Drugs Don't Work

The Verve

About Drugs Don't Work

"The Drugs Don't Work" is a song by the English rock band the Verve, written by Richard Ashcroft and is featured on their third album, Urban Hymns. It was released on 1 September 1997 as the second single from the album, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The beginning of the video shows the band walking down the street, following on from the end of “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. Ranked number seven on Channel 4's list of the 100 Greatest #1 Singles, the sombre nature of the song unintentionally captured the spirit of the nation as it was released the day after Princess Diana died. In October 2011, NME placed “The Drugs Don't Work” at number 78 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". 


Year:
2002
124 
#1

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All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down

And I hope you're thinking of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again

Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again

But I know I'm on a losing streak
'Cause I passed down my old street
And if you wanna show, then just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again

Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again

'Cause baby, ooo, if heaven falls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead

All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down

Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again

'Cause baby, ooo, if heaven falls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead

But if you wanna show, just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again

Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again

Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again

I'm never going down, I'm never coming down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I'm never going down, I'm never coming down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more

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The Verve

The Verve were an English alternative rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bass guitarist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury. The guitarist and keyboard player Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space rock, by the mid-1990s the band had released several EPs and three albums. It also endured name and line-up changes, break-ups, health problems, drug abuse and various lawsuits. Filter referred to them as "one of the tightest knit, yet ultimately volatile bands in history". The band's commercial breakthrough was the 1997 album Urban Hymns, one of the best-selling albums in UK Chart history, and the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", which became … more »

4 fans

Written by: RICHARD ASHCROFT

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Date
"The Drugs Don't Work" was released as the second single from The Verve's third studio album, "Urban Hymns," in August 1997.
Chart Performance
Upon its release, "The Drugs Don't Work" charted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. This marked The Verve's most successful single.
Song Composition
The song is written by the band's lead vocalist, Richard Ashcroft.
Lyric Meaning
The lyrics of "The Drugs Don't Work" are often misinterpreted as a reference to substance misuse, but according to Richard Ashcroft, the song is actually about his father's death.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists, including Adam Gontier, Ben Harper, and German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen.
Music Video
The music video, directed by Andy Baybutt, reflects the somber theme of the song, showing the band members wandering around a city interspersed with scenes of Ashcroft at home.
Critics' Reaction
Despite its gloomy theme, the song has received widespread acclaim from music critics, with NME magazine voting it as the 18th greatest UK No 1 single in a 2012 poll.
Influence on Popular Culture
This song became well known outside the UK when it was featured in several popular television shows, including "Cold Case" and "House M.D.".
Award Nominations
In 1998, "The Drugs Don't Work" was nominated for Best British Single at the Brit Awards.
Kaftan Reference
During the song, there’s a reference to ‘a kaftan on your back’, a line which Richard Ashcroft revealed he doesn’t understand. He said he wrote it during a jam session and it stuck.

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