The War on Drugs

-"Austin City Limits" celebrates the return of one of the great American rock bands, The War on Drugs.

-♪ Turn around and rip my heart ♪ ♪ And look at it and say ♪ ♪ How you broke away ♪♪ ♪ And then we went to see Bob Dylan ♪ ♪ We danced to "Desolation Row" ♪ ♪ But I don't live here anymore ♪ ♪ But I got no place to go ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Recorded live from the Moody Theater, it's "Austin City Limits."

Now making music that is at turns majestic but with an underground sensibility, The War on Drugs.

[ "Pain" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Go to bed now, I can tell ♪ ♪ Pain is on the way out now ♪ ♪ Look around, a domino falls away ♪ ♪ I know it's hard lookin' in ♪ ♪ Knowin' that tomorrow you'll be back again ♪ ♪ Hang your head and let me in ♪ ♪ I've been waitin' ♪ ♪ So long ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I was staring into the light ♪ ♪ When I saw you in the distance ♪ ♪ I knew that you'd be mine ♪ ♪ Am I moving back in time?

♪ ♪ Am I standin' still?

♪ ♪ I met a man with a broken back ♪ ♪ He had a fear in his eyes I could understand ♪ ♪ I can't even shake the hand ♪ ♪ And now I'm breakin' it ♪ ♪ And I've been pullin' on a wire ♪ ♪ But it just won't break ♪ ♪ I keep turnin' up the dial ♪ ♪ But I hear no sound ♪ ♪ I resist what I cannot change ♪ ♪ I wanna find what can't be found ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm aware you're tired and lost ♪ ♪ Like a demon in the doorway ♪ ♪ Waiting to be born ♪ ♪ But I'm here all alone ♪ ♪ Just beggin' ♪ ♪ Hold me close and let me pull you in ♪ ♪ Give me the deeper understanding ♪ ♪ Of who I am ♪ ♪ Ohh, I'm moving back again ♪ ♪ But I'm ready, yeah ♪ ♪ And I've been pullin' on a wire ♪ ♪ But it just won't break ♪ ♪ I keep turnin' up the dial ♪ ♪ But I hear no sound ♪ ♪ I resist what I cannot change ♪ ♪ Own it in your own way ♪ ♪ Ooooh ♪ ♪ I wanna find what can't be found ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ "I Don't Wanna Wait" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna wait ♪ ♪ I'm lyin' on the floor ♪ ♪ Your prisoner of love ♪ ♪ Ohhh ♪ ♪ I don't wanna change ♪ ♪ I'm right behind the door ♪ ♪ I'm bloodied, but I'm yours ♪ ♪ Ohhhh ♪ ♪ I don't wanna wait ♪ ♪ But I'm running to you ♪ ♪ I'll stop ♪ ♪ Am I breaking you down?

♪ ♪ Ohhh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna break everything ♪ ♪ Let me offer my only hope ♪ ♪ Like a snowflake dancing down an empty road ♪ ♪ I don't wanna change, but I'm running out of time ♪ ♪ I got lost in the darkness, thought I'd get somewhere ♪ ♪ Then I slowly disconnected from my own best friend ♪ ♪ I don't wanna wait ♪ ♪ Yeah, when I'm running to you ♪ ♪ I'm starving ♪ ♪ Am I breaking you down ♪ ♪ Over nothing?

♪ ♪ Show a little faith ♪ ♪ Yeah, when I'm running to you, baby ♪ ♪ I'm starving ♪ ♪ Am I breaking you down ♪ ♪ Over nothing?

♪ ♪ All I've lost and all I've found ♪ ♪ Would you understand ♪ ♪ All I really needed ♪ ♪ Was a helping hand ♪ ♪ All this feeling lonesome ♪ ♪ Tiresome struggling ♪ ♪ Would you care any longer ♪ ♪ When it carries me back ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna wait ♪ ♪ Yeah, when I'm running to you ♪ ♪ I'm starving ♪ ♪ Am I breaking you down ♪ ♪ Over nothing?

