Album: Urban Hymns (1997)

Charted: 1

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• All this talk of getting old
  It's getting me down my love
  Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
  This time I'm comin' down
  
  And I hope you're thinking of me
  As you lay down on your side
  Now the drugs don't work
  They just make you worse
  But I know I'll see your face again
  
  Now the drugs don't work
  They just make you worse
  But I know I'll see your face again
  
  But I know I'm on a losing streak
  'Cause I passed down my old street
  And if you wanna show, then just let me know
  And I'll sing in your ear again
  
  Now the drugs don't work
  They just make you worse
  But I know I'll see your face again
  
  'Cause baby, ooo, if heaven falls, I'm coming, too
  Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
  
  All this talk of getting old
  It's getting me down my love
  Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
  This time I'm comin' down
  
  Now the drugs don't work
  They just make you worse
  But I know I'll see your face again
  
  'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven falls, I'm coming, too
  Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
  
  But if you wanna show, just let me know
  And I'll sing in your ear again
  
  Now the drugs don't work
  They just make you worse
  But I know I'll see your face again
  
  Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
  Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
  Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
  Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
  
  I'm never going down, I'm never coming down
  No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
  I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
  No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
  I'm never going down, I'm never coming down
  No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
  I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
  No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
  I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
  No more, no more, no more, no more, no more Writer/s: Richard Ashcroft
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

• AnonymousThis song to me is about my father who wouldn’t stop using alcohol due to his depression… he later on died from liver intoxication. The drugs don’t work but I know I’ll see your face again in heaven. Love you pops.
• Murray from UkThis song is not about anybody dying of cancer. Lead singer Richard Ashcroft 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."
• Jacs from London I lost my beautiful dad 2 years ago and can still remember in the last few hours before his death me asking the nurses to give him drugs just to keep him alive a few more minutes hours days even tho we knew the drugs didn’t work anymore.
  God bless you dad after 10 tired years
  Love and miss you xx
• Steve from Basildon, United KingdomFor me this song will always be about drug addiction and drug 'come downs' and has helped me through many times when i've felt like 'a cat in a bag waiting to drown', this song has described the way i've felt before perfectly line for line and has given me hope that change is possible ' never comin down no more' and that someone out there gets it, it also reminds me of an old girlfriend i used to have and how i used to feel that without her i was better off dead, 'the drugs dont work they just make you worse' perfectly describes the cycle of taking of hard or recreational drugs to try and to deal with depression. I know richard ashcroft probably never meant this song to be taken in such a way but i believe a song can mean whatever you want it to and the meaning of the words can mean different things to different people, music is a drug in itself but one that actually works, music can get you through anything.
• James from Liverpool, United Kingdomnorthern soul was a classic albumn too
• Nikki from Avon, CtI think that while he wrote it about his father it also had some romantic aspects. It seems to me like his girlfriend is sick and the medicine wont work, and he's saying if she dies he wants to go and be with her in heaven, and he "knows he'll see her face again"
• Dave from Melbourne, AustraliaI remember once being at the office one day and this song come on the radio at my old job. We all went very quiet as we had been blasted in a sales meeting by the National Sales Manager who told us we were all crap. I felt pretty useless myself at the time and one of the guys in the team broke down at his desk and began to cry. We were all really depressed by our situation and yeah this song came on. I just wanted to cry too :(
• Jared from Long Island, NyI think this song might also be about a man saying that whatever he does to kill himself, like doing drugs, doesn't work. And possibly there is someone he loves up in heaven and he the drugs just won't work killing him and bringing him to her again. Like these lines:
  'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I'm coming, too
  Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
  
  He just wants to kill himself to be with her again. That's my opinion
  
• Jade from Washington D.c., Dc One Saturday evening, I was sitting in a chair at this small coffee house that had something of an odd custom. What the customers and employees did there on Saturday evenings was, they would raise their hand and ask to be allowed to sing! They would sing after the other person was finished performing. Most of the people who made the choice to sing brought musical instruments and used that as background music.
  However, there were a few people who had prepare, other than their voices. I was one of those few people in that little coffee house who only had their voice to use, rather than some type of really cool musical instrument to go along with it. A few minutes before, my mother and I had sang a duet.
  The song had been "Maggie" by Rod Stewart. However, after my mother and I were finished with that song, one of the other customers asked me an interesting question. He asked me, "What other songs do you know?" I thought that he was just kidding around! My jaw snapped shut because it was so extremely rare that anyone would ask me that question. I didn't want to be rude. Therefore, I felt that I had to reply to the person's simple question. "Well, I do know a some other songs." I replied nervously. "What is your next song going to be?" Another customer asked me in a loud, laughing voice. I became really nervous again! Still, I managed to speak clearly, without getting too much stage fright. "Well, the song that I am going to sing didn't come from the United States. Nobody knows it around here." This made most of the people watching suddenly crack up for five long seconds! One of them even actually teased, "Where's it from? Is it from Zimbabwae or somewhere like that?" I pretended not to hear his question. Then I finally managed to explain it, "It's from England." The people watching nodded. "Oh, it's an English song." Replied the person who had asked the rude Zimbabwae question. I nodded. "Yes, it hit #1 in the United Kingdom in 1997." He asked, "What is it called?" I told him, "It's called, "The Drugs Don't Work"". He laughed, and one of the other customers repeated the unusual title. He sounded very confused. I guess that they didn't know that the song was about cancer treatment.
  I finally sang it! When I was done singing, everyone cheered for me! It felt great! I felt completely noticed!
  As for the song itself, the lyrics have helped me get through some difficult times. I am glad that such a beautiful song exists! I am so grateful that Richard Ashcroft wrote such an amazing ballad! Thank you!
• Nadia from Austin, TxIt was written to his father who died of cancer. The drugs they gave him couldn't save him. I also believe it was written to a loved one who was addicted to drugs, since some of the lyrics reference a romantic relationship. Great song, great album, great band. I can't believe they're back!!!
• Kevin from Athlone, IrelandThey made three albums, Urban Hymns was by far the best, Probably one of the greatest ever released, Northern Sould wasnt bad either
• Steven from Winchester, VaI believe this is an excellent song because it will help out people going through the same situation and help out the people who are really taking drugs that don't work.
• Ariana from Lima, PeruI´ve got a question, does anybody know if Radiohead has a cover on this song?
• Tiffani from WinnipegI totally love this song. It seems like he is looking forward to death b/c he'll be able to see his fathers face once again.
• Ryan from Westerville, Ohpitty they only made one album?.. i'd expect a comment like that from an American, but your English. why don't you check out Northern Soul and a Storm in Heaven - the two albums made BEFORE Urban Hymns..
• Ben from Ringwood, Englandwhat a band, what an album, what a song. pitty they made only one album
• Paul from London, EnglandI love the line "like a cat in a bag waiting to drown, this time I'm coming down" Brilliant song. The Verve's very best followed by Bittersweet Symphony.
• Jade from London, EnglandBrilliant song!!!
• Si from London, EnglandThe best rendition was that given by Arthur on Mrs.Merton and Malcolm!

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