KIDS
Cage the Elephant Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You were a child
Crawling on your knees toward it
Making momma so proud
But your voice was too loud
We like to watch you laughing
Picking insects off of plants
No time to think of consequences
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

The water is warm
But it's sending me shivers
A baby is born
Crying out for attention
The memories fade
Like looking through a fogged mirror
Decision to decisions are made and not bought
But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot
I guess not

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself




Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cage the Elephant's "Kids" are cryptic and open to interpretation. However, one possible interpretation is that it highlights the carefree attitude and lack of consequences that come with being a child. The opening lines of the song, "You were a child, crawling on your knees toward it, making mama so proud, but your voice was too loud" suggest that as children, we are allowed to explore and be curious about the world around us, but as we grow up, societal expectations and norms take over.


The chorus, "Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted" could be interpreted as a call to focus on what is necessary, rather than being overwhelmed by material possessions or societal expectations. The reference to a "family of trees wanted to be haunted" adds to the mysteriousness of the song, leaving listeners to wonder about the connection between the two.


The overarching theme of the song seems to be the tension between impulsiveness and control, and the struggle to find balance between the two. The lines "Decision to decisions are made and not bought, but I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot. I guess not" suggest that sometimes we make decisions without fully considering the consequences, leading to regret later on.


Overall, "Kids" is a thought-provoking song that challenges listeners to examine their own lives and consider the balance between impulsiveness and control.


Line by Line Meaning

You were a child
The song addresses an individual who was once innocent and uncorrupted.


Crawling on your knees toward it
The person was crawling towards something they desired but were too young or vulnerable to reach it any other way.


Making momma so proud
The person brought happiness and joy to their mother.


But your voice was too loud
The person was overbearing and drew attention to themselves.


We like to watch you laughing
Others enjoyed seeing the person exhibit happiness and positivity.


Picking insects off of plants
The person was preoccupied with small, insignificant things.


No time to think of consequences
The person acted impulsively without considering the consequences of their actions.


Control yourself
The song urges the person to become more self-disciplined and responsible.


Take only what you need from it
The person should only take or consume what is necessary, rather than excess or frivolous things.


A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Trees, as representative of the natural world, seek to be affected by human behavior and interaction, as a means of validation.


The water is warm
The water being warm is a metaphor for the person being in a comfortable, familiar situation.


But it's sending me shivers
Despite the feeling of comfort, the situation is still unsettling or alarming to the person.


A baby is born
A new beginning or opportunity has begun.


Crying out for attention
The opportunity is calling for the person's attention and action.


The memories fade
Memories and experiences can become less vivid and significant over time.


Like looking through a fogged mirror
Memories become distorted and unclear, like trying to see through a fogged surface.


Decision to decisions are made and not bought
The choices and decisions made throughout life are not simply purchased or made without effort or thought.


But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot
The person did not anticipate the negative consequences of their decisions.


Control yourself
The song repeats the message of becoming more self-disciplined and responsible.


Take only what you need from it
The song repeats the message of only taking what is necessary.


A family of trees wanted to be haunted
The song repeats the message that the natural world seeks to be affected by human activity.




Contributed by Leo R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Yahooathotmaildotcom

they should release an official album of there covers and b-sides

Dorota Grabowski

this song so sounds so happy compared to the original

Feli!

MGMT - Kids

Dennis TheMenace

Dorota Grabowski who made the original?

Ellen Joy

Everything going on around me just froze. These men are literally the best thing I've ever found.

Stealthheart Draws

Ellen Joy smae

Cullen

Ellen Joy marry me

Niko Ozden

Welcome to the family

Patrick Mullenix

It's DIFFERENT. Which I probably consider to be the most fundamental part of covering a song (looking at you, Weezer).

weaz3r

It's different enough, being too different is another thing.

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