I Don’t Live Here Anymore

I Don’t Live Here Anymore

The War on Drugs (Ft. Lucius)

The title track of I Don’t Live Here Anymore is also the second single that was released ahead of the album. The single was released on September 15th, 2021, through a music video on The War On Drugs' Youtube channel, directed by Emmett Malloy, known for directing music videos and music related documentaries (“Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell”, “Jack White: Kneeling at the Anthem D.C.”).

With contributions from Brooklyn-based indie-pop outfit Lucius (Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe provide ethereal backing vocals on the chorus), the song features a bold 80s rock groove, with massive gated reverb saturating huge drum fills, which provide the classic 80s soaring sound.

Lyrically, the song borrows some blatant references from Bob Dylan, and begins with the subject in their bed, admitting that he’s “been so afraid of everything”. Despite his fear of change, Adam defies the stagnation he would prefer and the remembrances of pain that still plague him, and realises that he’s going the have to move forward. He just doesn’t know where to start. The consistent allusions to Dylan and the 80s sound might, in fact, reflect the idea of nostalgia and fear of change that permeates the lyrical content of the song.