Cavetown (he/they) is formally known as Robin Daniel Skinner, a 25-year-old… Read Full Bio ↴Cavetown (he/they) is formally known as Robin Daniel Skinner, a 25-year-old singer/songwriter from Cambridge, England. As of November 2022, he has released eight studio albums, one live album, and one collaborative mixtape.

Cavetown has become increasingly popular on YouTube from a combination of both these original songs and covers that he has produced and uploaded. This has allowed him to perform gigs in the UK both locally and nationally, and also in other parts of the world such as California, USA.

Hands
Cavetown Lyrics

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Pretending to laugh is exhausting
But I'd rather be tired than
Lose my friends again
And I'm nothing special but in the
End I'm all that I've got

So friends raise your hands

Does it really matter to
You if your haircut's
Uneven and none of your socks match
And do you care about people who
Speak just to hurt you
You know you're better than that
After all why would anything good happen
If bad was all we got
I left a trail of hope so you won't get lost

So friends raise your hands

Oh

The end is coming closer with
Every breath you take
And you can't outrun the
Light speed earthquake (yeah)
And no matter how many times
You tell me it's fine
I feel like this was all a mistake
Please humour me cause my minds
A castle of songs
And you're not singing along
Well, if you're not the
Singing kind it's fine
Just don't leave me behind, me behind
Me behind (Oh)

So friends raise your hands raise your hands

Overall Meaning

The song "Hands" by Cavetown explores themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and finding hope in challenging times. The lyrics communicate a deep sense of vulnerability and a desire for connection.

The lyrics begin with the singer expressing the exhaustion of pretending to be happy by forcing laughter. They admit that they would rather be tired than lose their friends again, emphasizing the importance of genuine relationships. Despite considering themselves as nothing special, they recognize that they are all they have in the end.

The chorus, "So friends raise your hands," serves as a call for unity and support. It encourages friends to come together, to be there for each other, and to celebrate their connection. The repetition of this line throughout the song reinforces the theme of finding strength and solace in friendship.

The second verse delves into the question of what truly matters. The singer challenges societal expectations by asking if it really matters if their haircut is uneven or their socks don't match. They also question the significance of people who speak only to hurt others, emphasizing that one should not let negativity define them. The lyrics acknowledge that good things can happen, even when surrounded by bad, and the singer leaves a "trail of hope" to guide their friends.

The bridge introduces a darker tone, addressing the impending end and the impossibility of avoiding tragedies and hardships. The light speed earthquake metaphor symbolizes the rapid and inevitable changes that can occur in life. Despite reassurances from others, the singer still feels like everything is a mistake. They ask others to humor them and be understanding because their mind is like a "castle of songs" that wants to be heard and appreciated.

In the final plea, the singer asks those who won't sing along to not leave them behind. It encapsulates their fear of being left alone and forgotten, emphasizing the longing for companionship and acceptance.

Overall, "Hands" is a heartfelt song that touches on themes of vulnerability, friendship, and self-worth. It encourages connection and support among friends while acknowledging personal insecurities and the challenges of navigating life.

Line by Line Meaning

Pretending to laugh is exhausting
Putting on a fake smile takes so much energy

But I'd rather be tired than lose my friends again
I'd rather be exhausted than lose the people I care about

And I'm nothing special but in the end I'm all that I've got
I may not be extraordinary, but in the end, I only have myself

So friends raise your hands
Let's come together and show our unity

Does it really matter to you if your haircut's uneven and none of your socks match
Do trivial things like messy hair or mismatched socks really affect you?

And do you care about people who speak just to hurt you
Are you concerned about those who purposely hurt you with their words?

You know you're better than that
You're stronger and more resilient than those who try to bring you down

After all why would anything good happen if bad was all we got
If we only focused on the negative, why would anything positive occur?

I left a trail of hope so you won't get lost
I've left signs of hope to guide you and prevent you from feeling lost

The end is coming closer with every breath you take
The end of something is approaching with each breath you take

And you can't outrun the light speed earthquake
You can't escape the sudden and intense changes in life

And no matter how many times you tell me it's fine, I feel like this was all a mistake
Even if you assure me everything is okay, I still believe it was all a big error

Please humour me cause my mind's a castle of songs
Please indulge me because my mind is a place filled with melodies and creativity

And you're not singing along
But you're not joining in or understanding my thoughts

Well, if you're not the singing kind it's fine
If you're not inclined to share my artistic expressions, that's okay

Just don't leave me behind, me behind
Just don't abandon me or exclude me from your life

So friends raise your hands raise your hands
Let's come together and show our unity even more

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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