You remember 2016, right? It was the year of the "Closer" mania. You literally couldn’t walk into a grocery store or turn on a car without hearing Andrew Taggart and Halsey singing about that stolen mattress from a roommate in Boulder. But while everyone was busy looping that anthem, The Chainsmokers dropped something a bit more... quiet. Subdued.
The track was All We Know, featuring the breathy, indie-pop vocals of Phoebe Ryan. Honestly, if "Closer" was the high-energy peak of a summer fling, All We Know Chainsmokers lyrics felt like the 3:00 AM drive home when you realize things are actually falling apart. It’s a song about the "ride or die" mentality, even when the "ride" is a car with four flat tires.
What the Lyrics are Actually Saying (Beyond the Beat)
Most people just vibe to the future bass drop—which, let's be real, is classic 2016 Chainsmokers—but the lyrics are surprisingly bleak. Drew Taggart and Phoebe Ryan aren't singing about a happy couple. They’re singing about two people who are "fading lovers."
Look at the opening lines: “Fighting flames with fire / Hang onto burning wires.” That’s not a healthy relationship. That’s a disaster. But the hook is where the emotional gut-punch happens. They say they’ve "passed the end," yet they "chase forever."
Basically, they know it's over. Everyone around them knows it's over. But they stay because staying is all they know. It’s comfort in the chaos.
The "Ride or Die" Misconception
The duo actually addressed this on Twitter back when the song launched. They described it as being about the hardships of relationships but refusing to give up on your person. However, fans have spent years debating if that's actually romantic or just toxic.
- The "Bike" Imagery: The lyric “I’ll ride my bike up to the road... I’ll go everywhere you go” sounds sweet on the surface.
- The Reality: In the context of "wasting colors" and "never facing each other," it feels more like a desperate attempt to cling to someone who is already mentally gone.
Two hearts beating on different rhythms. That's a specific kind of heartbreak. You're in the same bed—"one bed, different covers"—but you're miles apart.
Why Phoebe Ryan Was the Perfect Choice
Choosing Phoebe Ryan was a genius move. At the time, she was this rising indie darling known for her green hair and a viral mashup of R. Kelly and Miguel. Her voice has this fragile, "whisper-pop" quality that perfectly matches the feeling of a relationship hanging by a thread.
If they had used a powerhouse vocalist like Sia or even Halsey again, the song would have felt too aggressive. Phoebe makes it feel like a secret. When she sings “Maybe we should let this go,” you can almost hear the hesitation in her breath. It’s relatable because we’ve all been there—knowing you should leave but finding an excuse to stay for one more night.
The Musical Blueprint: C Major and 90 BPM
For the music nerds out there, the song is technically written in C Major. It’s got a common time tempo of 90 beats per minute.
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What’s interesting is how the production mimics the lyrical tension. The verses are stripped back, almost lonely. Then the drop hits, and it’s that signature "tropical" synth sound the boys perfected on the Collage EP. It’s catchy enough for the club but sad enough for a "sad boy hours" playlist.
Does it actually follow "Closer"?
A lot of critics, including Mike Wass from Idolator, called this song a "sequel" to Closer. If you look at the timeline, it makes sense.
- Don't Let Me Down: The desperate need for someone.
- Closer: The messy reunion.
- All We Know: The realization that the reunion isn't actually working.
It’s a narrative arc that most EDM acts weren't really doing at the time. They were building a world of "suburban yearning" that felt very specific to 20-somethings in the mid-2010s.
The Music Video and the "Reset"
If you haven't seen the music video directed by Rory Kramer, you're missing half the story. It features Casey Deidrick as a guy who gets a devastating phone call and just... goes. He smashes his phone. He smashes a bottle. He hitches a ride to the mountains.
The video ends with him meeting his girlfriend at a mountain peak, but the footage is played in rewind. It’s a visual representation of trying to go back to the start when you’re already at the end. It reinforces the All We Know Chainsmokers lyrics by showing that "forever" is something they are chasing, not something they actually have.
How to Apply This to Your Own Playlists
If you're looking to capture this specific mood, you can't just throw this song in with "Selfie" or "Kanye." It doesn't fit.
To get the most out of the "All We Know" vibe, pair it with:
- "Paris" (The metaphor for the escape).
- "The One" (The guilt of the breakup).
- "Bloodstream" (The self-destructive aftermath).
The Chainsmokers get a lot of flak for being "frat-pop," but when they lean into this bittersweet, mid-tempo electronic style, they actually touch on some pretty universal truths about how hard it is to say goodbye.
Next Steps for the Super-Fan:
If you want to really get into the technical side of how this song was built, go back and listen to the stems if you can find them. Notice how the vocal layering between Drew and Phoebe is almost indistinguishable in certain parts of the chorus. It’s meant to sound like two people becoming one, even as they’re falling apart. You might also want to check out Phoebe Ryan’s solo EP Mine to see where that signature breathy vocal style originated before she teamed up with the DJs.