The Drugs Don't Work
Encyclopedia
"The Drugs Don't Work" is a song by the British
rock band
, The Verve
and is featured on their third album, Urban Hymns
. It was released on September 1, 1997 as the second single
from the album, charting at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart
, becoming the band's most successful single in the UK. In October 2011, NME
placed it at number 78 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
wrote the song in early 1995. He briefly mentioned it in an interview at the time, relating it to his drug usage: "There's a new track I've just written [...] It goes 'the drugs don't work, they just make me worse, and I know I'll see your face again'. That's how I'm feeling at the moment. They make me worse, man. But I still take 'em. Out of boredom and frustration you turn to something else to escape."
Ashcroft also performed the song when the band was touring in support of A Northern Soul
. The song was eventually recorded for Urban Hymns
. The album's producer, Chris Potter later referred to it as both the best song and best vocal he had ever recorded.
wrote the song in response to the death of his father, and is also thought to be influenced by his relationship with his wife. Ashcroft said in an interview, "To me, it's a lovesong".
The lyrics of the original demo
varied from the eventual album track, with the main line changing from "They just make me worse" to "They just make you worse", as Ashcroft attempted to lyrically put across different points of view in the song; "They make you/me worse" refer to the medication his father was taking (which prolonged his life, but inflicted suffering at the same time).
The single was also noted during Channel 4
's 100 Greatest #1 Singles program as unintentionally capturing the spirit of the nation as it was released the day after Princess Diana
died.
". The cover of the machine on the front of the album No Come Down
also appears briefly. The band turns around a corner and walks over to a vending machine called "Feelings". This refers to the song "Life's an Ocean" from their second album, A Northern Soul
, where Ashcroft sings, "I was buying some feelings from a vending machine" (the same vending machine is also seen on the back of that album). The rest of the video shows, partially in black and white, the band playing the song indoors. The video ends with a piece of burning wood, with the words 'Urban Hymns' written on it, floating on water. The original concept for the video was to have the band filmed in a maze to illustrate "loss of direction".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
and is featured on their third album, Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns is the third album by English rock band The Verve, released on 29 September 1997 on Hut Recordings. It earned nearly unanimous critical praise upon its release, and went on to become the band's best-selling release and one of the biggest selling albums of the year...
. It was released on September 1, 1997 as the second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album, charting at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, becoming the band's most successful single in the UK. In October 2011, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
placed it at number 78 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Background and recording
Lead singer Richard AshcroftRichard Ashcroft
Richard Paul Ashcroft is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer and occasional guitarist of alternative rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999, and continues as a lead vocalist working with guitars and keyboards...
wrote the song in early 1995. He briefly mentioned it in an interview at the time, relating it to his drug usage: "There's a new track I've just written [...] It goes 'the drugs don't work, they just make me worse, and I know I'll see your face again'. That's how I'm feeling at the moment. They make me worse, man. But I still take 'em. Out of boredom and frustration you turn to something else to escape."
Ashcroft also performed the song when the band was touring in support of A Northern Soul
A Northern Soul
A Northern Soul is the second studio album by English alternative rock band The Verve. The album was released in the United States on 20 June 1995 on the Hut label and in the United Kingdom on 3 July 1995 on Vernon Yard Records...
. The song was eventually recorded for Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns is the third album by English rock band The Verve, released on 29 September 1997 on Hut Recordings. It earned nearly unanimous critical praise upon its release, and went on to become the band's best-selling release and one of the biggest selling albums of the year...
. The album's producer, Chris Potter later referred to it as both the best song and best vocal he had ever recorded.
Composition and lyrics
The exact meaning of the song is unclear, but it is generally believed that composer Richard AshcroftRichard Ashcroft
Richard Paul Ashcroft is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer and occasional guitarist of alternative rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999, and continues as a lead vocalist working with guitars and keyboards...
wrote the song in response to the death of his father, and is also thought to be influenced by his relationship with his wife. Ashcroft said in an interview, "To me, it's a lovesong".
The lyrics of the original demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
varied from the eventual album track, with the main line changing from "They just make me worse" to "They just make you worse", as Ashcroft attempted to lyrically put across different points of view in the song; "They make you/me worse" refer to the medication his father was taking (which prolonged his life, but inflicted suffering at the same time).
The single was also noted during Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's 100 Greatest #1 Singles program as unintentionally capturing the spirit of the nation as it was released the day after Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
died.
