that also made it into our May Dispatch, comes “Under You”. You can find both on But Here We Are, the upcoming album. Two singles out mean we can start guessing the main themes and the drummer.
The band have been a part of my music journey for what feels like forever now – basically ever since I started understanding why Metallica are great, why The Beatles are talked about as classic, and what value Pink Floyd brought into the music genres.
We already know we’re in for a great ride but it won’t be a happy one.
Produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, But Here We Are is in nearly equal measure the 11th Foo Fighters album and the first chapter of the band’s new life.
But Here We Are album press release
Even the album’s cover – white background with a few touches or lines of a greyish colour – suggests there’s something different, a clean slate, a new beginning.
After I listened to the song for the first time, I decided to give you a complete and detailed analysis – I include everything from the music, offer the lyrics, discuss the meaning, and explain who this album’s drummer is.
The release date is 2nd June 2023 and I can’t wait. Let’s dive in.
But Here We Are Sounds Like Great Rock and Roll Music
The song has a similar opening to “Learn to Fly”, and seemingly continues as “Everlong”. The pace is swift, Grohl’s guitar great as usual and the same can be, unsurprisingly, said about Smear’s and Shiflett’s performances.
The guys have been around for so long I don’t have to tell you the sound quality is there and it’s just what we’re used to.
Is it enough, though?
That might be a bit more complicated, depending on what you expect and what you think the band should deliver. In short, it is.
I don’t expect them to bring new sounds every time they release an album, I don’t expect them to come with grand lyrics neither contemplating the indifference of heaven and hell nor metaphysical assessments of human existence and experience compared with the future of anthropomorphism and divine beings.
Don’t get me wrong, rock music can do that easily but that’s not what I expect from Foo Fighters. I guess I’m not alone in saying I want Foo Fighters to deliver clear and straightforward rock and roll music with everything that belongs to it.
The album seems to be delivering the classic Foo Fighters sound. Nothing more but nothing less. It’s perfectly fine in my books.
So, the only question remaining is…
Who replaced Taylor Hawkins on the drums on But Here We Are?
After twenty-five years, Hawkins wasn’t just a drummer – replacing him might be a huge and not entirely well-accepted change. Plus, it certainly isn’t an easy task.
While Josh Freese, formerly of Guns N’ Roses, A Perfect Circle, or Nine Inch Nails was announced as the band’s touring drummer for their upcoming stops, he’s not associated with the new album.
In “Rescued”, we heard a really solid drum performance but we’ve never learned who plays them. Some fans speculated and introduced some wild theories while the answer is clear as day.
The drummer on But Here We Are, of course, is Dave Grohl himself – he’s the only drummer listed on the album.
It makes sense, it’s too early to replace Hawkins, especially when you’ve got a band member who can do the job.
After all, he still resembles the guy who played the drums in Nirvana, right? (This joke never gets old.) Let’s carry on.
Grohl on the drums means also less hate and doubt from fans. Win-win.
What is Foo Fighters’ “Under You” about?
The song explores all you do when you lose someone dear. From feeling like you’re getting better and the clouds are slowly leaving to regressing back to feeling lost in the emotional black hole of nothingness.
Even the press release suggests we’re in for a ride that won’t be entirely pleasant:
A brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters endured over the last year, But Here We Are is a testament to the healing powers of music, friendship and family. Courageous, damaged and unflinchingly authentic […] songs that run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between.
But Here We Are album press release
The chorus gives away a lot:
There are times that I need someone, there are times I feel like no one
Foo Fighters – “Under You”, chorus
Sometimes I just don’t know what to do
There are days I can’t remember, there are days that last forever
Someday I’ll come out from under you, out from under you
Loneliness and feeling lost. The numbness of days that are so empty and uneventful you don’t remember them are contrasted with days that are still lonely and dull but filled with pain which is making them unbearably long.
The better days are just full of sadness and some things that remain rather positive:
Someone said I’ll never see your face again
Foo Fighters – “Under You”, verse 2
Part of me just can’t believe it’s true
Pictures of us sharing songs and cigarettes
This is how I’ll always picture you
In the lyrics either Grohl or the entire band recollect listening to songs together and sharing cigarettes. Positive memories are preceded by the realisation that they’ll remain only memories from now on.
The pre-chorus, on the other hand, suggests how confusing things are:
Over it, think I’m getting over it
Foo Fighters – “Under You”, pre-chorus
But there’s no getting over it
The journey to recovery is paved with an emotional roller coaster that can take ages.
The song mourns Hawkins and not, as some argue, Grohl’s mother, who passed away in August 2022 (although we can’t rule that out entirely, of course). Verse 2 – listening to music and smoking – suggests it’s the late drummer.
However, the album as such is dedicated to both:
“For Virginia and Taylor”
Official Foo Fighters Twitter account
As the official band’s Twitter account revealed.
Wrapping Up
If I can use my crystal ball, I’m pretty sure we’re getting a really good album. Maybe not an album for everyone as there’ll be more emotional songs and songs that just won’t be instant hits MTV will keep on repeat (not even sure MTV is still a thing).
We may get another “Pretender” but we’ll know for sure in June.
As it feels at the moment, we’re not getting a crappy album at all.
Good news, everyone!
Foo Fighters – ”Under You” Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I woke up and walked a million miles today
I’ve been looking up and down for you
All this time it still feels just like yesterday
That I walked a million miles with you[Pre-Chorus]
Over it, think I’m getting over it
But there’s no getting over it[Chorus]
There are times that I need someone, there are times I feel like no one
Sometimes I just don’t know what to do
There are days I can’t remember, there are days that last forever
Someday I’ll come out from under you, out from under you[Verse 2]
Someone said I’ll never see your face again
Part of me just can’t believe it’s true
Pictures of us sharing songs and cigarettes
This is how I’ll always picture you[Pre-Chorus]
Over it, think I’m getting over it
But there’s no getting over it[Chorus]
There are times that I need someone, there are times I feel like no one
Sometimes I just don’t know what to do
There are days I can’t remember, there are days that last forever
Someday I’ll come out from under you, out from under you[Post-Chorus]
Out from under you[Chorus]
There are times I think it’s over, there are times I can’t recover
Sometimes I just don’t know what to do
There are days I can’t remember, there are days that last forever
Someday I’ll come out from under you, out from under you[Post-Chorus]
Out from under you[Outro]
Foo Fighters – “Under You”, the full lyrics
Out from under you
Out from under you
Out from under you
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Written by Vinklarek on
