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Shake Me Down
Cage the Elephant Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shake me down
Not a lot of people left around
Who knows now
Softly laying on the ground, ooh
Not a lot of people left around, ooh

In my life, I've seen
People walk into the sea
Just to find memories
Plagued by constant misery
Their eyes cast down
Fixed upon the ground
Their eyes cast down

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun

Shake me down
Cut my hair on a silver cloud
Broken sound
Softly laying on the ground, ooh
Not a lot of people left around, ooh

In my past, bittersweet
There's no love between the sheets
Taste the blood, broken dreams
Lonely times indeed
With eyes cast down
Fixed upon the ground
Eyes cast down

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun

Turn back now it's time for me to let go
Way down had to find a place to lay low
Lampshade turned around into a light post

Walk around the corner
Never saw it coming, still
I try to make a move
It almost stopped me from belief
I don't wanna know the future
But I'm like Rolling Thunder

Even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun

Shake me down
Not a lot of people left around, ooh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cage the Elephant's song Shake Me Down are about the struggles of life and the perseverance needed to overcome them. The first verse talks about the loneliness that can come with life, but also the motivation to keep going despite the lack of people around. The second verse speaks to the pain that people experience in their lives, including memories of people who have walked into the sea to find meaning, only to be met with misery. Despite these trials, the singer remains steadfast in their pursuit of the sun, or a brighter future.


The chorus, "Shake me down, not a lot of people left around," is a cry for help, and a recognition of how hard life can sometimes be. The next line, "Cut my hair on a silver cloud," speaks to wanting to start over, to change something about themselves in order to improve their situation. The line "Broken sound, softly laying on the ground" represents the idea that something needs to be repaired before it can function properly.


Overall, the song is about the difficulties of life, but also the resilience and determination needed to overcome them. It encourages listeners to keep their eyes fixed on the sun, no matter how tough things get, and to continue moving forward with hope.


Line by Line Meaning

Shake me down
Asking to be taken out of a stagnant or depressing situation


Not a lot of people left around
Feeling isolated or alone in one's current circumstances


Who knows now
Feeling uncertain about the future or what comes next


Softly laying on the ground, ooh
Giving in to vulnerability and accepting helplessness


In my life, I've seen
Reflecting on personal experience and insight gained over time


People walk into the sea
People willingly self-destruct when in search of something or to escape pain


Just to find memories
Looking to the past is sometimes a futile way to ease current suffering


Plagued by constant misery
Negative emotions can imprison us and make everyday life unbearable


Their eyes cast down
A visual representation of feeling defeated and downtrodden


Fixed upon the ground
Unable to see beyond one's current problems or limitations


I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun
Looking towards the future with positivity and determination


Cut my hair on a silver cloud
Feeling liberated and enlightened in a moment of clarity


Broken sound
A metaphor for feeling broken and in need of repair


In my past, bittersweet
Reflecting on memories that are both joyful and painful


There's no love between the sheets
A sexual relationship devoid of true emotional intimacy


Taste the blood, broken dreams
Feeling defeated and hopeless in the face of adversity


Lonely times indeed
Experiencing real loneliness in one's life


Turn back now it's time for me to let go
Realizing the need to move on from the past and leave negative experiences behind


Way down had to find a place to lay low
Feeling emotionally exhausted and needing a break to regroup


Lampshade turned around into a light post
A surreal image depicting a moment of confusion and disorientation


Walk around the corner
A sense of anticipation and expecting the unexpected


Never saw it coming, still
Surprise and shock in the face of an unexpected turn of events


I try to make a move
Striving to make positive changes in one's life


It almost stopped me from belief
Encountering obstacles that nearly derailed one's faith and optimism


I don't wanna know the future
Preferring to live in the present and not worry about what's to come


But I'm like Rolling Thunder
Confident and bold, able to face whatever comes next with courage


Even on a cloudy day
An unwavering commitment to positivity, even in the face of adversity


I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun
Reiterating the importance of remaining optimistic and focused on the future


Not a lot of people left around, ooh
Feeling alone in the struggle towards a better future




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 4U2ASKY ENTERTAINMENT INC
Written by: Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, Lincoln Parish, Matt Shultz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Jo-ol5tr

Shake me down,
Not a lot of people left around,
Who knows now,
Softly laying on the ground, ooooh
Not a lot people left around, ooooh. ooooh

In my life, I have seen,
People walk into the sea,
Just to find memories,
Plagued by constant misery,
Their eyes cast down,
Fixed upon the ground,
Their eyes cast down

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun

Shake me down,
Cut my hair on a silver cloud,
Broken sound,
Softly laying on the ground, ooooh
Not a lot people left around, ooooh, ooooh

In my past, bittersweet,
There's no love between the sheets,
Taste the blood, broken dreams,
Lonely times indeed,
With eyes cast down,
Fixed upon the ground,
Eyes cast down

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun

Turn back now its time for me to let go,
Way down had to find a place to lay low,
Lampshade turned around into a light post

Walk around the corner,
Never saw it coming still,
I try to make a move,
It almost stopped me from belief,
I don't wanna know the future,
But I'm like rolling thunder,

Even on a cloudy day,
Even on a cloudy day,
Even on a cloudy day,
Even on a cloudy day,
Even on a cloudy day,
Even on a cloudy day,
Even on a cloudy day,

I'll keep my eyes fixed on the-
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the-
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun

Shake me down,
Not a lot of people left around, ooooh, ooooh



@suzannev.514

Shake me down, not a lot of people left around
Who knows now?
Softly laying on the ground, ooh
Not a lot people left around, ooh, ooh
In my life, I have seen people walk into the sea

Just to find memories, plagued by constant misery
Their eyes cast down, fixed upon the ground
Their eyes cast down
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun
Shake me down, cut my hair on a silver cloud
Broken sound
Softly laying on the ground, ooh
Not a lot people left around, ooh, ooh
In my past, bittersweet, there's no love between the sheets
Taste the blood, broken dreams, lonely times indeed
With eyes cast down, fixed upon the ground
With eyes cast down
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun
Turn back, now it's time for me to let go
Way down, had to find a place to lay low
Lampshade turned around into a light post


Walk around the corner, never saw it coming
Still I try to make a move, it almost stopped me from believin'
I don't wanna know the future
But I'm like rolling thunder
Even on a cloudy day, even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day, even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day, even on a cloudy day
Even on a cloudy day
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the
I'll keep my eyes fixed on the sun
Shake me down
Not a lot of people left around
Ooh, ooh



All comments from YouTube:

@GeneralCane

Why do I feel like this song is going to get more painful as I get older?

@daltonteague6836

You're one mean polar bear...

@rogerrosales392

+GeneralCane feel ya

@ashleygomez8486

+Kelso lowk it's not his fault he can't choose what gender he likes

@daltonteague6836

Ashley Gomez I don't think you know what bipolar means.

@harryschneider7858

+GeneralCane because you know that you're truly alone and no one loves you. you'll die alone in your apartment and no one will find you until you havent paid your rent for 3 months and they bang down the door to evict you, only to find your rotting dead body in your bed. no one will roll over, touch and cry when they find out you're dead because nobody loves and nobody ever has.

220 More Replies...

@angelheart678

It’s so sweet how his wife was the last thing he thought of...

I’m not crying you’re crying.

@larrytipton2072

i wonder who died first

@qwunk

"I'm just sweating out of my eyeballs"

@lindaschneider4565

Yes, I am

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