As a completely independent artist, everything 8 Graves has achieved has been on pure merit. They’ve found their songs placed on some of the most exclusive playlists streaming services have to offer, including Spotify’s Viral 50 (US, Poland, Latvia), Rock This, The New Alt, New Noise, Singled Out, Fresh Finds, Alternative Beats, 100% Rock, and Friday Cratediggers, and have had multiple tracks featured on Apple Music’s Best of the Week. They’ve received airplay on SiriusXM’s Alt Nation and BPM, as well as terrestrial stations KITS San Fran, KTCL Denver, KCJK Kansas City, WRIF Detroit, KPNT St. Louis, KFRR Fresno, KFMA Tucson, WSFS South Florida, WLKK Buffalo, KFMG Des Moines, WCYY Portland, WSOU, and many others. They also made their television soundtrack debut on ABC/Marvel Studio’s Cloak and Dagger, and had their songs featured in nationwide retail chains like H&M. In addition, 8 Graves has received the praise of many high-profile music blogs, like Alternative Press, Yahoo Music, Earmilk, This Song Slaps, and Surviving the Golden age.
To date, 8 Graves’ devoted fan base has helped them amass more than 50,000,000 streams on their catalog. However, the statistic of which singer, Brent Carpentier, is most proud? “We have basically zero unanswered comments on any of our social media content,” he laughs. “As long as it’s humanly possible for us to keep it that way, we always will. Our music is so personal, and the people who are identifying with it are so important to us. We want to talk to them. We want to comfort them. We want to know them. And we want them to know us. Human connection is such an inherently important part of who we are as people, and what we stand for as musicians. We truly love our supporters, and we have to do our best to express that.”
With so many major milestones already behind them, 8 Graves shows no signs of slowing down. Their reach is expanding, and their message is resonating with more and more listeners every day. They convert those listeners to fans, and then to friends, through their emotional vulnerability and personal contact with their rapidly growing base. Their brand of artistry, vulnerability, honest, and transparency is something all their own, and the secret is out.
Cannonball
8 Graves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
I'll hit you like a cannonball
They say I′m self-destructive
I never stood a chance, but I don't mind
I think I'm well-adjusted
I was my own saving grace
I gave control away
There′s no hope saving face
You can fire away
Oh, I'll hit you like a cannonball
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
I′ll hit you like a cannonball
You're right, I′m good for nothing
I make the same mistakes a thousand times
Can't say you′re wrong to judge me
I burst into flames and run in blind
I was my own saving grace
I gave control away
There's no hope saving face
You can fire away
Oh, I'll hit you like a cannonball
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
I′ll hit you like a cannonball
Oh, I′ll hit you like a cannonball
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
I'll hit you like a cannonball
(I′ll hit you like a cannonball)
Oh, I'll hit you like a cannonball
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
I′ll hit you like a cannonball
Oh, I'll hit you like a cannonball
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
I′ll hit you like a cannonball
The lyrics of "Cannonball" by 8 Graves describe a person who is fully aware of their self-destructive tendencies and how they tend to repeat their mistakes, yet they refuse to change. The metaphor of a cannonball is used to convey the intensity and magnitude of their behavior. They admit to being set on exploding and causing destruction around them but they seem to accept it as a part of who they are.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's readiness to act impulsively despite knowing the consequences. They will hit people like a cannonball, burning everything in their path like a wildfire. They recognize that they are dead inside, which may mean they have given up on themselves and their ability to change. The lyrics suggest that they have already accepted their fate, and they are at peace with whatever may come their way.
It's also clear from the lyrics that the singer seems to be struggling with control issues, as reflected in the lines "I was my own saving grace, I gave control away." Perhaps, they feel like they have lost control of their actions and recognize that their behavior is not sustainable. However, the lyrics seem to suggest that they have no intention of trying to fix things, and they would rather go out in a blaze of glory.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I'll hit you like a cannonball
The singer is emphasizing that they will strike the other person with great force and intensity.
Wildfire, light it up and burn it all
The singer compares themselves to a wildfire, which destroys everything in its path and spreads uncontrollably.
Dead and I know it, set on exploding
The singer is aware of their self-destructive tendencies and knows that they are headed for a breakdown.
I'll hit you like a cannonball
The artist reinforces their message that they will come crashing into the other person like a powerful force.
They say I'm self-destructive
The artist acknowledges that others have pointed out their self-destructive behavior.
I never stood a chance, but I don't mind
The singer feels like they were always doomed to fail, but have come to accept it as a part of who they are.
I think I'm well-adjusted
The singer believes that, despite their flaws, they have adapted to their life and are doing the best they can.
Full collapse but I'm just fine
Despite their inner turmoil, the artist presents a façade of being okay and holding things together.
I was my own saving grace
The artist relied on themselves to fix their problems and get through tough times.
I gave control away
At some point, the artist lost the ability to control their behavior and surrendered it to their destructive impulses.
There's no hope saving face
The singer cannot hide their struggles and imperfections from others anymore, so they have given up trying to pretend that everything is okay.
You can fire away
The artist is telling the other person to criticize and judge them as much as they want.
You're right, I'm good for nothing
The singer agrees with the other person's negative assessment of them.
I make the same mistakes a thousand times
The singer recognizes that they keep repeating their past mistakes and can't seem to break the cycle of self-destruction.
Can't say you're wrong to judge me
The singer admits that they deserve to be judged for their actions.
I burst into flames and run in blind
The artist completely loses control and acts recklessly, without any regard for the consequences.
Writer(s): Brent Carpentier, Dwight Baker, Nicholas Antonio Goncalves
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@8Graves
Drop a 💣🔥if you're vibing with "Cannonball"!
@bastigtytfear4less860
Your songs always make me happy! 🔥
@nikolas8741
🛰️🦾
@guyfalador7919
🔥🧨🔥🔥🧨🧨🧨🧨🔥🔥🔥🔥🧨🔥🔥🧨
@jhonnyghostzrogers7215
🔥
@mutemantisv3
💣🔥
@Licherix
Perfection, more 8 Graves songs to add into my collection. All of the 8 Graves songs are essentially anti-depressants for me at this point. Listening to all of these songs gives me the feeling of being understood and sympathized with. I hope y'all get the attention you deserve one day. More people need to hear these masterpieces.
@8Graves
You are too kind, friend! Truly happy the songs can help you through some rough patches! Thank you so much for listening, and for the amazing comment!
@beefgames098
this song smacks like a cannonball, always so excited to see my fav band upload a new song <3 <3 keep up the amazing work, now to listen to it on repeat for a few hours
@8Graves
We are honored to be considered your favorite! Thank you for that! That means so much to us! <3