♪ ♪ Show a little faith ♪ ♪ Yeah, when I'm running to you, baby ♪ ♪ I'm starving ♪ ♪ Am I breaking you down ♪ ♪ Over nothing?

♪ ♪ I don't wanna wait ♪ Oh!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Hey!

♪♪ How's everybody doing?

Okay?

[ Audience cheers ] We're honored to be here.

Thank you.

This song is -- This song is called "Victim."

[ Audience cheers ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I surrender, baby, help me understand ♪ ♪ I've given everything when I had to give ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ I can't change it, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I remember walking through the fields of glass ♪ ♪ I remember darkness overhead ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ But I can't change it, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ But I keep moving ♪ ♪ Oh, no ♪ ♪ But you took it all, and you threw it all away ♪ ♪ Never wanted nothing I had to give ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ But who ♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Then I turned around, I'm trying to be somewhere ♪ ♪ But I keep changing, but some things never change ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ But I keep moving, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, no ♪ ♪ Maybe stop pretending you need to be somewhere ♪ ♪ When I keep chasing anything through the dark ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ But I keep moving, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Should I keep moving, babe?

♪ ♪ Ohhhh ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ Never mind the darkness overhead ♪ ♪ When you feel alone, can you really feel alive?

♪ ♪ Who ♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Yeah, I took it all, but I threw it all away ♪ ♪ Never wanted nothing I had to give ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ Who ♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya, babe?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ Whoo!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ Never mind the darkness overhead ♪ ♪ When you feel alone, can you really feel alive?

♪ ♪ Who ♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Yeah, I took it all, but I threw it all away ♪ ♪ Never wanted nothing I had to give ♪ ♪ Honey, I'm a victim of my own desire ♪ ♪ Who ♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Who are ya, babe?

-♪ Who are ya?

♪ -♪ Who are ya, babe?

♪ -♪ Who are ya?

♪ -♪ Who are ya, babe?

♪ -♪ Who are ya?

♪ -♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ ♪ Who are ya?

♪ -♪ Who are ya?

♪ -♪ Who are ya, babe?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] This song is called "Strangest Thing."

[ Cheers and applause ] We love you.

We're psyched to be here.

Thank you.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Somewhere right underneath ♪ ♪ In how I look today ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I've been hiding it so long ♪ ♪ I gotta find another way ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Late at night, I wanna see you ♪ ♪ Well, my eyes, they begin to fade ♪ ♪ Am I livin' in the space between ♪ ♪ The beauty and the pain ♪ ♪ And the real thing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And now the sky is painted ♪ ♪ In a wash of indigo ♪ ♪ I've been hiding it so long ♪ ♪ That I hardly know the score ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I recognize every face ♪ ♪ But I still got everything I need, yeah ♪ ♪ Am I livin' in the space between ♪ ♪ The beauty and the pain ♪ ♪ It's the strangest thing ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Should all surround the night, yeah ♪ -♪ Ooooh ♪ -♪ Surrounded by the whole ♪ ♪ Surrounded by no other ♪ ♪ I wanna ride it home ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, be the writer of your own story ♪ ♪ Let it turn into your heart again ♪ ♪ Yeah, be the writer of your own story ♪ ♪ Let it turn into your heart again ♪ ♪ I wanna ride on ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ "I Don't Live Here Anymore" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Thank you so much, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ On the bass guitar tonight, Mr. Dave Hartley, yes.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ On the saxophone, Mr. Jon Natchez.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ On the drums tonight, from Philadelphia, Mr. Charlie Hall.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Stage right on the guitar and keyboards, Mr. Anthony LaMarca.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ And on the vocals and keyboards, our friend from West Philadelphia, Ms. Eliza Hardy Jones.

[ Cheers and applause ] It's been a pleasure.

Thank you so much.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I was lying in my bed ♪ ♪ A creature void of form ♪ ♪ Been so afraid of everything ♪ ♪ I need a chance to be reborn ♪ ♪ I never wanted anything ♪ ♪ That someone had to give ♪ ♪ I don't live here anymore ♪ ♪ I went along in will ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When I think about the old days, babe ♪ ♪ You're always on my mind ♪ ♪ I know it ain't like I remember ♪ ♪ I guess your memories run wild ♪ ♪ And then we went to see Bob Dylan ♪ ♪ We danced to "Desolation Row" ♪ ♪ But I don't live here anymore ♪ ♪ But I got no place to go ♪ ♪ Beating like a heart ♪ ♪ I'm gonna walk through every doorway ♪ ♪ I can't stop ♪ ♪ I need some time, I need control ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ I wanna find out everything I need to know ♪ ♪ I'm gonna say everything that I need to say ♪ ♪ Although you've taken everything I need away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna make it to the place I need to go ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Time surrounds me like an ocean ♪ ♪ My memories like waves ♪ ♪ Is life just dying in slow motion?

♪ ♪ Or getting stronger every day?

♪ ♪ I never took our love for granted ♪ ♪ You never left me wanting more ♪ ♪ Would you even recognize me, babe?

♪ ♪ I don't live here anymore ♪ ♪ Beating like a heart ♪ ♪ I'm gonna walk through every doorway ♪ ♪ I can't stop ♪ ♪ I need some time, I need control ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ I wanna find out everything I need to know ♪ ♪ I'm gonna say everything that I need to say ♪ ♪ Although you've taken everything I need away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take this to the place I need to go ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪ Beating like a heart ♪ ♪ I'm gonna walk through every doorway ♪ ♪ I can't stop ♪ ♪ I need some time, I need control ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ I wanna find out everything I need to know ♪ ♪ I'm gonna say everything that I need to say ♪ ♪ Although you've taken everything I need away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna take this to the place I need to go ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪ Ohhhh, yeah ♪ -♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness ♪ ♪ On our own ♪ -♪ Oooh, yeah ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪ Ohhh, yeah ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ "Thinking of a Place" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ It was back in Little Bend ♪ ♪ That I saw you in the door ♪ ♪ The light was changing on the water, yeah ♪ ♪ Where birds above had flown ♪ ♪♪ ♪ There was pain in your eyes ♪ ♪ When you vanished in the night ♪ ♪ Missouri River in the distance ♪ ♪ I lied upon the lawn ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I remember walking against the darkness of the beach ♪ ♪ Our love is like a ghost in the distance, out of reach ♪ ♪ I travel through the night ♪ ♪ 'Cause there is no fear ♪ ♪ Alone and right behind ♪ ♪ Till I watch you disappear ♪ ♪ I'm movin' through the dark ♪ ♪ Of a long black night ♪ ♪ Just movin' with the moon ♪ ♪ And the light it shines ♪ ♪ And I'm thinking of a place ♪ ♪ And it feels so very real ♪ ♪ Just movin' through the dark ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Once I had a dream ♪ ♪ I was fallin' from the sky ♪ ♪ Comin' down like running water ♪ ♪ Passin' by myself in light ♪ ♪♪ ♪ In the morning, I would wake ♪ ♪ To the sound of someone's voice ♪ ♪ Like little whispers through the silence ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm movin' through the dark ♪ ♪ Of a long black night ♪ ♪ Just movin' with the moon ♪ ♪ And the light it shines ♪ ♪ And I'm thinking of a place ♪ ♪ And it feels so very real ♪ ♪ Oh, sufferer of love ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Come on, take my hand, babe ♪ ♪ There's a turn in the road that we've been takin' ♪ ♪ Let it set you free ♪ ♪ And there's a rhythm in the way ♪ ♪ That I've been movin' ♪ ♪ There's a darkness over there ♪ ♪ But we ain't goin' ♪ ♪♪ ♪ See it through my eyes ♪ ♪ Walk me to the water ♪ ♪ Hold my hand, there's something turning me ♪ ♪ Love me every night ♪ ♪ Drown me in the water ♪ ♪ Hold my hand, there's something turning me ♪ ♪ See it through my eyes ♪ ♪ Love me like no other ♪ ♪ Hold my hand, there's something turning me ♪ ♪ Turns me into you ♪ [ Harmonica solo ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Just see it through my eyes ♪ ♪ Love me like no other ♪ ♪ Hold my hand, there's something turning me ♪ ♪ Turns me into you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Just see it through my eyes ♪ ♪ Love me like no other ♪ ♪ Hold my hand, there's something turning me ♪ ♪ Turns me into you ♪ ♪ Turning me in ♪ ♪ Into you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Thanks so much for having us here at the legendary "Austin City Limits."

