Drag

You're always ahead of the game
I drag behind
You never get caught in the rain
When I'm drenched to the bone every time
You're the first one to swim across the Seine
I lag behind
You're always ahead of the game
While I drag behind

I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind

You're always ahead of the pack
I drag behind
You possess every trait that I lack
By coincidence or by design
You're the monkey I've got on my back
That tells me to shine
You're always ahead of the pack
While I drag behind.

I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind

You're always ahead of the rest
When I'm always on time
You got A's on your algebra tests
I failed and they kept me behind
I just got to get off my chest
That I think you're divine
You're always ahead of the rest
While I drag behind.

I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind
I drag behind


Lyrics submitted by Spiner

Drag Lyrics as written by Stefan Olsdal Brian Molko

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Drag song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    isn't it: "I failed and THEY KEPT ME BEHIND"?

    LongLiveSPon February 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think I interpreted this song differently. Straight forward, yes, but that doesn't mean people get it. He talks about everything from Algebra to swimming across the Seine, and that makes me think that he's talking about someone like a best friend he idolizes or an older sibling. If this song refers to a lover, it's one he's known since childhood.

    This kind of dynamic happens often, especially among children, where one friend excels and the other drags behind. Or with siblings, where everyone compares them, even their parents, and one, often the elder, is "better."

    At first I thought this song talked more about a rival, but a friend makes the most sense on second thought, especially because of the line, "You're the monkey I've got on my back/That tells me to shine." This person does care for and encourage him, even if in the end the speaker always drags behind.

    dressedinleatheron August 13, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Several songs from Meds were probably inspired by Fight Club (you know this book don't you?) This one in particular matches perfectly, in the book there was the character's alter ego that represented everything the character wanted to be, "You possess every trait that I lack" kinda thing until of course it came out of control but before that it was just ahead of the character and he couldn't keep up with it. For those who're interested. other songs are Space Monkey(the idea of making the "keeping the population up and producing people without any purpose" stuff the main goal in life), One of a Kind (the idea that no one's unique and special those who know will figure out) and then there's Pierrot the Clown (however, one can argue with that one but I'm not sure either I can just see some similarities) and now that I think about it Follow the Cops Back Home can also be interpreted in conformity with Fight Club. Oh wow

    farawaykinon November 11, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this&post blue are totally my fave of the new album...i love the line "u got a's on yr algebra tests/i failed&i can't leave behind"...exactly how i feel when it comes 2 the popular kids in my class...

    nancy_boyoon January 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song kinda reminds me of the old placebo :) Btw , my favs are Post-Blue and Drag too :) Meds , Infra Red and Pierrot The Clown come close , heh. I think the song is pretty straightforward - sometimes , when you're in love , you put the other person on such a high pedestal that you feel really small beside him,you feel as if you're "dragging behind" him.

    Spineron February 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my favourite song on Meds (which is an excellent album). it just reminds me of all the people at my school who never try but get all the best marks and all the girls.

    zodinon February 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    um.. with placebo and their thing for the french.. i always thought brian meant for it to be "swim across the seine" i suppose this song is about somebody, who admires someone else who seems to be perfect in everyway, and hence the person feels a bit worthless, being always behind this perfect guy/girl.

    placeberon February 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    after 'your the first one to swim across the sane' doesn't it go 'i lag behind' then 'your always ahead of the game' i'm sure it does cuz i've got the album. This song is pure genius btw!

    rhale_toucan.co.ukon February 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with placeber - thats exactly what i thought about it being the "seine" - i suppose it's like the person who was always good at everything at school - or it could be about a brother or sister - like sibling rivalry - just because he says they're divine may not mean someone he is on love with... but perhaps he has never complimented his sister/brother before through pride or whatever....

    ashtray girlon March 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favorite song off of Meds. I officially think Placebo is the only band that I know of that has 5 AWESOME albums. They've never put out one album that was subpar.

    tragikon March 14, 2006   Link

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