Drag You Around

Album: Ghosts of Download (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Matt Barus, the frontman of the Christchurch band The Dukes, who supported Blondie on a 2010 New Zealand tour. Blondie guitarist Chris Stein had asked Barus if he penned songs for other artists. Barus responded that he didn't, but he'd have a go. The New Zealander described the writing process to Stuff.co.nz as: "On the last night of the tour at The Mudhouse Winery in Waipara, we were in the middle of our set and I turned towards the sound desk and Chris and Debbie were there offstage watching our show. When we came off stage Chris came up to me and said 'we really like your songs, do you write for other people. I said, 'I haven't really'. And he asked me if I'd be keen to write some music for their next album. I just assumed it was a really nice thing to say at the end of a tour because people really don't know what else to say."

    "It took me a while and a few conversations with the people who look after my career to actually think he might have been serious so I started listening to their classic album Parallel Lines and thought about the kind of things Debbie might sing about and came up with Drag You Around," Barus continued. "It's me imagining the kind of relationship Debbie would be in. She would kick arse and be dragging whoever it was around. That's the image I wanted anyway."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?