switchfoot the bones of us
[Photo by Erick Frost]

Switchfoot look toward a brighter future in "the bones of us"—watch

Switchfoot reflect on their past and future in a new video for “the bones of us,” exclusively premiering with Alternative Press.

Released earlier this July, the track is the latest single from the group’s upcoming album, interrobang, out Aug. 20 via Fantasy Records.

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“the bones of us” was produced by Tony Berg (Paul McCartney, Phoebe Bridgers) and looks back at all the dreams, ideas and relationships of the past. With soaring instrumentals and lead singer Jon Foreman’s passionate vocals, the song has a daydreamy yet melancholic tone of hope.

“‘the bones of us’ is a song that attempts to move from the death of the past into a brighter future,” Jon exclusively tells Alternative Press. “When we recorded this song, we were chasing a feeling—we wanted to capture the audio version of what a dream would sound like. For the music video, we had the same aim. Driving my friend’s old ‘57 Ford Ranch Wagon down the deserted streets of my hometown in the middle of the night was surreal [and] dreamlike. I found myself transported back to the same blurry-eyed heartache that inspired the song.”

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The video for “the bones of us” is dark and somber, with shots of Jon driving the station wagon in his hometown while singing. Hazy green and yellow lights are juxtaposed on top of the visuals to mirror the bittersweet feel of the song. 

Visually, “the bones of us” is similar to “fluorescent” and “i need you (to be wrong),” singles from interrobang, released earlier this year. “fluorescent” incorporates the same hazy lighting choices as “the bones of us” but with blue and orange shades. Similarly, “i need you (to be wrong)” utilizes a bright orange color palette and visuals of the band.

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Jon, guitarist/keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas, bassist Tim Foreman, guitarist Drew Shirley and drummer Chad Butler came together in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to create the new album. They worked with Berg and mixer Tchad Blake (Arctic Monkeys, Fiona Apple) to craft a sound that combines ’60s experimentalism with new-wave synth.

“More than ever, we want our music to be a bridge, reaching out with melody and lyrics to sing an honest song for anyone who’s got ears to hear,” Jon says in a press release. “interrobang is an album that celebrates the journey, even when the arrival is unsure. interrobang is the sound of joy and pain, faith and doubt against the backdrop of the strangest, most difficult year we’ve ever experienced.” 

You can check out the video for “the bones of us” below. Let us know your thoughts on Switchfoot’s new era in the comments.

interrobang tracklist:

1. “beloved”
2. “lost ‘cause”
3. “fluorescent”
4. “if i were you”
5. “the bones of us”
6. “splinter”
7. “i need you (to be wrong)”
8. “the hard way”
9. “wolves”
10. “backwards in time”
11. “electricity” 

“the bones of us” lyrics

We met the bones of us in our old backyard
And I dug ’em all up with nothing but an old guitar
And the past starts talking with younger souls
About the dreams that we started off with
Before we both let go

And it’s time to figure out
Time to figure out
Time to figure out
This war

Time to figure out
Time to figure out
Figure out who I’m fighting for

Into the unknown
Let’s follow this through
I’m fighting for us
But most of all for you

Our hearts like a flood
That washes us new
I’m fighting for us
But most of all for you
Most of all for you 

And the clock moves forward
We let our love get sore
It was one of those arguments
Can’t remember what the fight was for

I heard the front door slam and
After the aftermath
I saw you smiling back at me
From a box of photographs

And it’s time to figure out
Time to figure out
Time to figure out
This war

Time to figure out
Time to figure out
Figure out what I’m fighting for

Into the unknown
Let’s follow this through
I’m fighting for us
But most of all for you