Algernon Cadwallader is an emo band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which … Read Full Bio ↴Algernon Cadwallader is an emo band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which Included former members of Halfway to Holland. The band started in the year 2005. They released their first full-length album in 2008 titled Some Kind Of Cadwallader. They released their second full-length album in 2011 titled Parrot Flies. In 2018, they re-issued their albums to digital streaming services for the first time. The re-issue contained what the band referred to as their "third LP", a compilation of their 2006 demo, the 2009 Fun EP and several b-sides and covers of instrumental Beatles and Beach Boys songs, "some of it we decided to record and put vocals on it.” In 2022 they reunited for a reunion tour of the United States, and later toured Europe and Japan.

Members now play in Hop Along, Business Models, Mike Bell & The Movies and Yankee Bluff.

Black Clouds
Algernon Cadwallader Lyrics

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I'm gonna need you to dance if we're gonna pull off
This intimidation and be perfect for creation
Bottle our perspiration and sell it to the [?]
And collect lots of money and not know where it came from
Throw the bodies in the lake although
We're head of the investigation
Just be happy

And then when you give up protect your soul
And it never loathed someone else's hands
That would be a place you could go to enjoy the tension

These days black clouds are always hovering

Overall Meaning

overhead
It's hard to see the light when you're already dead
But we can run, run so far that we leave it all behind
And forget about the darkness and let the sun shine

"Black Clouds" speaks about the desire to escape the oppressive feeling of darkness, whether it is in the form of negative emotions, anxiety, or life circumstances. The lyrics point to the idea of dancing as a means of creating something positive out of a situation that could otherwise be intimidating. By bottling their perspiration and selling it, the singer of the song is suggesting that they can create value out of their struggles and hardships. They will collect lots of money and not know where it came from, indicating that sometimes the often seemingly impossible goals are achieved unexpectedly.

The lyrics continue with a suggestion to throw the bodies in the lake, despite being the head of the investigation. This ambiguous line could be interpreted in various ways. Perhaps it is an indication to take responsibility for one's actions, even if they appear to be against the norm. Or else, it might simply be the song writer calling for a new perspective on what is right and wrong. The singer concludes the verse by urging himself and his listeners to "just be happy."

In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that even if someone has given up on themselves, they should not give up protecting their soul. The lines "And it never loathed someone else's hands / That would be a place you could go to enjoy the tension" point to the idea that it is better to embrace the uncertainty and tension in life than to give up and let someone else take control. Finally, the chorus emphasizes the idea of escaping the darkness and finding a way to let the sun shine in.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna need you to dance if we're gonna pull off
Our plan involves getting you to dance to distract and intimidate others, to carry out a perfect act of creation.

This intimidation and be perfect for creation
The intimidation factor will ensure flawless execution of our plan.

Bottle our perspiration and sell it to the []
We will sell our sweat to unknown buyers, reaping profits without giving a second thought to its origins.

And collect lots of money and not know where it came from
We will accumulate significant wealth, with no knowledge or concern for its ethical implications.

Throw the bodies in the lake although
We will dispose of the dead bodies by throwing them in the lake, despite our position as heads of the investigation.

We're head of the investigation
We are in a position of power and authority over the investigation.

Just be happy
Ignore the immoral aspects of the plan, and simply derive happiness from the results.

And then when you give up protect your soul
In case of failure or loss, we must safeguard our own souls and morality.

And it never loathed someone else's hands
Our souls must not fall into the hands of others, or be subject to their cruelty.

That would be a place you could go to enjoy the tension
We could find solace in a place where there is excitement and thrill, without the weight of moral responsibility.

These days black clouds are always hovering
A metaphor implying that ominous events or negative forces are constantly looming.

Contributed by Colton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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