The 1975 are back with what they do best in their new single It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You): a catchy pop-rock record with some class lyrics. The intro to the song will be a breath of fresh air to fans who found the lead guitar part in the band’s first single Give Yourself A Try obnoxiously repetitive and overly harsh.
This lead part, however, (unlike the one in the first single) doesn’t continue to play throughout the entirety of the song. And, while we are on the subject, is a weird artistic choice for a band who are clearly more than capable of coming up with interesting and fun guitar parts. Take their previous songs She’s American or UGH! for example.
The first verse finds a desperate character “Little Danny” in search for his next hit. He notes the effects of drug addiction, in this case, heroin: “He falls asleep during conversation,” speaks to the way drug addiction erodes health to the point where someone can’t retain consciousness when in discussion. Healy laments his symmetric struggle with Little Danny saying: “The worst thing is I’m in the same situation”.
The upbeat sound of the song along with the chorus lines “And all I do is sit and think about you” paired with the last and title line is enough for casual listeners to assume this is a cheery love song. But delve deeper between these lines and you’ll find the stark reality in contrast between lyric and melody.
Healy sings: “All I do is sit and think about you/If I knew what you'd do/Collapse my veins wearing beautiful shoes/it’s not living if it’s not with you.”
The chorus sums up the dependency of addiction. That life itself is deemed to be without value without the thrill of a hit; without drugs to make him feel, life is not worth living. The melody is pleasing and is backed with a choir Matty seemingly has a penchant for these days (note the choirs in the Jesus-loving atheist anthem If I Believe and in the last single, Sincerity Is Scary, which explores the facades people put up to avoid getting hurt. Unlike these two songs though the new one is upbeat and fun.)
After the chorus we find Healy touching on the opioid epidemic where hundreds of thousands of people have become addicted to prescription drugs, had their prescription taken away then found another, backstreet, illegal opioid: heroin.
In the next chorus Healy laments his addiction and points to a habit addicts find themselves in often wherein if their drug of choice is not available they turn to what they can find. In this case, alcohol.
In the bridge Healy details the severe withdrawal symptoms experienced by addicts when coming off a substance: uncontrollable movements, lack of appetite and profuse sweating, among others. The scene in Trainspotting where Mark Renton is going through severe withdrawals from heroin comes to mind when listening to this bridge.
In the last line of the bridge Healy sings: “And there's a feeling you're replacing embrace,” which speaks to the way a substance often fills a void in a person’s life. That it replaces human interaction and the happiness that ensues from connecting with other people.
Addiction is escapism in practice and mentally it’s often more than an attachment to a substance; it’s an attachment to escaping, to flee from the crippling mental cage of the mind and the pain stems from an array of mental disorders, disconnection, loss, loneliness, among many more.
Overall this is the best single from the band so far. Earnest, fun and serious all at the same time. The 1975 have grown up a lot since their debut self-titled album. Even Healy’s voice has changed with less screechy, inaudible teen singing from the days of Chocolate.
With sincere vocals, a sweet melody and well-written lyrics I give this track a well-deserved 8/10.
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