Though the chem's music is usually associated with MDMA, if you get off that track for a second and think about it, this interpretation seems to make much more sense, in my opinion. I'm still kind of unsure, but I'd like to see the discussion that ensues and see if we can make sense of it and whether or not this theory is the least bit valid...

My basic thinking...

THE INITIAL IDEA that popped into all of our heads was that this was a song about some bad E. However, it does seem very out of character for the chems to make a song that casts E use in a negative light, as beautiful as the song may be. This was a bit off-putting.

"PILLS"(pl.)- Not singular, definitely works for pharmaceuticals. You think of doses of E as singular. For most people, anyways.

"HELP"- the pills were supposed to "help" someone. No one really takes E for help. To party, relax, experience something, have a great time, maybe, but not because they need help. When you think of pills that are supposed to help people, antidepressants immediately come to mind.

THE NATURE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND THE IMPLIED EVENTS OF THE SONG- Apparently something happened to the "you" of the song that has rendered him unable to be helped by the said pills. To me, this implies death. Antidepressants have a very high suicide risk. Much more common than fatal overdoses of MDMA.

Your thoughts? I know I don't have much to go on, but it seems to make more sense.

I agree. That does make sense... but maybe its because I'm also in a melancholy mood right now. The song is quite melancholy sounding. So, I think it makes sense

Going to have to disagree on this one. Doses of E are quite often plural, people often take them to help them get away from the troubles of everyday life, and, for most people, the magic of the early Ecstasy experiences eventually wears off and can no longer be replicated. Thus, the pills no longer help the person taking them in the way they might like. This can be a sad and mournful experience. Especially seeing as how said person may try to increase the number of pills they take (and thereby increase their health risks) in order to chase that original high, the concern of the narrator in regards to the person being "alright", I think the song is almost explicitly about Ecstasy or related drugs.

Of course, the lyrics are somewhat open to interpretation. However, given that Tom & Ed themselves are at an age where they may have a different perspective on the hedonism of young clubbing, I think it's all the more likely that the tune is about club drugs.

A case of reading too much into a song? Maybe. A valid interpretation? Of course. Lyrics are meant to be interpreted by the listener/reader. That's the beauty of music and poetry.

I should be in buzzed posting right now (ironically) but my interpretation of the song is really any pills that prevents one from living a normal life. given that the song kinda reads off like all these people are going to have a good time (in the field) but someone is stuck at home on pills, isolated from the world.

The death thing is a new angle, but I always think they mean ALLLL the pills, or any of em, really.

There comes a point sometimes where no amount of any kind of pills will make you feel better (god forbid I ever see that dark shore) but then again, maybe that means death...

don't ask me, I ate half of one of the beans I got for the nocturnal show (quality control)

According to Ed it's about an old person in a eldery persons house ( i dunno how you call it , where they take care of you )

I still thinm its about drugs.

At least, thats whats it's about for me.

The great thing about Chems songs is that you can always interpetate ( ?! ) a song different from somebody else.

jeez my english today!

I'm so clumsy all dya already.

I think it's about Viagra...

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I'm kidding. The Pills Won't Help You now is the come down, it's the realization. It's the journey back to reality. It can be melancholy, but it can also be life affirming. All good moments come to an end, and life keeps on keeping on. Whether the moment was chemically induced might not be relevant (depending on who's listening). But which pill was swollowed in that passing moment is... I don't think that matters, really. At least for me. Then again, the points brought up by everyone so far all make sense. So I agree with Darkstar in that the lyrics are meant to be interpreted by the listener.

the best bit about lyrics is that they mean different things to different people.

sometimes totally different to what the author intended.....

Quite right,sometimes the same lyrics can be applied to a dozen different interpretations."In a moment of fear,you dig in your heels,the pills wont help you now" for instance may refer to a moment of paranoia during a trip but of course it might refer to something totally different.Either way,its a gorgeous tune.

I always thought it said " in the morning field - youre digging your heels " :lol:

As in " I'm fucked on E , the suns coming up, i'm in a muddy field somehwere with my shoes sinking away in the mud and i just raved for 8 hours straight , and now it's all over"

Ah well.

In a moment of fear sounds nice to.

Here are the lyrics I have for the tune (gotta love those Japanese imports!)

I thought we were going

To go up the field a ways

To join all the other living souls

But you never came

Robbed of your fortune

They bring disappointments and lies

You're probably poisoning your body

I hope you're alright

In a moment of fear

You dig in your heals

The pills won't help you now

Won't you call me

___________________________

Nothing much more for me to add other than I fuckin' xxoo*love*ooxx this song.

I know those are the official lyrics but i'm gonna stick with the muddy field :lol:

Not to go too off topic, but the discussion reminds me a lot of LCD Soundsystem's 'All My Friends', which tackles similar issues relating to age and abuse in its lyrics (and is, in my opinion, one of the best and most poignant songs I've ever heard).

Excerpted lyrics:

"And if the sun comes up and I still don't wanna stagger home

Then it's the memory of our betters that are keeping us on our feet"

"It comes apart, the way it does in bad films.

Except in parts, when the moral kicks in.

Though when we're running out of the drugs and the conversation's winding away

I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of life"

"And to tell the truth. Oh, this could be the last time.

So here we go, like a sales force into the night

And if I'm made a fool on the road, there's always this

And if I'm sewn into submission, I can still come home to this."

"You forgot what you meant when you read what you said, and you always knew you were tired, but then, where are your friends tonight?"

:o

I was listening to this song on the subway today as i was going home and i was thinking what the lyrics could be about. ( You know when english is not your first language a lot gets lost in translation....)

Intresting, intresting.

Yeah, All My Friends is about coming to terms with the fact that you're no longer young and immortal. Though you still want to cling to past glories, you're increasingly feeling your age and feeling that you can't (or shouldn't) keep up. Knowing that this may be your one last chance at it, you really pour yourself into the night, not knowing what the future (or even the morning) holds. A lot of memories zip by and acknowledging mistakes made but not regretting them.

Honestly, it's possibly the song that holds the most meaning for me. I cried like a baby the first time I heard it. Though James Murphy is in his mid/late-30s, I really connected to the lyrics as I feel I've been going through a lot of the same things over the past year.

@Makeskidskill:

Ayo my quality control, captivates your party patrol

Your mind, body, and soul

For whom the bell tolls, let the rhythm explode

Big, bad, and bold b-boys of old

-J5

@This post: General pills agreed. I think narrowing the interpretation takes away from the song.

If you'll excuse the tangent and my dorky film dorkness, it reminds me of Donnie Darko the original cut vs. Donnie Darko the Director's Cut. The latter made it more clear what the story was "supposed" to be about, and it really took away from how the film is received. By narrowing the story and placing it within the limits of the science fiction genre, it also limited what viewers could make it mean for themselves and life in general.

More definition isn't always a good thing. It gives people a chance to start forum threads like this one, yeah?

(Lots of love, as it's the anniversary of the union of myself and my girlfriend.)

Congrats, Pooter!

And good points.

U know what Pooter - Donnie Darko is my favorite movie of all time.

I've never wached the directors cut. The reason why DD is my fave movie of all time is because i still dont get it and everytime i watch it i get a different view of what it's about. I like the mystery about it. I don't wanna ruin the magic. So i never watched the directors cut.

pfff you people are over-analyzing things...it's obiously about Tic Tacs.

Sometimes no amount of breath mints will help bad breath.