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."
In One Ear
Cage the Elephant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We ain't got the class
We ain't got the tunes that's goin to put us on the map
And I'm a phony in disguise
Trying to make the radio
I'm an anti-social anarchist, I sound like so and so
They say I'm just a stupid kid
Another crazy radical
Another Generation X who somehow slipped up through the cracks
Oh they'd love to see me fall but I'm already on my back
And it goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit but you know I never bother
I goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit
They can kiss the back of my hand
Now I know I'm not a saint
I been a sinner all my life
I ain't tryin to hide me flaws
I'd rather keep them in the light
They wanna criticize, scrutinize
Cast another stone
Burn me at the stake and sit and watch it from their throne
They say the devil is my pal
I do a lotta drugs
The crowd will only like me if they're really fuckin' drunk
They think they know my thoughts
But they don't know the least
If they listened to the words they'd find the message tucked beneath
But it goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin shit even though they never bother
It goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit, they can kiss the back of my hand
(You hear that)
(You hear what's coming? Oh you better run for the hills)
('Cause we're coming to your town, and we're gonna burn that mother fucker down)
Here's the moral to the story
We don't do it for the glory
We don't do it for the money
We don't do it for the fame
So all the critics who despise us, go ahead and criticize us
It's your tyranny that drives us, adds the fire to our flames
And it goes
In one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother
It goes in one ear
And right out the other
I'm only playing music 'cause you know I fucking love it
It goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother
It goes in one ear, and right out the other
People talkin' shit well you know they can kiss the back of my hand
The lyrics of Cage the Elephant’s “In One Ear” express defiance towards the haters of the band, those who criticize their style, sound, and even their very existence as artists. In the opening line, they immediately address the accusations leveled against them as lacking in style, class, and tunes that would make them successful. They acknowledge the perception that they are phonies who are trying to make it on the radio while sounding like other popular bands, but they refuse to bow down to the expectations and labels that others place on them.
The song also recognizes the common criticisms that rock music has become outdated and is no longer relevant to modern-day society. Despite this, the band insists on playing rock music and continuing to follow their passion. They acknowledge that they have flaws but choose to display them rather than hide them, and are not afraid to receive criticism.
The chorus of the song repeatedly emphasizes the band’s refusal to let the words of others affect them. The lyrics “It goes in one ear and right out the other, people talkin' shit, they can kiss the back of my hand” show the band’s unapologetic attitude towards those who try to bring them down.
Overall, the song is a triumphant anthem that celebrates individuality, passion, and the courage to stand up to naysayers and critics. It acknowledges the need to rise above negativity and not let the opinions of others affect one’s drive to pursue their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that we ain't got the style
People claim that we lack the style
We ain't got the class
They also say we lack class
We ain't got the tunes that's going to put us on the map
They say our music won't be successful
And I'm a phony in disguise
I'm pretending to be someone I'm not
Trying to make the radio
I'm attempting to get airtime on the radio
I'm an anti-social anarchist, I sound like so and so
My music makes me sound like a radical who doesn't like being around people
They say I'm just a stupid kid
Critics write me off as a foolish teenager
Another crazy radical
They see me as another rebellious outsider
Rock and roll is dead I probably should've stayed in school
They think rock music is no longer relevant and I should have gone to school instead
Another Generation X who somehow slipped up through the cracks
They see me as a Gen Xer who didn't follow the usual path
Oh they'd love to see me fall but I'm already on my back
Critics would love to see me fail, but I'm already struggling
And it goes in one ear
I hear their criticism, but it doesn't affect me
And right out the other
I easily forget what they say
People talkin' shit but you know I never bother
Critics like to trash talk, but I don't let it get to me
I goes in one ear
Even though they try to bring me down
And right out the other
Their negativity never sticks
People talkin' shit
Critics like to talk badly about me
They can kiss the back of my hand
