Before their next album, Cave In began experimenting with their sound with Creative Eclipses, a five-song EP which indicated a new space rock direction. Their next album was Jupiter, released in 2000. The album received a good deal of press including a feature in Spin Magazine, in which they were described as an "emo-metal Radiohead," which Cave In would reject. The album also caught the attention of major labels who began courting the band after its release. The band released the six-song EP Tides of Tomorrow on Hydra Head Records before accepting a deal from RCA Records.
In 2003, Cave In released their major debut album Antenna. It had more success than their previous albums and earned them a spot on the second stage of 2003's Lollapalooza tour. After Lollapalooza, they toured Europe in support of Foo Fighters and Muse. Shortly after, the band began to revisit their metal roots during concerts, and new heavy material led to a mutual agreement to cut ties with RCA Records. Cave In returned to Hydra Head Records and released Perfect Pitch Black on September 13, 2005.
Following the release of Perfect Pitch Black, Conners departed from the band due to an injury and temporarily relocating to Germany. He was replaced by Converge drummer Ben Koller. In November of 2006, Cave In announced an indefinite hiatus.
In April of 2009, Cave In announced that they had ended their hiatus. With Conners back in the band, they had recorded a four-song EP titled Planets of Old which was initially made available on vinyl at their reunion show on July 19, 2009 at Great Scott in Allston, MA. The EP was released on CD in January 2010 with a bonus DVD of the show. The band released their fifth album White Silence on May 24, 2011.
After tours in support of White Silence, Cave In entered an undeclared semi-hiatus state as all of the band members shifted focus on their other respective side-projects. Brodsky had moved to New York City and formed Mutoid Man with Ben Koller and bassist Nick Cageao, Conners and McGrath had formed Nomad Stones, and Scofield was a member of Old Man Gloom and his own band Zozobra. On December 7, 2014, they performed live for the first time in 3 years, opening for Doomriders' tenth anniversary show. They wouldn't begin formally writing new material until February 2018.
On March 28, 2018, Caleb Scofield was killed in a car accident in Bedford, New Hampshire, on his way home from jamming with Cave In in their Boston rehearsal space. The band then put the new album on hold in favor of touring in honor of him, his wife, and their two children. Major memorial performances included a Boston show with Converge, a Los Angeles show with a one-off reunion of Isis, and an acoustic performance with Brodsky and McGrath at that year's Jacob Bannon-curated Roadburn Festival. This set was recorded and released as Live at Roadburn 2018: Tribute to Caleb Scofield.
On January 2, 2019, Cave In announced plans to release their first studio album in eight years. This album was released as Final Transmission on June 7, 2019 through Hydra Head Records. Mixed by Andrew Schneider, mastered by James Plotkin, and with artwork by Aaron Turner, it consists of practice-space demos featuring Scofield on every song. Hydra Head has been mostly inactive since 2012 but, as the band's main home for the majority of its career, they worked together to release this album. Half of the proceeds will be given to his wife and children.
Lift Off
Cave In Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wrong way down the right road
Hey man, watch where you're going
Hey man, watch where you're going
Lift-off!
We're on our way home
Lady, that's when you'll say to me:
We're in orbital mode
We're on our way to the top floor
Hey man, watch where you're going
Hey man, watch where you're going
Lift-off!
We're on our way home
Lady, that's when you'll say to me:
"We'll do what we can...
Anything at all to make you comfortable
Before we re-enter the atmosphere"
If a crash-landing ends our trek
I'll be first to leave the wreck
Hey man, go where I go
Hey man, know what I know
Lift-off!
We're on our way home
Lady, that's when you'll say to me:
"We'll do what we can...
Anything at all to make you comfortable
Before we re-enter the atmosphere"
The lyrics of Cave In's song Lift Off seem to be about embarking on a journey, possibly a physical one but perhaps more symbolically, and the apprehension that comes with that. The opening verses seem to be acknowledging the potential for things to go wrong, with the singer suggesting that there are right and wrong ways to go about things, but no clear way to navigate whatever lies ahead. The repetition of "Hey man, watch where you're going" adds to this sense of uncertainty, as if urging caution and vigilance in the face of the unknown.
However, once Lift Off occurs, the tone of the song changes. Suddenly, the focus is on being on the way home, implying that whatever journey is being undertaken has a destination, and a sense of purpose or goal. The repeated refrain of "We'll do what we can..." is both reassuring and slightly ominous, suggesting a determination to succeed, even if the situation is not entirely within the singer's control. The idea of making the other person comfortable before re-entering the atmosphere is a nod to the idea of coming back down to earth, of returning to reality, and perhaps the need to brace oneself for that.
The final verse, with its references to crash-landing and leaving the wreck, brings the sense of fear and uncertainty back to the forefront. However, the repeated plea to "Hey man, go where I go" is almost a challenge, a dare to face whatever is coming head-on, without flinching. Ultimately, Lift Off is a song about trying to navigate life's ups and downs, and the need for courage in the face of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Right way down the wrong road
The direction we're heading in may feel wrong, but we believe it's the best choice
Wrong way down the right road
Even if we're not following the path others have laid out for us, we feel confident in our own journey
Hey man, watch where you're going
Stay focused and aware of your surroundings, don't lose sight of our goal
Hey man, watch where you're going
A reminder to stay alert and not get sidetracked
Lift-off!
We're ready to launch into the next chapter of our lives
We're on our way home
Our ultimate destination is a place of comfort and familiarity
Lady, that's when you'll say to me:
"We'll do what we can..."
When we finally reach our destination, we'll work together to make it feel like home
We're in orbital mode
We're gaining momentum and making progress towards our goals
We're on our way to the top floor
We're climbing higher and closer to our desired outcome
Hey man, watch where you're going
Stay focused and don't let distractions or obstacles get in the way
Hey man, watch where you're going
Another reminder to stay focused and not lose sight of our goal
Anything at all to make you comfortable
Before we re-enter the atmosphere
Let's take care of each other and make sure we're comfortable before we face the challenges that might come our way
If a crash-landing ends our trek
I'll be first to leave the wreck
Even if things don't go as planned, I'll be willing to take the lead and find a solution
Hey man, go where I go
Let's stick together and support each other through this journey
Hey man, know what I know
I'll share my knowledge and experience with you, so we can navigate this journey together
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.