Honestly, the first time I heard the opening riff of Under You, I thought for a second I was back in 1999. It’s got that signature Foo Fighters crunch—the kind of power-pop energy that makes you want to drive too fast with the windows down. But then you actually listen. Really listen. And you realize Dave Grohl is basically singing through a lump in his throat.
It’s a weirdly upbeat song for something so devastating. Released in May 2023 as the second single from the album But Here We Are, it arrived at a time when we were all still reeling from the loss of Taylor Hawkins.
Most people hear it and think: "Oh, it's a song about Taylor." And yeah, it is. But it’s also about that specific, suffocating brand of grief that comes after the initial shock wears off. The kind where you've "walked a million miles" but you're still exactly where you started.
What Under You Tells Us About Moving Forward
When we talk about Under You, we have to talk about the context. 2022 was a brutal year for Grohl. He lost his best friend and his mother, Virginia, within a few months of each other. If the lead single "Rescued" was the panicked 911 call, then "Under You" is the exhausting Tuesday morning three months later when you realize they’re still not coming back.
The lyrics are strikingly direct. Grohl has a history of hiding behind metaphors—think of the "pretender" or the "best of you"—but here, he’s vulnerable in a way that feels almost uncomfortable. He’s looking for someone in every room. He’s "getting over it" but simultaneously "never getting over it."
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The Sonic Contrast
It’s a bit of a head-trip. Sonically, the song is a throwback. It feels like it could live on There Is Nothing Left to Lose. It’s got that "Learn to Fly" polish. But the contrast is the point. Using a bright, major-key melody to describe being buried by sadness creates this tension that mirrors real life. You have to keep moving. You have to play the show. You have to be "Foo Fighters," even when the person who defined your sound for 25 years is gone.
- Release Date: May 17, 2023.
- Album: But Here We Are.
- Producer: Greg Kurstin (who also worked on Medicine at Midnight and Concrete and Gold).
The song didn’t just resonate emotionally; it crushed the charts. By August 2023, it became the band's 16th top-ten hit on the Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay chart. That broke a record, making them the band with the most top-tens in that chart's history. It’s proof that people weren't just listening out of sympathy—they were listening because the song actually rips.
Breaking Down the Lyrics: "A Million Miles"
One of the coolest (and saddest) things about Under You is the way it calls back to the band's own history. In the first verse, Dave sings about walking a million miles. Fans immediately caught the echo of the 2011 hit "Walk," where he sings about being "a million miles away."
In 2011, "Walk" was about learning to start over after the world falls apart. In 2023, the million miles have already been walked, and he’s still looking for that familiar face. It’s a gut-punch of a callback.
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"Someone said I'll never see your face again / Part of me just can't believe it's true."
That line is the core of the song. It’s that denial phase of grief that lingers. Even for a rock star who has played to millions, the loss is personal and small and quiet. It’s about sharing "songs and cigarettes." It’s the mundane stuff that hurts the most.
The Music Video
The video for the track isn't some high-concept cinematic piece. It’s basically a performance clip filmed during rehearsals. You see the band, including new drummer Josh Freese, just... playing. There’s something powerful in the simplicity. No distractions. No actors. Just the guys trying to find their footing again.
Why the Song Still Matters in 2026
Looking back at it now, Under You was the bridge. It allowed the Foo Fighters to transition from a band in mourning to a band that exists with its history. They didn't try to replace Taylor's energy; they acknowledged the void he left.
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A lot of critics at the time pointed out that the album felt "rushed" or "too raw." I think that's why it works. Grief isn't polished. It’s messy. It’s "Under You" being a pop-rock banger that makes you want to cry in the middle of a grocery store.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re diving back into the But Here We Are era or just discovered the track, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Listen for the Bass: Nate Mendel’s bass lines on this track are some of his most aggressive and driving. It’s the heartbeat of the song while the guitars provide the "haze."
- Watch the Livestream: If you can find the Preparing Music for Concerts session (originally on Veeps), watch the live debut of this song. The raw energy is different from the studio version.
- Compare it to "Aurora": Dave has often said "Aurora" was Taylor’s favorite Foo Fighters song. Listening to Under You right after "Aurora" shows the full circle of their friendship—from the early days of finding their sound to the finality of the goodbye.
- Read the Dedication: The album is dedicated to both Taylor and Virginia. Keeping both figures in mind changes how you hear lines about "pictures of us" and "someone said I'll never see your face again."
Under You isn't just a track on a playlist. It's a document of a band refusing to fold when the easiest thing would have been to walk away. It’s a reminder that you can be "under" the weight of something and still find a way to melody through it.
To really understand the impact, go back and watch the 2022 tribute concerts. Then listen to this song. You’ll hear the difference between a public tribute and a private realization. It’s the sound of a man realizing that while the world moves on, he’s still standing in the same spot, waiting for a friend who isn't coming back. And somehow, he makes that feeling sound like the best rock song of the year.
Next Steps for Deep Listeners
- Track the Evolution: Listen to "Walk" (2011), then "Rescued," then "Under You." It charts a 15-year narrative of resilience, shock, and eventual reckoning.
- Analyze the Production: Notice how Greg Kurstin keeps Dave's vocals high in the mix. Usually, Foo Fighters songs bury the vocals under a wall of guitars, but here, you're meant to hear every crack in his voice.
- Check the Credits: Take note of the fact that Dave Grohl played the drums on the studio recording of this track. Every hit you hear is him channeling that specific energy before handing the sticks to Josh Freese for the tour.