Summer 2016 saw Cattle & Cane working on their brand new album at ICP Studios in Brussels and Temple Studios in Malta with producer Luuk Cox at the helm. In between studio sessions, they found the time to perform at acclaimed tastemaker events such as Reeperbahn Festival, Live At Leeds and Evolution Emerging, as well as at some of the UK's finest boutique festivals including Cornbury, Deer Shed and Lindisfarne.
2016 also saw the band tour abroad for the first time, with shows in Germany, Malta and Belgium - where they performed at the legendary Cirque Royal in Brussels. Back in February, C&C toured the UK and saw 'Sold Out' signs appear all over the country as the band's ubiquity in their native Teesside continues to spread far and wide.
Cattle & Cane's debut album 'Home', released in September 2015, signaled a clear statement of intent and saw them gatecrash the Official Independent Album Chart; finishing the week sandwiched between Adele and Arctic Monkeys no less.
With extensive national support from the likes of BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 1, Amazing Radio and Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, Cattle & Cane have been heavily championed by the BBC Introducing team and performed at T In The Park and BBC Radio 2 'Live in Hyde Park' before they'd even released their debut single. A live session on BBC Radio 2 for Dermot O'Leary followed and one of the tracks they performed has since been released on Dermot's Saturday Sessions compilation, alongside such luminaries as Ben Howard, John Newman and The XX.
The band's music has also been featured on a variety of TV shows including 'Made In Chelsea', 'The Only Way Is Essex' and MTV's 'Catfish', as well as on popular Brazilian soap-opera 'Avenida Brasil', where they were included on the show's official soundtrack alongside the likes of Taylor Swift, Adele and Paul McCartney.
RED
Cattle & Cane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's poison in my veins, I don't care what she said.
I'll do what I like, I'm young and free.
Gonna do it all, aimlessly.
I will look back into the sun.
Stare to see the damage I've done.
I'll beg, steal, and borrow, I'm going to war.
It's easy for me, I've sacrificed before.
No one's gonna give it to you, want to play god
Take a chance before it's too late.
I can be cruel behind this smile.
Find it all so easy to lie.
You gotta make your move now.
Make your move now!
(Yeah!)
There's something that I need to say.
Kept it all locked up, and it's making me ill.
I was scared I would drive you away.
There's red in my eyes and I'm charging ahead.
There's poison in my veins, I don't care what she said.
I'll do what I like, I'm young and free.
I'm gonna do it all, aimlessly.
Because I will look back into the sun.
Stare... to see... what I've done
The lyrics to Cattle & Cane's song Red portray the mindset and actions of a person who is fueled by anger and the urge to rebel against societal norms. The singer asserts their independence and disregard for any consequences of their actions by stating that they have "red in [their] eyes and [are] charging ahead". They are willing to do whatever they want without any regard for the potential harm their actions may cause. The poison in their veins represents the negativity and toxicity that they carry within themselves, which further fuels their angst.
The lines "I'll beg, steal, and borrow, I'm going to war. It's easy for me, I've sacrificed before" exemplifies how the singer has been through difficult times and is willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. The chorus of the song emphasizes the need to take risks and make a move before it's too late. The singer acknowledges that they can be cruel and find it easy to lie, highlighting their lack of remorse for their behavior.
The closing lines of the song, "I will look back into the sun. Stare to see the damage I've done" depicts the singer's mindset of self-reflection and realization of the consequences of their actions. They acknowledge that their behavior may cause harm and they will have to bear the burden of their actions. All in all, the lyrics of the song showcase the mindset of a person who is willing to break free from societal norms and take risks, without any regard for the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
There's red in my eyes, and I'm charging ahead.
I am fueled by anger and determination, and I am moving forward with force.
There's poison in my veins, I don't care what she said.
I am consumed by negativity and disregard any words of caution or advice that I have been given.
I'll do what I like, I'm young and free.
I am asserting my independence and taking liberties, since I feel empowered by my youth and lack of restrictions.
Gonna do it all, aimlessly.
I am acting impulsively and without direction, pursuing whatever reckless choice comes my way.
I will look back into the sun.
I will eventually reflect upon my actions and the consequences they will bring, no matter how painful it may be.
Stare to see the damage I've done.
I will confront the harm that I have caused, even if it is difficult to acknowledge.
I'll beg, steal, and borrow, I'm going to war.
I am willing to go to great lengths and commit underhanded acts to achieve my goals, even if it means hurting others along the way.
It's easy for me, I've sacrificed before.
I have been willing to endure hardship in the past, so I feel that I am capable of handling the challenges that lie ahead.
No one's gonna give it to you, want to play god
I believe that I am in control of my fate and must take matters into my own hands to achieve what I desire.
Take a chance before it's too late.
I feel that I must act quickly and decisively, or else risk missing out on an opportunity or regretting my inaction.
I can be cruel behind this smile.
Although I may seem friendly or pleasant on the surface, I am capable of being ruthless or vindictive.
Find it all so easy to lie.
I have no qualms about deceiving others, as I am skilled at presenting falsehoods without getting caught.
You gotta make your move now.
I am urging someone to act quickly and decisively, just as I am determined to do.
Make your move now! (Yeah!)
I am enthusiastic and determined in my urging for someone to take action.
There's something that I need to say.
I have been holding back my feelings or thoughts, but now feel a need to express them.
Kept it all locked up, and it's making me ill.
The emotions or thoughts that I have been suppressing are causing me mental or physical distress.
I was scared I would drive you away.
I was afraid that expressing my feelings or thoughts might cause someone to reject or distance themselves from me.
Because I will look back into the sun.
I am reiterating my resolve to confront the consequences of my actions, even if it is difficult to do so.
Stare... to see... what I've done
I will face the full extent of the damage I have caused, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Arthur kettle
I'm here cos of Gone Fishing with Mortimer and Whitehouse.... beautiful show... beautiful song ♥️
Paul Monaghan
Me too mate