1. Christopher Andrew … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists known as Cass:
1. Christopher Andrew Struart Bank Cutbush, progressive house and trance producer. Half of duo Cass & Slide.
2. Cassandra Fox, a singer. Topped UK charts with single 'Touch Me' produced by Rui Da Silva in 2001.
2. Cass grew up in North London, the only girl in a large, working-class Irish family. As her songs make clear, this wasn’t always easy. But there was always music. From an early age, she would sing in Irish pubs and win talent contests. But when it came to choosing a career, she didn’t even see this as an option. She followed a schoolmate into nursery nursing, then went to secretarial college and worked as a temp, moving on to a series of dead-end jobs that ended with her servicing fruit machines to get a company car.
“Even though I wasn’t being honest with myself about what I really wanted to do, I always knew it was all temporary,” she says now. “When I worked in offices, I was always the girl asking if anyone wanted a tea or coffee. Then I’d go hide in the toilet, doodling or day-dreaming or writing songs.” Instead she lived for the weekends when she and her friends would drive across the country going to clubs like Cream, Gatecrasher or Miss Moneypenny’s.
Often when you’re living a half-life, it takes a near-death to bring you back to reality. Cass’s wake-up call came at 4am one morning, driving home from Southend after another long night servicing machines. Tired and in a hurry to get home, she nearly crashed into the central reservation. “I suddenly thought, ‘What am I doing? I’ve got a voice, I can write songs, and I’m just doing these crappy jobs. It’s time for me to be brave. No more messing about.’”
She quit her job the next day. “I had no money, no car, but from that day I started making music.” She sang in clubs, in bars, even on the street – and after Rui Da Silva saw her performing with some buskers after a night out in the West End, she began hanging out at his studio, eventually writing ‘Touch Me’ over a demo that had been languishing on a shelf.
Once she parted ways with Da Silva Cass began working with a friend in a bedroom in Chingford until she found a style that finally felt her own. Initially about her frustration with record companies, ‘Army Of One’ was the first song she really felt she owned. “I felt, ‘This is it. This is what I want to do.”
The final piece to the puzzle was to find the right producer. After playing the song to RolloArmstrong at his studio, he immediately declared he wanted to work with her. But he had commitments with Dido and Faithless, so in the meantime she hooked up with Craig Dodds (Sugababes) and wrote three songs with him. “That was brilliant, it was like a therapy session – getting all my angst out.”
Raw, honest and brimming with real emotion, all of her songs come from the heart. “When I’m writing, I just tend to just pick up the mic and freestyle and it all pours out,” she says. “I love anything with soul – which to me is a song with real emotion, irrespective of colour, gender or genre.”
Rollo brought in a splash of colour, helping her find a sexier, sassier side. At times on her album you can hear the influence of her childhood heroine Dolly Parton. At others, you hear the strong, clear voice of performers like Annie Lennox, Tracy Chapman or Kate Bush. Her tales of family strife have even drawn comparisons to Eminem. But ultimately, Cass is just herself. Which is exactly what she’s fought to be.
“I want this album to touch people,” she says. “That’s the most important thing to me; that it connects to people and perhaps tells them that whatever it is they want to do, they can do it. If I can, anyone can. I want it to be like a comfort blanket, something they can put around them to stay sane.”
www.cassmusic.net
Thoughts
Cass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I close my eyes and fall away
These are the things I contemplate
Before I lay down in that bed I made
I should've listened, I wasn't at my best
What would we be now, if I would've said yes
I know one thing, you're the one regret I hold close, too close
These are my last pangs of regret
Something about those last words you said
Do you always run when you're feeling something good, so good
These are my last thoughts of the day
Before I close my eyes and fall away
These are the things I contemplate
Before I lay down in that bed I made
I can't dream without you coming in to view
Just to remind me of the things we didn't do
When I drift off it's you I'm drifting to, oh to you
These are my last barricades
Smash 'em down to dust if that's what it takes
My sorries are too little too late for you, for you
Wish you'd give me a simple sign
Now that you know what's been on my mind
You used to tell me what you're feeling, all the time, all the time
These are the last thoughts of the day
Before I close my eyes and fall away
These are the things I contemplate
Before I lay down in that bed I made
Before I lay down, before I close my eyes
Before I close my eyes, last thoughts
Oooh... oooh, oh my last thoughts of the day now
In the song "Thoughts" by Cass, the lyrics convey a sense of reflection and regret before the singer goes to sleep. The first paragraph suggests that the singer is thinking about missed opportunities and how things could have been different if they had made different choices. They express regret for not being at their best and wonder what their current situation would be if they had made a different decision. Despite this regret, they acknowledge that they still hold onto the memory of that regret very closely.
The second paragraph delves deeper into the feeling of regret, particularly regarding something that was said in the past. The singer wonders if the person they are addressing tends to run away when things get too good, suggesting a fear of commitment or avoiding vulnerability. The lyrics imply that these last pangs of regret revolve around a missed opportunity resulting from the person's tendency to flee from positive emotions.
The third paragraph suggests that the singer cannot stop thinking about the person they have lost. The mention of not being able to dream without the person coming into view indicates the lingering presence of their memory. The lyrics express feelings of longing and drifting towards the person in their dreams, emphasizing the impact this person has had on the singer's thoughts and emotions.
The fourth paragraph introduces the idea of breaking down barriers and expressing remorse. The singer acknowledges that their apologies are now too little and too late for the person they have lost. They express a desire for a sign from the person to understand how they truly feel, as the person used to be open and honest about their emotions. The lyrics indicate a sense of desperation and longing for connection that remains unresolved.
Overall, "Thoughts" by Cass explores themes of regret, missed opportunities, longing, and the desire for understanding. The lyrics reflect the singer's introspective thoughts as they prepare for sleep, showcasing a deep emotional connection to the memories and emotions tied to the person they have lost.
Line by Line Meaning
These are my last thoughts of the day
These are my final reflections before I end my day
Before I close my eyes and fall away
Before I go to sleep and detach from reality
These are the things I contemplate
These are the thoughts I deeply consider
Before I lay down in that bed I made
Before I confront the consequences of my actions
I should've listened, I wasn't at my best
I realize now that I should have paid attention and performed better
What would we be now, if I would've said yes
I wonder how our situation would be different if I had agreed
I know one thing, you're the one regret I hold close, too close
I acknowledge that you are the regret that weighs heavily on me
These are my last pangs of regret
These are my final moments of feeling remorseful
Something about those last words you said
There is something significant about the final things you expressed
Do you always run when you're feeling something good, so good
Do you consistently avoid positive experiences out of fear or uncertainty
I can't dream without you coming in to view
I am unable to envision my dreams without your presence in them
Just to remind me of the things we didn't do
To serve as a constant reminder of the missed opportunities
When I drift off it's you I'm drifting to, oh to you
When I enter a state of relaxation, my mind naturally wanders to thoughts of you
These are my last barricades
These are my final defenses
Smash 'em down to dust if that's what it takes
Destroy them completely if that's necessary
My sorries are too little too late for you, for you
Apologies I offer now are insufficient and delayed for you
Wish you'd give me a simple sign
I hope you would provide me with a clear indication
Now that you know what's been on my mind
Now that you are aware of my thoughts and feelings
You used to tell me what you're feeling, all the time, all the time
You used to openly communicate your emotions to me constantly
Before I lay down, before I close my eyes
Prior to resting, before I shut my eyes
Before I close my eyes, last thoughts
Before I drift into sleep, my final thoughts
Oooh... oooh, oh my last thoughts of the day now
These are my ultimate reflections at the end of the day
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Cass Clayton, Taylor Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind