One Direction releases new 'Drag Me Down' single post Zayn Malik's departure

LOS ANGELES, July 31 (UPI) -- Just one day after Zayn Malik announced that he was joining RCA Records to make some "real music," One Direction released their new single, "Drag Me Down."

No, the song is not a dis to their former band member -- the boys have actually wished Mailk a successful solo career -- but an ode to a special someone who has managed to keep one going in the midst of tribulation.

"All my life/ You stood by me/When no one else was ever behind me/All these lights/They can't blind me/ With your love, nobody can drag me down," the chorus of the new track goes.

The band's official Twitter account announced the release of the song, saying: "HEY GUYS! So, #DragMeDown dropped earlier! Check out what the guys had to say about it."

"We hope you like it," band member Liam Payne said in the 15-second video. "It's the first song from the new album that we've been working very, very, very, hard on."

He even tweeted a release form his own account, saying, "Bit of a surprise! Check out our new single! It's called Drag Me Down & I hope you love it as much as we do."

Band member Harry Styles simply tweeted a link to the song on iTunes, while members Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson posted a link to the track on Spotify.

Though released shortly after midnight on July 31, many fans have already responded on social media. One fan even uploaded a 3 a.m. jam session on Twitter and Vine writing, "me listening to #dragmedown for the first time bless."

According to USA Today, the boys are currently on tour in the United States, so their new song "could work its way into the set."

Their next stop is Indianapolis on Friday.