The band consists of Matt Shultz (vocals), Brad Shultz (guitar), Nick Bockrath (guitar), Daniel Tichenor (bass, vocals), Jared Champion (drums) and Matthan Minster (keyboard, vocals, guitar).
Their breakthrough single was Ain't No Rest For The Wicked, which peaked at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100, #32 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. This song was also featured as the intro song for the 2009 video game "Borderlands."
Cigarette Daydreams
Cage the Elephant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I cannot explain what's goin' down
I can see you standin' next to me
In and out somewhere else right now
You sigh, look away
I can see it clear as day
Close your eyes, so afraid
Hide behind that baby face
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
You can drive all night
Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain
You wanna find peace of mind
Lookin' for the answer
Funny how it seems like yesterday
As I recall, you were lookin' out of place
Gathered up your things and slipped away
No time at all, I followed you into the hall
Cigarette daydream
You were only seventeen
Soft speak with a mean streak
Nearly brought me to my knees
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
You can drive all night
Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain
You wanna find peace of mind
Lookin' for the answer
If we can find a reason, a reason to change
Lookin' for the answers
If you can find a reason, a reason to stay
Standin' in the pourin' rain
Do-do, do, do, do
Do-do, do, do-do, do-do
Do-do, do, do, do
Do-do, do, do-do, do-do
You can drive all night
Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain
You wanna find peace of mind
Lookin' for the answer
If we can find a reason, a reason to change
Lookin' for the answer
If you can find a reason, a reason to stay
Standin' in the pourin' rain
The song "Cigarette Daydreams" by Cage the Elephant is a reflective track that explores feelings of loss and the search for answers. In the first verse, the singer addresses someone who he believes is lost in their own thoughts and emotions. He can see them standing next to him but realizes they are "in and out somewhere else right now". He recognizes their fear and vulnerability, urging them to close their eyes and not be afraid. The chorus offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that they search for peace of mind and answers but warns that it may take time to find a reason to change.
The second verse opens with an evocative memory of someone who the singer recalls as "looking out of place", which signals that they were going through a tough time. They eventually slipped away, leaving the singer to follow them only to be stunned by the combination of their charm and cruelty. The chorus repeats two more times, with a sense of urgency and desperation building towards a resolution. The final lines suggest that finding a reason to change or stay may involve standing in the pouring rain, indicating that the journey may be difficult but necessary.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cigarette Daydreams" offer a poignant reflection on the challenges of self-discovery and finding a sense of purpose in life. The song's melancholic tone and introspective lyrics strike a deep chord with listeners who are struggling with similar feelings of uncertainty and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you stand there all alone?
Did you feel alone and abandoned?
Oh, I cannot explain what's goin' down
I don't know how to describe the current situation
I can see you standin' next to me
I saw you standing beside me
In and out somewhere else right now
You're here physically, but your mind is elsewhere
You sigh, look away
You exhaled dramatically and turned your head
I can see it clear as day
It's obvious to me
Close your eyes, so afraid
You shut your eyes out of fear
Hide behind that baby face
You're using your innocent face to conceal something
You can drive all night
Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain
You wanna find peace of mind
Lookin' for the answer
You're willing to go through a physical journey in search of inner peace and answers
Funny how it seems like yesterday
It's surprising how recent the memory feels
As I recall, you were lookin' out of place
I remember you seemed out of your element
Gathered up your things and slipped away
You packed up and left unnoticed
No time at all, I followed you into the hall
I chased after you immediately after you left
Cigarette daydream
You were only seventeen
Soft speak with a mean streak
Nearly brought me to my knees
The memory of you smoking a cigarette as a teenager with hidden aggression is so powerful that it almost overwhelmed me
If we can find a reason, a reason to change
Lookin' for the answers
If you can find a reason, a reason to stay
Standin' in the pourin' rain
We're both looking for a compelling reason to make a change or stay in the current situation, even if it's uncomfortable
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Matthew Ray Shultz, Donald Bradley Shultz, Jared Lloyd Champion, Daniel Andrew Tichenor, Lincoln Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind