Under You

Album: But Here We Are (2023)
Charted: 98
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Under You" is an upbeat pop-rocker with a sad subject matter: the deaths of drummer Taylor Hawkins and frontman Dave Grohl's mother.

    Taylor Hawkins died on March 25, 2022, aged 50. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, where the Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform the next day. The frontman's mom, Virginia Jean (née Hanlon), passed away the same year.
  • "Under You" unveils Dave Grohl's personal journey through grief. It's an emotional exploration of loss, grappling with the complexities of healing while preserving the indelible memories of a cherished connection.
  • The song begins with a heartfelt search, as frontman Dave Grohl finds himself lost without his departed friend and bandmate. Their shared experiences as globe-trotting rock musicians created an unbreakable bond. Now, Grohl has a void left in his life.

    I woke up and walked a million miles today
    I've been looking up and down for you
    All this time it still feels just like yesterday
    That I walked a million miles with you


    From the opening lines, Grohl reflects on the countless miles he has traversed, both physically and emotionally, in his quest to find solace. Yet, despite the passage of time, the pain still lingers, as if the memories were etched just yesterday.
  • The pre-chorus reveals Grohl's struggle to move forward, realizing that true closure may elude him.

    Over it
    Think I'm getting over it
    But there's no getting over it


    Grohl needs someone to lean on during these trying times, as there are moments when he feels utterly alone and uncertain.

    There are times that I need someone
    There are times I feel like no one
    Sometimes I just don't know what to do
    There are days I can't remember
    There are days that last forever
    Someday I'll come out from under you
    Out from under you


    The latter half of the chorus hints at a glimmer of hope. Grohl gazes toward the horizon, envisioning a future where the weight of his losses will gradually diminish. The song carries an undertone of resilience, as he longs for the day when he will emerge from the shadows of grief and reclaim his own identity.
  • Dave Grohl collaborated with his fellow Foo Fighters bandmates to pen the song, with their collective grief pouring into its creation. Producer Greg Kurstin (Kelly Clarkson's "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," Sia's "Cheap Thrills," Adele's "Hello" and "Easy On Me") brought his expertise to shape the track's sonic landscape.
  • Foo Fighters recorded "Under You" for But Here We Are, the band's third collaboration with Kurstin, following Concrete and Gold (2017) and Medicine at Midnight (2021).

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.