Music video
The music video of the song was directed by Andy Baybutt. The video begins with several references to The Verve's earlier work. The band appears in the same formation and clothes as they did at the end of the video for "Bitter Sweet SymphonyBitter Sweet Symphony
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve, the lead track on their third album, Urban Hymns. It is based on music from an Andrew Loog Oldham adaptation of a Rolling Stones song, "The Last Time". It was released on 16 June 1997 by Hut Recordings as the first single...
". The cover of the machine on the front of the album No Come Down
No Come Down
No Come Down is a compilation album of B-sides and outtakes by The Verve, released in 1994 for Vernon Yard and Hut Recordings. It was the first release on which the original band's name Verve was changed to The Verve because of the conflict with the eponymous jazz record label .- Overview :"No Come...
also appears briefly. The band turns around a corner and walks over to a vending machine called "Feelings". This refers to the song "Life's an Ocean" from their second album, A Northern Soul
A Northern Soul
A Northern Soul is the second studio album by English alternative rock band The Verve. The album was released in the United States on 20 June 1995 on the Hut label and in the United Kingdom on 3 July 1995 on Vernon Yard Records...
, where Ashcroft sings, "I was buying some feelings from a vending machine" (the same vending machine is also seen on the back of that album). The rest of the video shows, partially in black and white, the band playing the song indoors. The video ends with a piece of burning wood, with the words 'Urban Hymns' written on it, floating on water. The original concept for the video was to have the band filmed in a maze to illustrate "loss of direction".
Other versions
- The song was coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
on his live album Live from MarsLive from MarsLive From Mars is a two disc live concert release from Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals which takes tracks from unnamed venues throughout his 2000 tour and places them on either an electric or acoustic disc...
. - It was also covered by Skin.
- In Australia, it was covered by GrinspoonGrinspoonGrinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...
for youth radio station Triple J's Like a Version CD. - Adam GontierAdam GontierAdam Wade Gontier is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of the rock band Three Days Grace...
released a version of the song. - A EurohouseEurodanceEurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
cover of the song was performed by Devorah, a short-lived covers project, along with "Bitter Sweet Symphony", in 1996. - It was covered by Australian pop vocalist/entertainer Kate CeberanoKate CeberanoKate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
on her live album Kate Ceberano and the West Australian Symphony OrchestraWest Australian Symphony OrchestraThe West Australian Symphony Orchestra , often known as the "Orchestra of the West", is the premier professional orchestra of the state of Western Australia.-History:...
. - In 2009, Taiwanese rock singer Faith YangFaith YangFaith Yang is a rock musician and fashion model. She grew up in Sydney, Australia and studied biology and genetics at Sydney University. In 2000 Faith won the Taiwan Golden Music awards for Best Female Performer got nominated for Best Album ....
recorded the song as a part of her album Self-Selected of English-language covers. - Terra NaomiTerra NaomiTerra Naomi is an alternative, rock, and pop artist, who rose to fame through a performance of her song "Say It's Possible" on the video sharing site YouTube...
performed an acoustic cover of the song on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in August 2008. - Howie DayHowie DayHoward Kern "Howie" Day is an American singer-songwriter. Beginning his career as a solo artist in the late 1990s, Day became known for his extensive touring and in-concert use of samplers and effects pedals in order to accompany himself...
covered the song for a promotional EP for his debut album, AustraliaAustralia (Howie Day album)Australia is an album by Howie Day, first released in 2000 independently and re-released in 2002 by Epic Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Howie Day.# "Sorry So Sorry" – 4:34# "She Says" – 4:34# "Secret" – 3:46# "Slow Down" – 3:40...
.
Track listing
- CD 1 HUTDG 88
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (radio edit)
- "Three Steps"
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (demo)
- CD 2 HUTDX 88
- "The Drugs Don't Work"
- "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (James Lavelle Remix)
- "The Crab"
- "Stamped"
- Cassette HUTC 88
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (radio edit)
- "Three Steps"
- 7" HUTLH 88
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (radio edit)
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (demo)
- 12" HUTT 88
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (radio edit)
- "Three Steps"
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (demo)
- "The Crab"
- Promo CD HUTCDP 88
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (radio edit)
Australian version
- CD 8949382
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (radio edit)
- "Three Steps"
- "The Drugs Don't Work" (demo)
- "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (original)