But I don't care about their opinion
Now I know I'm not a saint
I'm not perfect
I've been a sinner all my life
I've made mistakes throughout my life
I ain't tryin to hide me flaws
I'm not trying to hide my mistakes
I'd rather keep them in the light
I'd rather showcase my flaws and use them to grow
They wanna criticize, scrutinize
Critics want to analyze and judge me
Cast another stone
They're not afraid to attack me
Burn me at the stake and sit and watch it from their throne
Critics enjoy seeing me suffer
They say the devil is my pal
Some claim that I associate with evil
I do a lotta drugs
They think I do illegal drugs
The crowd will only like me if they're really fuckin' drunk
Critics don't think people will appreciate my music unless they're under the influence of alcohol
They think they know my thoughts
Critics believe they understand what I'm thinking
But they don't know the least
However, they don't really know anything about me
If they listened to the words they'd find the message tucked beneath
If they paid attention to my lyrics, they'd discover the deeper message
Here's the moral to the story
Overall, here's what I'm trying to say
We don't do it for the glory
I'm not pursuing music for fame
We don't do it for the money
I'm not in it for the money
We don't do it for the fame
I'm not interested in becoming famous
So all the critics who despise us, go ahead and criticize us
Critics who hate us can continue to criticize us
It's your tyranny that drives us, adds the fire to our flames
Their negative criticism motivates us to prove them wrong
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother
We don't let the negativity of others bring us down
I'm only playing music 'cause you know I fucking love it
I'm only pursuing music because I'm passionate about it
It goes in one ear
Even though people criticize us
And right out the other
We don't let it affect us
People talkin' shit well you know they can kiss the back of my hand
We just ignore the critics and keep doing our thing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 4U2ASKY ENTERTAINMENT INC
Written by: Matthew Ray Shultz, Donald Bradley Shultz, Jared Lloyd Champion, Daniel Andrew Tichenor, Lincoln Parish, Joseph Allen Stratton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Victor-nw3ge
They say that we ain't got the style,
We ain't got the class,
We ain't got the tunes that's goin to put us on the map
And I'm a phony in disguise,
Trying to make the radio,
I'm an anti-social anarchist, I sound like so and so,
They say I'm just a stupid kid,
Another crazy radical,
Rock and roll is dead I probably should've stayed in school,
Another generation X who somehow slipped up through the cracks,
Oh they'd love to see me fall but I'm already on my back
And it goes In One Ear,
And right out the other,
People talkin' shit but you know I never bother,
I goes In One Ear,
And right out the other,
People talkin' shit,
They can kiss the back of my hand
Now I know I'm not a saint,
I been a sinner all my life,
I ain't tryin to hide me flaws,
I'd rather keep them in the light,
They wanna criticise, scrutinize,
Cast another stone,
Burn me at the stake and sit and watch it from their throne,
They say the devil is my pal,
I do a lotta drugs!
The crowd will only like me if they're really fuckin' drunk,
They think they know my thoughts,
But they don't know the least,
If they listened to the words they'd find the message tucked beneath
But it goes In One Ear,
And right out the other,
People talkin shit even though they never bother,
It goes In One Ear,
And right out the other,
People talkin' shit, they can kiss the back of my hand
(You hear that
You hear what's coming? Oh you better run for the hills,
Cause we're coming to your town, and we're gonna burn that mother fucker down!)
Here's the moral to the story,
We don't do it for the glory,
We don't do it for the money,
We don't do it for the fame
So all the critics who despise us, go ahead and criticize us,
It's your tyranny that drives us, adds the fire to our flames
And it goes
In One Ear,
And right out the other,
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother,
It goes In One Ear,
And right out the other,
I'm only playing music cos you know I fucking love it,
It goes In One Ear,
And right out the other,
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother,
It goes In One Ear, and right out the other,
People talkin' shit well you know they can kiss the back of my hand.
@lukalazarevic9847
i heard aint no rest for the wicked a few years ago, but i never listened to any other song by this band. OH BOY WAS THAT A HUGE MISTAKE. They just sound so awesomeee, i love this genre of music
@jefflee2458
One of the best debut albums ever
@michaelking98324
Same bro ahah
@josepharonhalt3365
Back against the wall is my second favorite
@KerpooHater
you might like the raconteurs then if you like this genre
@randomppl-lq7pv
same
@asimchowdhury412
this song still fucking bangs
@cooki4217
Asim Chowdhury still does :)
@FishiestFishy
@@cooki4217 still does
@ToadsMcScroads
Can confirm