[ Cheers and applause ] Growing up without cable TV, this is one of the only things I grew up watching, so it's a true honor to be here tonight.

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "In Chains" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Goin' the way I haven't done ♪ ♪ Callin' out your name ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tryin' not to hate myself ♪ ♪ Gettin' in the middle ♪ ♪ Shinin' every light upon it ♪ ♪ Still, I miss the way you hold me close ♪ ♪ In a cold wind ♪ ♪ I saw you in our room staring at the light ♪ ♪ I'd been up all night ♪ ♪ But it's life, and we were livin' it ♪ ♪ Still I wanna celebrate ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Pain ♪ ♪ I've been rollin' on a sixteen ♪ ♪ I can die on the floor ♪ ♪ I've been shackled and delivered ♪ ♪ There's a girl out there with silence in her eyes ♪ ♪ Her truth is in the dark ♪ ♪ But I see you ♪ ♪ I'm comin' in view ♪ -♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ -♪ Yeah, I need you ♪ ♪ I'm comin' in two ♪ ♪ In view ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ain't no wind that I could feel ♪ ♪ In the rain, in the wind ♪ ♪ In a fleeting rain ♪ ♪ Turn around and rip my heart ♪ ♪ And look at it and say ♪ ♪ How you broke away ♪ ♪ Ain't no way to elevate to another line ♪ ♪ With nowhere to go ♪ ♪ Ain't no chains to hold you in ♪ ♪ To hold you to ♪ ♪ To losing you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hiding from an enemy ♪ ♪ Something inside me dies ♪ ♪ It's hard to see clear these days ♪ ♪ With darkness on my mind ♪ ♪ So I stare into the ocean floor ♪ ♪ And I wonder where I once was ♪ ♪ Was I fallin' through the air tonight ♪ ♪ To crumble into your arms?

♪ ♪ Is this love?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Are you sure?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is it something ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can control?

♪ ♪ I'm retired ♪ ♪ I'm in chains ♪ ♪ I'm in love ♪ ♪ I'm in pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ All these changes everywhere ♪ ♪ Just go ahead and take my hand ♪ ♪ Hold me close, now let me go ♪ ♪ Try to understand ♪ ♪ I believe in all the power ♪ ♪ In doing what we can do ♪ ♪ We can learn to try to make it through ♪ ♪ Come out the other side ♪ ♪ I don't see you at all comin' in view ♪ ♪ How do we decide what we can do?

♪ ♪ I don't read your mind ♪ ♪ Gimme truth ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] The best stuff is the stuff that happens on the fly, without thinking, and then you're trying to, like -- How can I incorporate that amazing moment into -- how to make a song around it?

It's cool to, like, not really know what you're doing sometimes, you know, where you're going.

It's like, "Who knows what this song can be?"

Sometimes I'll be on tour, I'll be like, "I can't even imagine writing a song," you know?

Like, I can't imagine having a new song or an idea, you know, because it's hard to -- Even if there's, like, a piano in the lobby of a hotel, it's like, what, are you gonna sit there and start writing?

You know?

Like... [ Laughter ] It's like -- Or like a guitar in your hotel room, it's like...

But then you get home, and then you -- then you chip away and you have a couple songs, and -- and then...

So we just start chipping away soon.

♪ But I don't live here anymore ♪ ♪ But I got no place to go ♪ ♪ Beating like a heart ♪ ♪ I'm gonna walk through every doorway ♪ ♪ I can't stop ♪ ♪ I need some time, I need control ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ I wanna find out everything I need to know ♪ ♪ I'm gonna say everything that I need to say ♪ ♪ Although you've taken everything I need away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna make it to the place I need to go ♪ ♪ We're all just walkin' through this darkness on our own ♪ ♪♪