Cheatahs frontman Nathan Hewitt and guitarist James Wignall met eight years… Read Full Bio ↴Cheatahs frontman Nathan Hewitt and guitarist James Wignall met eight years ago while working in a Camden pub, and instantly bonded over their shared passion for music and Seinfeld. Nathan had just moved to London from his hometown of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, while James, originally from Leicester, had moved to the capital after studying in Leeds. Fast-forward six years––each having played in various bands in between––and the friends finally began to work seriously together when Nathan asked James to collaborate on a batch of songs he’d been working on. The musical understanding between the two was instantaneous and they went about recruiting two friends to complete the lineup––bassist and producer Dean Reid, who had moved to London from San Diego, California, a few years before, and drummer Marc Raue, originally from Dresden, Germany.

Following a few tapes and seven inches on various labels, in June 2012 Cheatahs released their first EP, “Coared”, recorded and produced by Dean, on Marshall Teller Records, of which the NME wrote: “by pushing the hooks and melodies to the fore and not just relying on the “sound”, this new quartet are elevating themselves to be one of the best.”

With songs written by Nathan and James beginning to pile up, the band decided to make a follow up EP immediately; again produced by Dean, the quartet recorded the bulk of the music in their Hackney studio over a weekend in June. Shortly after, the band supported Milk Music in East London, a gig at which, as luck would have it, Mark and Ben from Wichita Recordings were in attendance. The duo were impressed by the set and asked the band if they had any recorded music they could listen to. After hearing “Coared” and the unreleased songs, Wichita offered to sign Cheatahs and put out the newly recorded EP – “SANS” – as their first release on the label.

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Controller
Cheatahs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Outside is dead
I lie in bed
Let′s start somewhere
We can see

I just keep on dying every day
And I don't know what it′s really in
All I'm lying inside,

In material
Let's start somewhere
We can see

I just keep on dying every day
And I don′t know what it′s really in
I see that's why they have stages to score
I just don′t know what is real anymore

And now I just sit here
In the??? of a screen

Have promised me
To find what I need

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cheatahs's song "Controller" depict a sense of feeling trapped and disconnected from reality. The opening lines "Outside is dead, I lie in bed" suggest a bleak or lifeless external world, contrasting with the singer's internal struggles as they lay in bed, possibly overwhelmed by their circumstances. The repetition of the phrase "Let's start somewhere we can see" hints at a desire for clarity or a new beginning amidst the chaos and confusion.

The repeated refrain "I just keep on dying every day" conveys a sense of hopelessness or stagnation, with the singer feeling like they are constantly fading away without understanding the cause. The mention of being "lying inside, in material" may allude to feeling suffocated or constrained by materialistic pursuits or external influences, further contributing to their sense of disorientation and emptiness.

The lines "I see that's why they have stages to score, I just don't know what is real anymore" suggest a questioning of reality and the validity of one's experiences. The reference to "stages to score" could imply a performance-based or competitive aspect to life, highlighting the pressure to measure up to certain standards or expectations, leading to a sense of disillusionment.

The final stanza shifts the focus to a more introspective and isolated setting, as the singer describes themselves "just sit here in the??? of a screen." This image of detachment and reliance on technology reflects a disconnect from the tangible world in favor of a digital realm. The mention of someone promising to help them find what they need adds a layer of uncertainty or dependency, suggesting a longing for guidance or support in navigating their inner turmoil and seeking meaning in a world that feels increasingly fragmented.

Line by Line Meaning

Outside is dead
The world outside feels lifeless and uninviting

I lie in bed
I am stuck in my own thoughts and emotions

Let's start somewhere
It's time to make a change and begin anew

We can see
There is potential for clarity and understanding

I just keep on dying every day
I feel like a part of me is fading away continually

And I don't know what it's really in
I am uncertain about the true cause of my struggles

All I'm lying inside, In material
I am lost in superficial distractions and possessions

I see that's why they have stages to score
I understand that life has its challenges to overcome

I just don't know what is real anymore
I am increasingly unsure of what is genuine or authentic

And now I just sit here In the??? of a screen
I am consumed by the digital world and its illusions

Have promised me To find what I need
I have made a commitment to seek out what truly fulfills me

Writer(s): Dean Satoshi Reid, Marc Raue, Nathan Ernest Hewitt, James Joseph Wignall

Contributed by Cameron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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