Some songs stick with you for life, and “Everlong” by Foo Fighters is one of them.
Written by Dave Grohl in about 45 minutes during a rough divorce. In Christmas 1996, it became a timeless track, released in August 1997 as part of The Colour and the Shape.
The song has amassed over 1 billion streams on Spotify and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Rolling Stone ranked it at number 409 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2021.
The lyrics explore deep connection and the fear of fleeting perfection, resonating with fans worldwide at concerts.
About the Song
Everlong is the 2nd single from Foo Fighters’ 2nd album, The Colour and the Shape, released on August 18, 1997.
It reached number 3 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Dave Grohl came up with the main guitar riff while recording “Monkey Wrench” and wrote Everlong.
Inspired by his romance with Louise Post from Veruca Salt, the song expresses a deep connection.
Producer Gil Norton helped shape the track, while Post recorded background vocals from Chicago over the phone.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Released | August 18, 1997 |
| Album | The Colour and the Shape (1997) |
| Writer | Dave Grohl |
| Producer | Gil Norton |
| Label | Roswell / Capitol Records |
| Chart Peak | #3 US Billboard Alternative Songs |
Read Full Everlong Lyrics
Verse 1: Dave Grohl
Hello, I’ve waited here for you
Everlong
Tonight, I throw myself into
And out of the red, out of her head, she sang
Interlude: Louise Post
Do do do do do do dododo
Do do do do do do dododo
Do do do do do do do do
Do do dododo
Verse 2: Dave Grohl
Come down, and waste away with me
Down with me
Slow, how you wanted it to be
I’m over my head, out of her head, she sang
Pre-Chorus: Dave Grohl
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
Chorus: Dave Grohl & Louise Post, Dave Grohl
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You gotta promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Interlude: Louise Post
Do do do do do do dododo
Do do do do do do dododo
Do do do do do do do do
Do do dododo
Verse 3: Dave Grohl
Breathe out, so I can breathe you in
Hold you in
And now, I know you’ve always been
Out of your head, out of my head, I sang
Pre-Chorus: Dave Grohl
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
Chorus: Dave Grohl & Louise Post, Dave Grohl
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You gotta promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Spoken Bridge: Dave Grohl
So, Dad would take the Sundays off
And that’s the only time he could ever get any rest
And so, because we were loud on Sundays
He’d make us hold his construction boots over our head, ’til we’d
sleep
And they were really heavy boots and I used to say, “Dad, come on, please”
And like start crying, ’cause they’re too heavy
Pre-Chorus: Dave Grohl
And I wonder
Chorus: Dave Grohl & Louise Post
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You gotta promise not to stop when I say when
About the Band
Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994 by Dave Grohl after Nirvana disbanded.
Grohl initially recorded their first album solo before adding Nate Mendel (bass) and William Goldsmith (drums) from Sunny Day Real Estate, along with guitarist Pat Smear.
The band rose to prominence in the late 1990s, winning 15 Grammy Awards, including 5 for Best Rock Album, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
The lineup has changed over the years; Taylor Hawkins was the drummer from 1997 until his passing in March 2022, and Ilan Rubin now plays drums, along with Chris Shiflett on guitar and Rami Jaffee on keyboards.
Everlong in Movies, TV, and Video Games
Everlong has appeared in pop culture multiple times since its release.
It featured in the Friends episode “The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding,” performed by a string quartet, and in Adam Sandler’s Little Nicky (2000) as an acoustic version.
Martin Scorsese included it in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
Gamers recognize it from Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero World Tour, and Rocksmith 2014, and it also played during an episode of Daria in 1999.
Late-night host David Letterman called it his favorite song, which helped him recover from heart surgery in 2000. Foo Fighters performed it on Letterman’s final episode on May 20, 2015.
Similar Songs Like Everlong
If the everlong lyrics hit home, these Foo Fighters tracks carry a similar emotional weight:
- My Hero: A loud, driving anthem from the same album. It shifts between quiet verses and explosive energy, much like Everlong.
- Best of You: Released in 2005, this track carries raw vocal intensity. The lyrics deal with emotional struggle and refusing to give up.
- Walking After You: A softer, acoustic-leaning ballad from The Colour and the Shape. Grohl wrote it during the same divorce that inspired Everlong.
- Times Like These: From the 2002 album One by One, this song blends gratitude with reflection. It became a fan-favorite anthem for tough moments.
Similar Bands Like Foo Fighters
Fans of Foo Fighters often enjoy these rock acts with a similar sound and spirit:
- Pearl Jam
Genre: Alternative Rock
Grunge Notable Albums: Ten, Vs., Vitalogy, Yield - Queens of the Stone Age
Genre: Stoner Rock
Alternative Rock Notable Albums: Songs for the Deaf, …Like Clockwork, Rated R - Jimmy Eat World
Genre: Alternative Rock
Emo Notable Albums: Bleed American, Clarity, Futures - Third Eye Blind
Genre: Alternative Rock
Post-Grunge Notable Albums: Third Eye Blind, Blue, Ursa Major
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Everlong Song About?
Everlong is about deep emotional connection and the desire for that feeling to last forever. Dave Grohl wrote it about his relationship with Louise Post of Veruca Salt during his divorce in late 1996.
Who Wrote the “Everlong” Lyrics?
Dave Grohl wrote both the music and the “Everlong” lyrics. He composed the entire song in roughly 45 minutes on a friend’s floor in Virginia during Christmas 1996.
Is There an Acoustic Version of Everlong?
Yes. Dave Grohl first performed the acoustic version on Howard Stern’s radio show in 1998. A studio-recorded acoustic version later appeared on Foo Fighters’ 2009 Greatest Hits album. You can listen to it on Apple Music.
