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."
Lotus
Cage the Elephant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I found it tucked beneath the hills
I sat and watched it rise
It hit the sky and burst to flames
The lotus flower's
Got me thinking 'bout the way that we live
I got this feeling
It's gonna stop
Driven by religion
Running backwards down a one way road
A course collision, split decision
Tryin' to save your soul
Manifest Destiny
Is just a fancy word for murder
I got this feeling
It's gonna stop
A billion faces running 'round my head
All got opinions but they don't mean shit
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead
They said it's all been done and it's all been said
They'll turn this message into a pop movement
A fascist statement, call it politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it
They'll say it's all been done
Look outside the box my friend
Your heart's been dead since who knows when
It seems we've missed the mark
Lost all hope and given in
Pack up the suitcase
Take that handkerchief then wipe off your chin
The fear that drives you
Needs to be stopped
A billion faces running 'round my head
All got opinions but they don't mean shit
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead
They said it's all been done and it's all been said
They'll turn our message into a pop movement
A fascist statement, call it politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it
They'll say it's all been done
Fell into a daze
And found my mind was gone and laid to waste
A battleground indeed
Where holy wars have taken place
I saw the sun set, watched it travel down
And tear you through the ground
The hate the drives us
Needs to be stopped
The lyrics to Cage the Elephant's song "Lotus" speaks to the destructive nature of religious extremism and political manipulation. The opening lines set the scene for the theme of the song. The singer wakes before the morning sun and observes it rising, but their thoughts are consumed by the lotus flower's symbolism that makes them reflect on the way humanity lives. The lotus is a symbol of purity in many cultures, and it can represent spiritual growth, enlightenment, and rebirth. The singer's sense of dread and unease is palpable as they sing, "I got this feeling, it's gonna stop," foreshadowing an impending doom.
The verses following the chorus delve deeper into the message of the song by pointing out how religion and manifest destiny (a belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory) have been used to justify violence. The line "Manifest Destiny, is just a fancy word for murder" is a stark reminder of how the concept was used to justify the forced displacement and genocide of indigenous people in North America. The lyrics also touch on the idea of political propaganda, how messages are twisted and turned to push an agenda, and how people's opinions and voices are silenced in the process.
The tone of the song is somber and contemplative, with a sense of urgency that underlines the importance of the message. Cage the Elephant's "Lotus" urges the listener to think critically about the world around them and question the narratives that are presented to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke before the morning sun
I woke up early enough to see the sunrise
I found it tucked beneath the hills
The sun was hidden behind the hills when I woke up
I sat and watched it rise
I stayed in one place to witness the sun come up
It hit the sky and burst to flames
The sun shone brightly as it became visible in the sky
The lotus flower's, Got me thinking 'bout the way that we live
Seeing the beauty of the lotus flower made me contemplate how we exist
I got this feeling, It's gonna stop
I have a hunch that something will come to an end
Driven by religion, Running backwards down a one way road
Relentless faith is causing us to move in the wrong direction
A course collision, split decision, Tryin' to save your soul
Two opposing ideals clash, and you must decide which one will save your soul
Manifest Destiny, Is just a fancy word for murder
The belief in Manifest Destiny is a justification for taking lives
A billion faces running 'round my head, All got opinions but they don't mean shit
I'm overwhelmed by the number of viewpoints surrounding me, but I don't find them significant
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead, They said it's all been done and it's all been said
People continue to create chaos until there's nothing left, and others claim that everything has already been explored
They'll turn this message into a pop movement, A fascist statement, call it politics
Others will manipulate our message, turning it into something repugnant under the guise of politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it, They'll say it's all been done
I know that people will alter what I say, and then claim that they have heard it all before
Look outside the box my friend, Your heart's been dead since who knows when
Think differently, my friend, your heart has been lifeless for a while
It seems we've missed the mark, Lost all hope and given in
We have failed to achieve what we aimed for, and we've stopped hoping
Pack up the suitcase, Take that handkerchief then wipe off your chin
It's time to move on, and leave behind the past; wipe away those tears
The fear that drives you, Needs to be stopped
You must put an end to the feeling motivating you, fear
Fell into a daze, And found my mind was gone and laid to waste
I became absentminded and realized that I was not using my mind to its full potential
A battleground indeed, Where holy wars have taken place
This place has been the site of many religious wars
I saw the sun set, watched it travel down, And tear you through the ground
I saw the sunset, and watched it descend, most likely leading to someone's painful death
The hate the drives us, Needs to be stopped
We need to eliminate the hate that causes us to take actions driven by it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, Lincoln Parish, Matt Shultz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind